Motherhood

Many women will say that becoming a mother changed their understanding of God in various ways—like their knowledge of the concept of unconditional love. For many parents—mothers and fathers alike—only when they experienced the unconditional love they had for their children were they able to grasp how deeply God loves them, no matter what.

This book has stories of many mothers.

One of these mothers is the prayer warrior Clotilde, who influenced her husband, a pagan king, when she prayed for the healing of their ill sons. Eventually, when he was in need, this king prayed to “Clotilde’s God” and became a Christian, leading many to conversion.

There’s also Louisa Stead, a mother who was left to care for her daughter alone after her husband died trying to save someone else’s child. She endured poverty and at times had no food to feed her daughter. Out of her experiences came a hopeful poem that turned into the beloved hymn “’Tis So Sweet to Trust in Jesus.”

Monica tirelessly prayed for the conversion of her son Augustine. Susanna Wesley dutifully taught the Scriptures to her sons, John and Charles. And, of course, there’s Mary, the mother of Jesus, whose willingness to become a mother under scandalous circumstances changed, well, just about everything.

One thing all these mothers have in common is that they looked to God for hope when times were tough. They trusted that he would help them. They influenced others around them—husbands, children, family, and friends—with their comfort, their faith, their prayers, and their examples.

The care and comfort that mothers can give is often a glimpse of the care and comfort that God always gives. When you’re in need of comfort, think of how your mother (or someone who was a mother figure to you, like a grandparent, a neighbor, a friend’s mom, a teacher) offered you comfort. Know that God offers that type of comfort too.

This also gives us an angle on an age-old question: Why doesn’t God always give us what we ask for? Well, good moms don’t give their kids ice cream every time they scream for it. In the same way, God doesn’t always fix things the way we hope he will, but he does provide what’s best for us.

This is what the LORD says: . . . “I will comfort you . . . as a mother comforts her child.”

Isaiah 66:12-13