Mother's Day Devotional

 As Mother’s Day approaches, we often think of our relationship with our mother and, if we are mothers, we recall our time with our children. In an age when the lines between male and female are blurred, as Christians, we know that God made men and women differently. On Mother’s Day, we can celebrate these differences and encourage one another in this special calling. 

Genesis 1:27 ESV - 27 So God created man in his own image, in the image of God he created him; male and female he created them.

You’ve likely felt these differences in the way a woman nurtures others compared to how a man goes about it. God in His wisdom gave men and women different giftings. We can rejoice in these differences and work together with the men in our lives to meet the needs of our children or to help with children in our lives. 

While motherhood is a blessing, it is also work that we do to honor God. Work can be exhausting and at times feel like a burden, but it can also bring joy and a feeling of accomplishment. During the times when it comes easy and also during the times when mothering takes everything out of us, it is a service unto the Lord that brings Him glory.

As you read on, I hope you will be reminded of your great calling—as a mother or simply as a female Christian. I also hope these words will encourage you. God is for you!

Some of us may never have the opportunity to be a mother, but the scripture I share below has a message for you too. Regardless of whether we have children or not, if you are a Christian you have a responsibility to share Jesus in every way possible. Sharing Jesus starts in the home but also happens everywhere we go. The scriptures referenced below are for all believers, not just mothers or even women.

Deuteronomy 11:18-19 (ESV) 18 “You shall therefore lay up these words of mine in your heart and in your soul, and you shall bind them as a sign on your hand, and they shall be as frontlets between your eyes. 19 You shall teach them to your children, talking of them when you are sitting in your house, and when you are walking by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.

These are the words that Moses spoke to the people of Israel just before they entered the promised land after wandering in the wilderness. Their parents showed no faith forty years earlier when they had the chance to enter the promised land the first time (Numbers 13-14). In Deuteronomy, Moses was about to turn over leadership to Joshua and wanted to make sure they understood what God expected, and they committed to the covenant with God. Over the years, though God had repeatedly worked miracles in their lives, when faced with adversity they crumbled.

As mothers, we are also called to pass on the precepts of God. Just like the Israelites were about to enter a place where God was not followed, we live in a world where we are surrounded by things that are hostile to God and draw us and our families away from Him. Will we stand firm in our faith and represent Him well in the day to day things? Are we intentionally teaching scripture, pointing out what God has done, talking about the things of God, and praying with our children and grandchildren? How can we stand firm when faced with adversity or weariness?

Deuteronomy 11:16 (ESV) Take care lest your heart be deceived, and you turn aside and serve other gods and worship them;

As I mentioned earlier, Deuteronomy is the account of Moses speaking to the Israelites just before they entered the promised land. Those he spoke to were the children of those whom he led out of Egypt and with whom God had originally made a covenant. Now Moses who faithfully instructed their parents in God’s laws wanted to make sure that before God took him to heaven, they too knew God’s laws and precepts. He was instructing them in what is called the Mosaic Covenant—the Ten Commandments and other laws God gave the Israelites through Moses long before the arrival of Jesus. 

Moses was faithful to pass these things on to God’s people. How much more important is it to point our children to the word of God now that we also have the truth of salvation through Jesus Christ alone to share?

We should be showing our children the hope and grace found only through Christ so that they too will choose Jesus to be their Lord and Savior. This requires constant prayer, hard work, and determination. Such steadfast determination can make us weary. There may be times when we feel like we too are walking through a dry wilderness. When our children are young they keep us running, as they grow older the challenges stretch us mentally and emotionally.

What does this journey look like at the different ages and stages of our children? How can we continue to guide them when they are adults? When they are older, how do we assist them in pointing our grandchildren to the Lord? What about coming alongside young mothers in our church and community to help them? These are things to be considered.

We must lean on God, look to His word, and seek Him in prayer and meditation to stay the course. 

The New Testament book of Hebrews has that wonderful chapter eleven—the Hall of Fame of Faith—pointing us to men and women of the Bible who exemplified faith in very difficult situations. What stands out to me is that they kept in mind this world is not our home. Read the verses below.

Hebrews 11:8-10 (ESV) 8 By faith Abraham obeyed when he was called to go out to a place that he was to receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going. 9 By faith he went to live in the land of promise, as in a foreign land, living in tents with Isaac and Jacob, heirs with him of the same promise. 10 For he was looking forward to the city that has foundations, whose designer and builder is God.

Hebrews 11:13-16 (ESV) 13 These all died in faith, not having received the things promised, but having seen them and greeted them from afar, and having acknowledged that they were strangers and exiles on the earth. 14 For people who speak thus make it clear that they are seeking a homeland. 15 If they had been thinking of that land from which they had gone out, they would have had opportunity to return. 16 But as it is, they desire a better country, that is, a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared for them a city.

Hebrews 12:1-2 (ESV) 1 Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, 2 looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Dear woman of God. What is the race that God has placed you in? Are you a mother, grandmother, daughter, or friend of a mother? Hold fast to what God has called you to and run your race. Your race won’t look like any other woman’s, and it definitely won’t look like the race of those who don’t belong to God. Lean on God in all of the ups and downs and let Him be your strength. We cannot do all that God has called us to, but we have a gift that the Old Testament believers didn’t have—the Holy Spirit. With God’s Spirit in us, we can accomplish God’s plan for us. Look at what God told Paul:

2 Corinthians 12:9 ESV - 9 But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness." Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me.

When you feel you can’t carry on remember:

 

Lamentations 3:22-24 (ESV) 22 The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; 23 they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. 24 “The LORD is my portion,” says my soul, “therefore I will hope in him.”

I am a mother of 4 (youngest adopted from Haiti), mother in love of 1, and grandmother of 1. Adoption has a special place in my heart, as I too am adopted. I also know the pain of infertility and miscarriage (yet God later gifted me with three biological children). My mother passed away almost five years ago after a 14 1/2 year battle with Alzheimer’s. For most of my child rearing years, she was not able to be there for me because of her disease . . . and yet God has provided. I continue to work on glorifying God in the good times and the bad, leaning on Him and trusting that He will accomplish His purposes through me when I make myself available. 

As you celebrate Mother’s Day, consider your circumstances and glorify God in that place. Stay the course, look to God, and point those around you to Him.

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Blessings in the name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ!