How God sustains my motherhood
Can you imagine motherhood without God? If He does not sustain me, I do not think I could enjoy motherhood.
Behind the rewarding feeling of giving birth and becoming a mother, we cannot deny that sometimes we want to escape motherhood for at least a day or an hour.
When I was in the hospital after giving birth to my son, I thought I could rest well when we returned home.
I was planning to sleep for the whole day. But, I did not realize that my life would change upside down once we got home.
It was the moment when I had to take care of a baby while I was not fully recovered from my pain. It was the start of not having enough sleep until now.
As our child grows up, we face more struggles as mothers. For a working mom like me, more than 24 hours are required to finish all my tasks at home and work.
If I had to do it alone, I do not think I could survive and see the beauty of motherhood.
Why do Mothers Suffer
Is it God’s fault why mothers suffer? Before Adam and Eve disobeyed God, there were no tears, sleepless nights, infertility, or miscarriages.
When they did not listen to God’s instruction, God told Eve that He would undoubtedly severe her childbearing pains.
Moreover, she will have painful labor when giving birth to children. (Genesis 3:16)
Thus, we can see that our suffering as moms is not God’s fault but because of disobedience.
However, despite our sins, God never leaves or forsakes us. We do not have to face our suffering alone.
When Jesus Christ redeemed us and cleansed our sins, God the Father gave us the privilege to experience His power that could sustain us amidst our struggles.
How God Sustains Me
Without God in the picture, I cannot imagine my life as a mom. With all the changes in our physical, mental, and emotional being as mothers, we could go crazy, leading to depression.
Additionally, I realized that I could never enjoy and survive this journey of motherhood without God sustaining me.
Also, for mothers grieving for their children, God supports them so they can still see the beauty of life.
“Surely God is my help; the Lord is the one who sustains me.” Psalms 54:4
Here are some ways in which God sustains me as a mother.
God Sustains Hope
Have you ever thought of your child’s future?
As a mother, we could not help but think of what tomorrow would bring to our children. Would they have better lives, or would they achieve their dreams?
God could sustain us with the hope that He has plans for our children.
Jeremiah 29:11 says God knows his plans for Jeremiah, plan to prosper him and give him hope and a future. God does not intend to provide our children harm.
One of the best examples is the birth of John the Baptist. In Luke Chapter 1, Angel Gabriel tells Zechariah that his wife, Elizabeth, will give birth to a son and will be called John. He will be great in God’s eyes.
He will be filled with the Holy Spirit even before he is born.
In addition, John will lead many people of Israel back to God. He will obey God in Elijah’s spirit and power to turn the parents’ hearts to their kids and the disobedient to the wisdom of righteousness.
Furthermore, God will use John to prepare the people for the coming of Jesus Christ.
From this story, we can see that as mothers, God will sustain us in hope for our children’s future. Elizabeth was not able to conceive and was old.
However, she and her husband are both righteous in God’s eyes, so He gave hope of having a child and a great calling for her child.
God Sustains Strength
When you become a mom, you can do things that you never realize that you can. I never imagined I could do things simultaneously, cooking, cleaning the house, and working while caring for my child.
Although we become stronger women when we have our children, we have limitations.
We get tired and drained when we do things on our own. On the other hand, God could sustain our strength to keep us going as mothers.
Isaiah 40:31 says, “But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary. They will walk and not be faint.”
As a mom, we need God’s strength to carry it all because if we rely on ourselves, we are just like a candle that would melt.
He would help us overcome all trials and struggles as mothers.
God Sustains Peace
Did you become an overthinker when you became a mom? I am unsure if it is only me, but I have many things in my head.
I cannot help but think of our bills, my son’s needs, wants, health, and even what I need.
As a result, I have no peace, which gives me stress and depression as a mom. I always feel like I need to take control of everything to ensure I can for my son’s needs.
I am always weary about his health or if I am being able to be the good mother he needs.
Then, I realized that I am not God to take control of everything. I need God to sustain me the peace and security for my family and my child; otherwise, I will lose my sanity.
Jesus Christ said in John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled, and do not be afraid.”
As God left His peace in us that the world could not give, we should be troubled and afraid. We need God’s peace to help us build a happy home.
God Sustains Courage
As a mother, I never could have imagined overcoming giving birth to a child. But, from the very beginning, God has already sustained me with courage that drives me to be vital in giving birth.
In our weakness, God will give us the power to surpass our struggles. God could allow us to fight for and defend our children no matter how painful.
Moses’ mother is a perfect example of a courageous mother in the Bible. She courageously put her son in a basket and let it flow in the river for her child to survive death from the pharaoh’s order. (Exodus 2)
Without God, who sustained wisdom and courage to Moses’ mother, Moses could have died and did not save the Israelites from the Egyptians.
Another courageous mother that I look up to is Mary, Jesus Christ’s mom. She dares to accept God’s plan for her son even if it kills her to see that her son is suffering to save the world.
Hence, as mothers, we would do everything for our children, even if it is painful. Yet, with God, we would have the courage to do what is best for them.
God Sustains Rest
“Come to me, all weary and burdened, and I will give you rest,” according to Matthew 11:28
Doing our best to give our children or family the best life is tiring.
As a working mom, one of my simple and valuable dreams is to have a one-day rest from being a mother, wife, and worker.
There is nothing wrong with resting because we are a mother but still human beings.
Sometimes, I ask my husband to take care of my son so I can go to coffee shops and enjoy a cup of coffee alone. I could meditate and just be away from the noise of my son.
It refreshes me, but nothing compares to when I rest in the Lord.
When God gives you rest, He will provide you peace and renew your strength. I always feel renewed after praying and telling God all my struggles.
