Courageous Motherhood

I can remember the exact moment the Dr. handed me my newborn babies. Each one bigger than the next. Hours of labor led to delivery of these beautiful, slightly gross little humans that were mine to raise. On its own the birthing process was courageous , nothing prepared me for the journey that the gift of parenting would bring.

When I think of courage, I picture myself taking a deep breath, mustering up all the perseverance I have and facing my fears head on. But through God’s great mercy, my journey through motherhood has shown me courage doesn’t come from within myself but rather from the Lord. Courage is defined as doing the right thing even when it’s hard or you are afraid. That sounds nice, but how do we do that ? We are to courageously pray. (Hebrews 4:16)These little lives, that have been given as a reward (Psalm 127:3) are ours to shepherd even when it’s scary and when we can’t understand the why. Anyone else like to know the why? Paul David Tripp in his best-selling book Parenting, states “Parenting is ambassadorial work from beginning to end. It is not to be shaped and directed by personal interest, personal need or cultural perspectives. Every parent everywhere is called to recognize that they have been put on earth at a particular time and in a particular location to do one thing in the lives of their children. What is that one thing? It is God’s Will”

To live courageously in this particular time and particular location is to remind yourself that you were specifically created to be your child’s parent. Our great God makes no mistakes. He knew from the very beginning that you were the perfect fit for your child. The days will come, when you feel overwhelmed, unappreciated and just plain tired, remember that God is using you as a mighty part of His kingdom. He has invited you to encourage and help mold the lives of the next generation.

Courage is not something that comes from within. It’s not something you’re born with. It’s choosing to live in faithful obedience every day. Especially on the days when you are called to wash the dishes, do the laundry and read that story for the tenth time. Social media exemplifies perfection. I easily remember the days of sitting in sweats, smelly, watching all the “other” put together moms reading to their well-behaved children in their “perfect” homes. It was in those years that courage looked like intentional time spent with my kids and not letting my “not enough” rule my thought life.

But how do we do that? We get up each morning and courageously pray over our children’s lives. I am a mom who likes control. I can remember sending my daughter off to public school for the first time. Watching her step through the doors of that school felt as though I was throwing her into the lions den. But God had very intentionally led us to this moment and made it clear this was the school we needed to be at. So, with great abandon, I courageously sent her in. It’s been 9 years and three kids later God has been faithful and His provisions are daily.

In Exodus 3, God reveals himself to Moses. At this time, Moses is a shepherd tending to his sheep when the Lord appears in a burning bush. He calls Moses to travel back to Egypt, the land he fled from in fear, and address Pharoah. Exodus 3:10 “So now, go. I am sending you to Pharaoh to bring my people the Israelites out of Egypt.” Moses comes up with every excuse in the books as to why God’s got the wrong guy. God in his loving and just way responds in Exodus 4:11-12 “Who gave man his mouth? Who makes him deaf or mute? Who gives him sight or makes him blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now go; I will help you speak and will teach you what to say.” As mother’s we need release our fear and excuses and trust His the I WILL BE . How is God asking you to obey in your mothering journey right now?

Abraham, when God asked him to sacrifice his son Isaac, God provided provision. Moses’ mother Jochebed, as she placed Moses in a basket among the reeds, God provided protection. Hannah, after so many years of infertility. God provided her a family. Mary, when pregnant with no room for her baby to be born, God provided a place. Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, sweating ‘with blood from his brow, prayed “Take this cup from me, yet not what I will, but what you will.” (Mark 14:16) God provided salvation. What do all these courageous choices have in common? They trusted God’s plan and courageously followed after His Will.

In those moments when we find ourselves choosing fear over courage, let us courageously pray asking for wisdom, patience and trust. They are already sheltered under his wings (Psalm 91:4). As mothers, we cannot control the spiritual battle going on inside our child’s heart. That is the Lord’s job. We do however get to walk alongside them, as their ambassador, showing them what courage looks like when we lay our own lives in the arms of our Heavenly Father..