Help For Moms Who Struggle With Purpose

I hear him talking in the distance to an old friend on the phone.

“She’s put the book thing on hold right now to care for the children” my husband responded, I am assuming to the question about how my book is going.

That question arises pretty often, not just in my life but women’s lives in general. If you’re not working outside the home, people want to know what your purpose is.

“I mean I know you’re a mom but what do you do outside the home?”

Like somehow taking care of children isn’t enough.

Like somehow raising the next generation to be ambassadors for Christ is not enough.

I am telling the world and maybe your soul:

Mothering is no second-rate ministry. It is your ministry, and it’s ok if that is all you do because that is enough…there I said it. Mothering is enough.

It is enough for you, and it is enough for God. It is ok to put dreams on the back burner and focus on your kids because they need you now. They need all of you, not just the scraps you have left over at the end of the day. They need all of you no matter what age they are.

Mothering is a ministry ordained by God, and you are anointed and chosen by God to mother the children he put in your home. That is your purpose. That is your calling. Do not allow the enemy to tell you otherwise.

This lie of mothering not being enough has seeped not only into our culture but our church culture. The pressure for a woman to be more and do more is stronger than it has ever been.

“I know I am called to be a mom, but there’s got to be more. Something more glamorous than this?”

Maybe a speaker or a writer? Maybe I should go back to school?

Or help more in the church?

Or teach a class?

All these things are great, however, sometimes we want to do more—because we don’t value and honor what God has already given us to do. (preaching to myself)

We always have to bring our motives to the feet of Jesus.

Greater Purpose

I’ve been thinking: the time with my children is only a blink-of-an-eye, and then they will be grown and out of the house, so what do I want them to remember?

What do I want? What do I want them to remember?

A mom who was frazzled and crazy because she was trying to juggle too many plates? Or a mom who was joyful and loved her time with her children?

What you most want is what you most love.

I am doubtful they want a mom who is crazy and frazzled. They want a mom who is all there.

Because honestly—

It would be a travesty at the end of our lives if we stood before Jesus and he said,

“I called you to be a mom. I never called you to any of the other things you did.” 

You were meant for greatness, and sometimes that greatness looks like loving the sweet babies in your home.

I believe, for many of us, raising children in our home to be Christ followers is our purpose. He wants us to do it with joy.

When I think of Jesus on the night of betrayal, he told his disciples to abide in him and hold fast to his teachings. He called them to remain in His love, even when it gets hard and confusing. Then he says this, “I have spoken these things to you so that My joy may be in you and your joy may be complete” John 15:11. 

And Hebrews 12:2 says, “who for the joy that lay before Him endured the cross…”

What? With joy?

Not drudgery or out of duty. The joy. Amazing.

God doesn’t call you to drudgery—He calls you to joy.

Maybe it’s not our purpose we lost. Maybe it’s our joy of mothering.

We have joy built inside of us through the power of the Holy Spirit. I know how weary mothering gets and how it feels just to want to run away. In those times I have to remind my soul, “Do not grow weary in doing good, because in due time you will reap a mighty harvest” Galatians 6:9.

And today I allow mothering to be enough and I lay the rest at His feet knowing He is the author and finisher of our faith. He is a good Father and will never allow my dreams to die because He is the author of them.

Will there one day be a book? Yes. But until then let me get back to taking care of my five children.

And, for now, I will allow mothering to be enough.

Let God today to renew your strength and to fill you with His Joy.

 

 

If you loved this post subscribe to my newsletter to get monthly devotionals. And if you really, really loved it…share it to encourage your mom friends.