Motherhood is certainly one of the most beautiful, challenging, and rewarding things a woman may ever do. As Christian women we desire to live lives that are faithful and pleasing to God.
While I will be addressing motherhood today, I believe that many of these principles can be helpful and useful for any season of life as we seek to honour God in thought and in deed. Through this time today I want to see if we can answer the question: How can I be a faithful mother? Not that I expect people to take notes, but I will be using the acronym “mother” to flesh this out a little bit.
So what does faithful motherhood look like?
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First: Faithful Motherhood is a Ministry
Ministry is defined in Webster’s 1828 dictionary as “the office, duties or functions of a subordinate agent of any kind.” As mothers we have the office of nurturing and shepherding the hearts of our children, as God’s subordinate agents. We have been called out of the darkness and into Gods light to be used as instruments in His hands. As the creator of heaven and earth God alone (in his word) has the authority to tell us how to live lives of faithfulness. We have been called to make disciples of all the nations (in Matthew 28:19) and as a mother: your children are those who you are seeking to disciple. Mothers, you are uniquely chosen to disciple your children and teach them God’s precepts. We are called to nurture our children with the same kindness and compassion that God in Christ has shown us, Proverbs 31:26 says of the excellent wife “the instruction of loving kindness is on her tongue.”
We are called to instruct and discipline our children when they sin, Proverbs 13:24 says “He who holds back his rod hates his son, but he who loves him disciplines him diligently.” Faithfulness in this discipline and instruction is pleasing in God’s sight and by His grace it may bring the peaceful fruit of righteousness when it grows to maturity. We see one such example of this fruit in Timothy, whose mother and grandmother Eunice and Lois ministered to him from a young age. 2 Timothy 3:14-15 says “you (Timothy) continue in the things which you have learned and become convinced of, knowing from whom you have learned them, and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Jesus Christ.”
Through the faithful ministry of motherhood (and grandmotherhood) we see that Timothy had been instructed in the scriptures and become convinced that they were true. What a fearful and sacred opportunity you have been given as a mother to care for those whose souls will live for eternity. And all of this ministry of motherhood is done in worship to the living God – every diaper changed, dish washed, booger wiped, snuggled moment, is an opportunity to worship God with thankfulness that He has blessed you with the opportunity to be productive by doing good to others.
Now that we’ve established the ministry of motherhood: what does that look like lived out?
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Faithful Motherhood Requires Obedience
As mothers we must daily seek to walk in obedience to God’s word. His word should be our treasure and the compass which guides our steps. Psalm 119:105 says “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” Obedience is going to require much prayer, and daily study of the word. How can you obey what you do not know?
This will require much discipline: you might have to get up early, skip your nap, or stay up later to spend time in the word. But God is faithful and will give you what you need each day, even when there are sleepless nights and days that seem to go on forever, His word should be a priority in your life. His word will grow your affections for Him and his ways.
The continual demands of motherhood may tempt you to become weary and despair, but Romans 12:1 says “Therefore I exhort you brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a sacrifice, living, holy, and pleasing to God, which is your spiritual service of worship.” You are no longer your own, you have been bought with a price and God has called you to sacrifice yourself in obedience to Him. This obedience and sacrifice must be motivated by our love for God. If we try to muster up enough strength or ability in our own strength we will become weary. God alone is the one who can give rest to our souls. We trust that He is able to sustain us.
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Faithful motherhood requires trust
Having children is a vulnerable thing. It can feel a little bit like having a piece of your heart wandering around outside of your body. You may at times be tempted to fear or become anxious, but Proverbs 3:5 says, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding“. And Psalm 56:3 says, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in You,” – that is, in God. We trust that God who created and upholds all things is infinitely wise, faithful, and good. He has known and numbered all of our days, as well as our children’s. He cares perfectly for our children, because He is in control, and we are not. Life may not always look how we expect – as we live in a fallen world of sin, trials and difficulties are inevitable. We may have hopes, dreams, or plans for pregnancy, birth, or parenting, but we must hold it all with open hands.
“The mind of man plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps,” Proverbs 16:9. We are totally dependent on God, recognizing that we really are powerless creatures. This should both humble and comfort us.
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Faithful Motherhood Requires Humility
This goes hand in hand with the trust we’ve just seen. It is required for faithful motherhood. We must stand in humility before the Creator, but we must also live with humility before our children. They need to see our humility as we repent of our sins both to God, and to them. We are needy sinners, with children who are needy sinners. And praise God we know the remedy for that sin. Our children will see our humility in repentance and know that God “is opposed to the proud but gives grace to the humble.” 1 Peter 5:5.
Our behaviour should show our children that God is not far off or unapproachable. He is near and He cares for us, and for them. He is able and willing to forgive those who seek him in humility. We can also model humility for our children by practicing forgiveness in light of how much we have been forgiven. We, of all people, ought to be most forgiving. Our children will sin against us daily, sometimes hourly, sometimes every thirty seconds. We teach them both the value of
repentance, and willing forgiveness. We also humbly admit that we can not be faithful in our own strength, we need enabling grace.
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Faithful Motherhood Requires Enablement
Romans 7:18 says “I know that nothing good dwells in me, that is, in my flesh.” We know that we have no good in our own abilities, we require the enabling grace of God through the Holy Spirit to be faithful in mothering. 2 Corinthians 9:8 says “God is able to make all grace abound to you, so that always having all sufficiency in everything, you may have an abundance for every good deed.” The only good fruit we can bear is by the empowering and enabling work of the Holy Spirit which dwells in us. We must daily, hourly, moment by moment entreat the Lord to enable us to faithfully care for our children. No doubt your children will be one of the primary means of sanctification in your life, and you will likely stumble and fall short. But, God is faithful and with His spirit to enable you, you can faithfully guide your children in paths of righteousness. This is only possible because of Christ.
Which brings us finally to…
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Faithful Motherhood Requires a Risen Saviour
None of what I’ve said matters without the sure and steady anchor of Jesus Christ. Hebrews 6:19 says “This hope we have as an anchor of the soul, a hope both sure and steadfast.” We serve a risen Saviour who has gone before us. The Lord Jesus Christ took on human flesh, lived a sinless life, died an atoning death, and on the third day rose again, so that those who confess their sins and trust in Him are forgiven and cleansed of the old manner of living. As those who love Christ we are now cleansed from every sin, when we fall short in motherhood, we know we are forgiven when we confess our sins. The Holy God of the universe has paved the way for faithful motherhood. Day by day we obey his word, humbly trust Him to enable us, and look to the resurrected Christ as the anchor of our souls, so that we can, by His grace, be faithful mothers, wives, friends, and women.
“Therefore, since we have so great a cloud of witnesses surrounding us, let us also lay aside every encumbrance and the sin which so easily entangles us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set, fixing our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God,” Hebrews 12:1-2
~ Sara B.
