6 Biblical Tools to Combat the Lies of Missional Motherhood

Ever had that kind of day where kids won’t stop crying and you just want to crawl back into bed, throw the covers over your head, and press an imaginary button on your alarm clock that says, “Turn back time”?

Motherhood is under a holocaust.  There is a real life, in your face assault against parenthood going on.  It is underway every day, in every nation, in every city…but we just don’t see it.

It hides in the shopping commercials, the ads luring us to travel to exotic places; it creeps in through “the good life” promises, and derogatory statements on social media. I mean, haven’t we all heard someone downplayed motherhood, saying, “I am just a mom.”

But friends, this, motherhood-is-a-wasted-life theory is a lie, tempting to deceitfully derail us. It says, “Someone else’s life is better”, or “parenting has no joy or no fulfillment.”

Statistics today report, at an ever increasing rate, moms are abandoning their husbands, children, even entire households. Women are walking away from their label “motherhood”…because someone somewhere has convinced them that they deserve more than changing diapers, attending children’s mundane needs, or listening to kids bicker all day.

I mean, haven’t we all seen the crumbled families, the motherless children, the families broken because someone justified, “another life” must be better than the one that God by grace has given me?

I don’t know about you, but I have joked (sometimes not always smiling) with my husband on those awful, terrible, really hard days when I just don’t think I can go on, “I am running away”.  Please tell me you have threatened this too…or at least thought it?

But friends, God never wanted our self-centeredness. He simply asks for our obedient faithfulness. He calls us not to be the designer of our own destiny, but to align our heart with His, laying down our wills for the sake of family.

I mean, let’s look at scripture. From the beginning of time there has been an assault against children and families: Cain killed Abel due to jealousy; Essau and Jacob battled due to their mother’s favoritism; people worshipped false gods like Molech, throwing live children into the fire for so-called purification; leaders like Pharaoh and Herod slaughter children, wanting alone to be the one and only Savior.

But God says family is precious.  He welcomes, loves, and delights in children. Psalms 127:3-5 says, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand  of a warrior are the children of one's youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them!”

Do you need six ways to treasure the little ones God has placed in your life?

Remember their position. (Matt 18:1-25) When you feel what you’re doing is useless, remember to God, children are “greatest in the Kingdom”.
    
Be approachable. (Mark 10:14) The more you are with your children, the more your heart will mold with them.  Time and attention always increases love.

Protect your children. Our job is to do more than love and feed our children, but to protect them from dark influences, people, and situations. (Luke 17:2)
 
Provide everything your child needs for life and godliness. (1 Tim 5:8) That includes spiritual training. 
 
Pray over your children. (Matt 19:13-20) Don’t be afraid to lay hands on your children and speak life over their little lives. 

Give room for the Lord to work in your children’s lives. (Isaiah 54:13) Remember, He is the God who plans our children’s steps and ordains their lives. 

Motherhood isn’t always laughing and amusement parks, but if we look at what God says about children, we will find motherhood is some of the most holy, sacred work there is. 

About Jen

Though born, raised, and still living only miles from where she grew up, Jen's heart lies in the nations. Jen loves the beautiful tapestry found in the wide diversity of people, different cultures, and all nations.  Jen and her husband have been married twenty years, and have parented fifteen kids and counting; twelve foster, one adopted, and two bios.  Her multi-racial family reflects her passion for unity, desire for faith without walls, and missional mindset to share both the gospel and the power of redemption to a world desperately needing the hope found in Jesus Christ. Jen and her husband have led in a variety of ministries; including prayer, small groups, children's, and women’s.  Jen advocates for the orphan as a board member for the
non-profit, A New Song; and loves doing missions work internationally, along with her family.  You can find Jen writing about faith, while challenging her readers at her blog, Rich Faith Rising, as well as at tweeting faith-filled messages @Jen_Avellaneda .  Jen is also on facebook.  

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