“To some degree, maybe you feel you have failed as a mom. Whatever has happened, stop and consider God’s plan for you.”
Hannah deeply loved her husband, but was childless. This weighed so terribly upon her, that she could not eat and was visibly distraught. So much so her husband said, “Am I not more to you than ten sons?” (1 Samuel 1:8). Eventually she went to her place of worship where “she was deeply distressed and prayed to the Lord and wept bitterly.” (1 Sam. 1:10) In her desperate prayer for a baby boy she cried out to God and made a promise. If He would provide her a child Hannah stated, “I will give him to the Lord all the days of his life.” (1 Sam. 1:11). God did grant her request, and months later little Samuel was born, who grew up to become one of the greatest leaders in the history of Israel. (Photo by Jordan Whitt on Unsplash)
The story communicates the natural, maternal instinct of a woman to have a child, which she was amazingly created by God to do. This is a normal God-given desire for a woman, and when she is blessed to have children, there is tremendous joy and fulfillment. Conversely, when a woman is unable to get pregnant, or when her baby dies in the womb or after birth, there is deep sorrow.
It is written, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man (or woman) who fills his quiver with them!” (Psalm 127:3-5) Motherhood is a wonderful blessing and gift from God. Whether it is one child or many. Whether biological, step, adoptive or foster care children. Whether in good health or with a disability. No matter the ups and downs, bliss or heartache, children are a blessing.
Like Hannah, if a woman is blessed to become a mother, then raising those precious little children becomes her heaven-sent mission. Unfortunately, we live in a day where the role of motherhood is diminished. Today men and women are choosing to remain single and not have children or delaying marriage. And those who do get married are putting off the start of their family, until years later, and are having fewer children than ever before. Why? Because the world we live in does not encourage the pursuit or priority of marriage and family. Rather, it encourages selfish individualism, throwing oneself into entertainment and recreation, chasing personal pleasure and putting money, career and materialism above the hard work of raising a family.
God is our Creator and has laid out how we are to live, but all of us have fallen short. To some degree maybe you feel like you have failed as a mom. Maybe you are living with a man you are not married to and have one or more children. Perhaps you have had a series of bad relationships. You might admit how you have been putting your interests above your kids or have been verbally or physically abusive to them.
Whatever you have done, stop and consider God’s plan for you.
If you feel like you have fallen short, come to Him with a humble spirit and admit how you have failed. No excuses. Then call out and ask God for His help to turn from your ways. He will hear and forgive. When God sent His only Son to die on a cross and rise again from the dead, He showed us that restoration is possible. Through turning from our sin and placing our faith in Christ, all things can be made new, which includes you.
A prayer for you – Father in heaven I pray you will hear the cry of the barren woman to have a child. Hear the cry of the mom who has fallen short of your standards and give her new life in Christ. Hear the questions of the young woman who doubts if motherhood is for her. Show her how beautifully she is made and the purpose for which she was created. In Jesus’ name. Amen.
No comments:
Post a Comment