Candlewood Church in Omaha, NE is going through a blog series focusing on Biblical Womanhood. In this blog, Emilee Brandl will discuss her takeaways on Biblical Mothering.
Mothering with Hope
“Children are a gift from the LORD; they are a reward from him.”
– Psalm 127:3
What an incredible gift we’ve been given to be mothers! The way our hearts expand to love them with a capacity we didn’t know possible, is truly a work of the Lord. While our hearts grow, so do the demands and pulls in so many directions—mentally, physically, spiritually, emotionally. Throughout every season we ask and question ourselves: “Am I raising my children according to the Word?” “Am I doing enough?” “Am I pushing them too hard?”
There is a real spiritual tension in motherhood. The question I should really be asking myself is: What is the hope for my children?” People hope in all sorts of things (money, power, popularity, good works, possessions, career, talents, religious activities, etc.), but as Christians, we are the only people in the world with true HOPE. This should completely infuse our mothering. We want our hope to be in Christ alone, but often selfish desires get intertwined with the godly things we want most for our children. Is my hope tied to anything besides Christ? As I seek to weed out the selfish desires I tend to put my hope in, His Word continues to expose and illuminate those dark places in my heart.
Anchored in the Truth
“For You, O Lord, light my lamp; my God lights up my darkness.”
– Psalm 18:28
Am I anchored in the Truth of His Word? My emotions often oppose Truth. We must be diligent in bringing our emotions under the headship of the Word, giving all of our heart and emotions to the Lord and filtering them through His Word. If our hope as mothers is rooted in a particular outcome, we will be on an emotional rollercoaster. God never promised us a specific outcome with our children. He promises to be with us and to never leave us or forsake us. We need to be renewing our minds with the Truth of who God is. He is sovereign, faithful, and trustworthy in all His ways.
“‘For my thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways my ways,’ declares the Lord. ‘As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are my ways higher than your ways and my thoughts than your thoughts.’”
– Isaiah 55:8-9
I pray that God would reveal and remove anything in my heart that offends him. I need to be anchored in the Word and not ruled by my ever-changing emotions. I must diligently bring my emotions under the headship of the Word. God never called me to be a perfect mom, and my kids’ salvations are never a result of perfect mothering. The transformation of my children is dependent on the Lord and this brings me freedom. God’s sovereignty is greater than my feelings and my failings. It’s not my responsibility to write my children’s stories. I am called to lovingly plant, water, feed, correct, and entrust the heart work of my children to the Lord. In essence, I am trading my sense of control for humble trust in the One True God who loves my children more than I ever could. There is oh so much freedom in this!
This motherhood journey is going so quickly. I wish with anything that I could slow it down, to go back and do things differently in some ways. To not get so wrapped up in all the things that don’t matter and to make more time for what truly matters—to sit at my Savior’s feet and soak in His truth, not looking around at how I’m not measuring up to the people around me. Comparison is a trap that always ends in sin. It either puffs you up or puts you down, neither rooted in the Truth of His Word. God is who He says He is, and He will do what He promises in His Word. His ways are higher!
It’s All For His Glory
“Remember the former things, those of long ago;
I am God, and there is no other;
I am God, and there is none like me.
I make known the end from the beginning,
from ancient times, what is still to come.
I say, ‘My purpose will stand,
and I will do all that I please.’
From the east I summon a bird of prey;
from a far-off land, a man to fulfill my purpose.
What I have said, that I will bring about;
what I have planned, that I will do.”
– Isaiah 46:9-11
Mothers, let us be lights in this dark world, loving our Savior and children fiercely, selflessly in a way that magnifies and brings glory to our faithful God. John 3:30 “He must increase. I must decrease.” May we cling to the Lord and His Word as our anchor and compass. He is our help, shield, and direction. Let us not look to the right or to the left but straight to our Savior. We are called to live differently, set apart. The hope we have in Christ should shine through the way we live, drawing our children and others to the Lord, lifting our eyes to HIM.
“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light.”
– Matthew 11:28-30
Mama, you are not alone, and the weight is not yours to carry. God’s grace is sufficient for you in your mothering. He has equipped you with everything you need for life and godliness. His power is perfected in weakness. Let us have soft, humble hearts before the Lord and lean into His parenting of us, so we can be the parents He has called us to be for our children. HOPEFUL. ANCHORED. FOR HIS GLORY.
Additional Information
If you would like to learn more about Candlewood Church in Omaha, NE or have questions about Biblical Womanhood, please contact info@candlewoodchurch.org.
Continue reading about Biblical Womanhood:
- Inner Beauty by Christina Parish
- Good Deeds by Stephanie Corral
- Wifehood by Julie Mauk
- Holy Women of the Present by Dani Christie
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