I remember clearly the expectations I had when I was pregnant with my daughter even before I had even held her in my arms. I was committed to natural childbirth (it didn’t happen), 100% breast feeding (that didn’t happen either) and I had the perfect set-in-stone sleep schedule to give us all the most happy and joy-filled home (strike three). How is it possible that I was only a couple of weeks into this journey and I was already feeling like a complete failure?
The weight of being a good mother- no – a great mother…the BEST mother for my daughter overwhelmed me. As a first generation Christian, I was so afraid to “mess up” and I was determined to give my child the life I never had and the life I “knew” God wanted for her.
Here’s the problem- I relied more on my plans than on prayer and fear drove me to focus on failure instead of the promises of God. I constantly found myself asking:
- How can I do this?
- Am I doing enough?
- Am I doing the “right” things?
- I’ve lost myself- who am I in all of this?”
I found a simple truth that made everything clear; I am not alone and neither are you.
Our legacy will not be where we came from but to Whom we belong. If we are faithful, by the grace of God, our children will not be shaped in our image, but in the image of God who hems us in before and behind. There’s freedom and hope in this! Motherhood is no cakewalk, but guess what? In the epic story of Moses and God’s steadfast faithfulness, we find hope and assurance.
Let’s peel back the layers and discover how God equips us to raise generations of God-loving kiddos, all while leaning on one epic promise.
“Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord your God goes with you; He will never leave you nor forsake you.”
Deuteronomy 31:6 (NIV)
Divine Calling: Handpicked for this Purpose
Just like God chose Moses to lead the Israelites (Exodus 3:10), He handpicked you for an eternal mission too. Yep, you, mama! You’ve been entrusted with the crazy-amazing responsibility of raising your kids to be God-fearing individuals in this lost world. This doesn’t mean that you have to be a Bible scholar. This means that with each new day, you seek the Lord’s direction in His word. You pray and receive His help and grace and He equips you for everything in this journey from the toddler tantrums to the teen traumas.
It is not what you know, but Who you know and there’s NO better momma for your children than you; God says so – so believe Him instead of those lies that keep you discouraged and defeated. The battle is already won. Walk with joy in that truth and your children will see Jesus in you. What better motherhood goal is there?
“So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.”
Exodus 3:10 (NIV)
God’s Faithfulness: Rock-Solid Through the Uncertainty
Let’s be honest, Moses had his fair share of mess-ups and wanderings in the desert (Exodus 3-14). But guess what? God’s faithfulness was unwavering! And right here, in the middle of our hot mess mom moments, we can count on the same rock-solid promise. “He will never leave you nor forsake you,” sweet sister!
Do you know what this tells me?
God is big enough to cover my mistakes; He knew I would make them and yet, He still made me momma to four beautiful children from ages 19 down to 7. He won’t abandon me. He’s not done with me and I’m clinging to the hem of His garment because if I can give my kids a glimpse of His face, my faults and failures will be overshadowed by His glory. And someday, they will receive that grace, too, and that makes the uncertainty a vapor.
God said to Moses, “I am who I am.[a] This is what you are to say to the Israelites: ‘I am has sent me to you.’”
Exodus 3:14
Cultivating Faith: Legacy Building 101
Remember Moses’ face-to-face chat with God at the burning bush? (Exodus 3:1-6). Well, buckle up, because you’ve got some incredible face-to-face moments of your own with your kiddos. Through heart-to-heart talks, prayers, and living out a genuine faith, you’re leaving a legacy of love! Some days are easier than others. Many days, it’s the practical stuff that squelches the Pinterest Faith-Filled momma hope for our homes:
- Kids wake with a bad mood.
- Mom wakes with a bad mood.
- I make frozen pizza for dinner- again.
- I’m short with one of my children who can never find his socks to get out the door in time to rush to our one-too-many commitments so they can have all of the opportunity and well-roundedness they need to thrive.
Sound familiar? Deep breath. Momma, we need to keep it simple.
We know the saying that in motherhood the days are long but the years are short; don’t discount the moments. Fill up on Truth so you have eyes to see when that one kid needs a word of encouragement or just 5 minutes to listen to what happened with a friend.
And what about bedtime? We’re tired at night, but every home has a liturgy, a rhythm – what is yours?
Mine was rushing kids through the bedtime routine so I could FINALLY finish my tasks and rest; I was often not the most loving and those moments were not the most faith-building. It was a legacy I didn’t want to leave. It was a rhythm based on routing instead of relationship.
So, did I overall and make a huge plan with a sparkling new liturgy- absolutely! . Did it work? Absolutely not. It was a miserable failure. So, instead of giving up I gave it up and I just prayed. I landed here:
- Pray with them.
- Read one Bible story to the littles.
- Remind each of them of My love.
I was changed. Our home was changed. Bedtime became a time of worship instead of a time of war; it’s not perfect but it’s progress and I know the Lord is pleased. It’s His legacy in His power and He gives us just enough light for the next step.
Now Moses was tending the flock of Jethro his father-in-law, the priest of Midian, and he led the flock to the far side of the wilderness and came to Horeb, the mountain of God. There the angel of the Lord appeared to him in flames of fire from within a bush. Moses saw that though the bush was on fire it did not burn up. So Moses thought, “I will go over and see this strange sight—why the bush does not burn up.”
When the Lord saw that he had gone over to look, God called to him from within the bush, “Moses! Moses!”
And Moses said, “Here I am.”
“Do not come any closer,” God said. “Take off your sandals, for the place where you are standing is holy ground.” Then he said, “I am the God of your father,[atthe God of Abraham, the God of Isaac and the God of Jacob.” At this, Moses hid his face, because he was afraid to look at God.
Exodus 3:1-6
Mama, you are not alone on this ride. You are chosen, equipped, and covered by the Almighty. Hold onto His promise, “He will never leave you nor forsake you.” So, amidst the daily whirlwind of motherhood, invest in your kids’ spiritual growth, leading them to encounter God for themselves. Trust that you’re raising a generation of God-loving champs who will light up this world with His love. Take a deep breath, my friend, and know that He’s got your back every step of the way!
Listen to the podcast below to discover how building our house on God’s word can protect us as mothers and provide a guide to fulfilling a Godly legacy for our families.
At MomQ we believe that motherhood is a calling from God. While it is both a privilege and an honor, it is by no means easy! Moms have a lot of questions/concerns and need caring support along their journey. Whether you are a brand new mom or a little more seasoned, MomQ is here to help you fulfill your God given role. Don’t see a group in your area? Contact us today about starting one in your community!
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