Three Verses to Build a Mother’s Faith
Scripture memory is a lot like stashing protein-rich snacks in my nightstand, diaper bag, and dashboard. I need food on the go. I need the word on the go. Both require a bit of intentionality and resolve to do what’s good for me. As a mom with two little toddlers running around, I can’t forget to eat. I am desperate for the energy to keep up physically, and I crave the promises of God to strengthen me in my weakness.[1] I need them tucked in my heart, lingered upon, and prayed over.[2]
Scripture memory offers us a tangible way to cling to Christ in the middle of the messiest, most tiring moments of the day. Mothers who hope in Christ have a Helper within us, the Holy Spirit, who empowers self-sacrificial love and care for our kids, and he often uses the word of God. Imagine if that word crossed our minds right when we needed it?
We can all stash word-rich truths in our hearts by selecting verses to memorize. These can quicken our spirits and help us press into the call of Christian motherhood, no matter how hard it feels. Here are three verses encouraging me in this season of life along with takeaways specific to my current circumstance.
I Have All I Need
“His divine power has granted to us all things that pertain to life and godliness through the knowledge of him who has called us to his own glory and excellence” (2 Peter 1:3).
While this was a life verse for me long before having children, it has never been so near as when a child cries in the middle of the night, yesterday’s failures lie heavy on my chest, or an afternoon spirals into one meltdown after another.
How incredible the gospel becomes when we remember that God not only dealt with our sin problem on the cross, but that he’s given us everything we need to obey him today. This verse should sober us because it leaves us without excuse—Christ himself is ready to strengthen us to do his will. But that same truth should also leave us with a whole lot of hope—Christ himself is ready to strengthen us to do his will!
As I’ve remembered the expediency by which Christ desires to help me, I’ve seen progress in areas that were once dreadfully stagnant.
To Serve Like Jesus
“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve and to give his life as a ransom for many” (Mark 10:45).
No greater servant has ever lived than our humble, crazy-generous, servant-king, Jesus Christ. The apostle Paul states in his letter to the Philippians that Jesus “did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped but made himself nothing, taking the form of a servant” (2:6-7). By not counting equality with God a thing to be grasped he denied himself what was due his name as the God and King of the whole universe.
He deserved so much more than what he received from the people around him. And he sacrificed his very life to serve us.
Every day we encounter crossroads where we have a choice to make: to serve or be served? To demand what we believe we deserve or give ourselves once again to loved ones when they don’t deserve it?
The truth is none of us deserve the love God calls us to give. We didn’t deserve his love, and yet he poured himself out on the cross for us anyway and calls us to do the same.
Endurance When Mothering Is Unpleasant
“For the moment all discipline feels painful rather than pleasant but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it” (Hebrews 12:11).
Sacrificial service doesn’t feel good. That’s just reality. If it felt good, it wouldn’t be that sacrificial. That’s why motherhood can feel so hard at times—we’re constantly pouring ourselves out for the good of our children. And after all that pouring we can still wonder if we’re doing enough. That’s why I jokingly refer to motherhood as boot camp.
Unless we grew up taking care of people or are particularly gifted in serving others, motherhood forces us to work muscles we never used before, to function at once unimaginable levels of tiredness. As Christian mothers, we hope in a God who can grow something beautiful out of the rock-hard struggles of our various seasons and circumstances—the likeness of his very own Son. So we lean into training, despite how it feels.
God might bring this verse to mind when we’re ready to quit, thinking faithfulness could never be this tough. It reminds us that disciplining our bodies to obey the God our hearts love will hurt at times. We won’t want to do it, but don’t give up. Peaceful, righteous fruit will come.
As helpful as these three verses can be, they are not magic. Unlike the energy boost following a protein-rich snack, scripture memory does not always yield an immediate change of attitude. The challenges of mothering littles are still real, but they pale in comparison to the faith-building victories that come with taking God at his word.
By God’s grace, memorized verses are perspective-shifters that remind us of the hope and mighty help we have in Christ. This week, why not build your own stash of word-rich truth? Commit a verse to memory. Let it draw you into prayer and lead you gently into faith-filled obedience.[3]
[1] 2 Corinthians 12:9
[2] Psalm 119:11
[3] Isaiah 40:11
