Before I became a mom I was a very independent, self-assured, self-confident person. I loved being a wife and working as a teacher. I was good at what I did. Yes, there were little challenges along the way that made me turn to God for wisdom or guidance, but nothing that made me get to the end of myself. Even when I looked forward to becoming a mom, it was with confidence that I could get through whatever learning curves being a mother would throw at me. How hard could it be?
When we found out we were having twins, my husband said to me, “Looks like God’s starting us off on the advanced level cuz we thought being parents of one baby would be easy”.
It was amazing really, how all my confidence and self-assurance went out the window the second I was told there were two little heartbeats. Right from week six of my pregnancy until having my girls, I was on bedrest most of the time, totally depending on others to take care of me, and on God to help me get through the worst physical pain I’d ever experienced. Not exactly what I was used to!
During the following two years as a new mom, learning to depend on God became a major theme for me. For the first time in my life I really needed Him. I had no idea what I was doing, and my physical, emotional, mental and spiritual limits were (and continue to be!) tested every day. Some days I didn’t think I would make it..some days I didn’t think I could handle one minute more… Crying out to God for His supernatural strength, wisdom and grace was all I could do.
I had to come face to face with the fact that it was OK that I couldn’t be a good mom on my own. That it was part of His plan all along. He wanted me to depend on Him for everything in my life, just like my children depend on me every day for their survival.
Why does He want us to depend on Him though? Because then He gets the honour and glory of taking a weak, sinful, incapable human being and bestowing on them the ability to do great things in His name. It’s my purpose for existence, really. To bring Him glory and praise with my life, because He is a great and worthy God.
But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong (2 Corinthians 12:9-11).
The road of motherhood will never be easy, and just when you think you’ve mastered it (as all experienced mothers will know), another new challenge comes your way that drives you to your knees like never before.
But the blessings of dependence are many: deeper intimacy with God, super spiritual strength and endurance, stronger faith and trust in Him, no pressure of having to perform or do it all on your own. All you have to do is lay down your pride (easier said than done, I know!) and admit that you can’t do it alone.
If you have babies or small children, they are very dependent on you as mothers. They are small, fragile and need you for everything. As you lovingly meet their needs, be reminded that your Heavenly Father wants to meet your needs in a like manner, and for you to come to Him as a little child, dependent and in faith that He will provide what you need when you need it.
Beautiful layout! Keep up the good work.