Children are a blessing and not a burden!
Why can motherhood be so challenging, draining, stressful, scary, and much more? The enemy uses these feelings in his attempt to rob us of the joy of motherhood. From Scripture we know that his purpose is "to steal and kill and destroy." But Jesus said, "My purpose is to give them a rich and satisfying life." (John 10:10 NLT) God desires for us to walk in victory and to become more like Him.
Following is a little personal testimony. . . .
My twins struggled with a lot of sickness their first year, and even overcame a scary, life-threatening disease. I had been delivered of fear, but whenever they got sick it would drain me, and I would feel stressed and burdened. I now believe God was allowing their sickness to get me to the place I am today with my feelings. God wants us to be a pure Bride, ready for His return. He loves us so much that He sometimes uses very hard circumstances to make us more like Him, if we press into Him in these situations.
I've recently had a change of heart when God gave me a revelation related to motherhood: I could begin loving my children the way God loves! By changing the way I think, I become more like Christ!
Could you imagine if God reacted to us the way we often react to our children? When they need us in their sickness, fears, and childish mistakes, aren't we often impatient, reacting out of frustration over how their needs interfere with our comfort? (Think of your crying infant waking you up in the middle of the night . . . again . . . and again.) What if, when we come to God in prayer, in need of grace and guidance, He reacted with impatience because we were annoying Him? But no! It actually pleases and glorifies Him every time we turn to Him in our times of need!
My desire now, and my prayer is, that I will love my children like that - unconditionally!!! And He is helping me to actually enjoy meeting my young children's needs. It is no longer "I have to . . . " but "I get to . . . " when they need me. God has changed my mindset from, "My children are testing my patience" to "I get to teach my children how to be patient."
This new attitude of heart teaches my children to feel loved, cherished, important, treasured, valued, and enough!!! That's the way God wants each of us to feel, secure in His love! Now I recognize that these little boys truly are a gift and a blessing, not a burden.
Let's allow God to create with our children such a strong bond that they will feel safe and not judged. Do this while they're young, so that as they grow up they will not be afraid even when they do mess up or make mistakes. They'll know that they are loved by their parents and their God, and they can always return and receive forgiveness.
How do these changes happen? By renewing your mind, taking bad thoughts captive, walking in forgiveness and love, and allowing God to transform our hearts.
Matthew 22:37 (NLT) states, "Jesus replied, 'You must love the Lord your God with all your heart, all your soul, and all your mind.' "
When we set our minds on Christ, the Spirit will lead to peace.
Ephesians 5:1-2 (NASB) says, "Therefore be imitators of God, as beloved children; and walk in love, just as Christ also loved you and gave Himself up for us, an offering and a sacrifice to God as a fragrant aroma."
I want to close by saying that I am not a perfect mom; I still fall and mess up. But I choose to continue to press into the perfect God, who is making me more like Him for His glory! Amen!
Jolene Feist