Stepping into motherhood has been one of the most beautiful and challenging journeys of my life. No amount of advice, books, or preparation fully prepared me for the mix of joy, fear, exhaustion, and wonder that came with caring for a little one. In those early days, when I was tired and trying to get the hang of things, the Lord gently reminded me that His Word speaks into every season, including this one.
One Scripture that anchored me is Isaiah 40:11: “He tends His flock like a shepherd; He gathers the lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.”
This verse gives so much depth for me as a mother. God isn't distant from the demands of motherhood. He promises to gently lead us. Not push, not rush, not criticize … but lead.
As a new mom, I often felt like I needed to have everything figured out. But Scripture reminds us that our confidence doesn't come from perfect routines or perfect parenting. It comes from Christ, who holds both us and our children. Proverbs 3:5–6 tells us to “trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” When my understanding fell short, His wisdom was enough.
Motherhood has also been one of the most rewarding jobs I have ever had. I would have never imagined anything feeling like this. You become a new person, your perspectives change, and things that used to matter don't any more. I cannot explain this feeling to anyone, and I constantly think about how to put it into words. But I am always thanking God for everything he has given me. I often find myself saying this verse to myself and using it when I pray, Jeremiah 29:11 (NIV): “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’”
If you're a mom in a challenging season, whether you're just beginning or have been walking this road for years, take heart. The Shepherd who carries His lambs also carries you. You don't walk this path alone. He is faithful to provide the patience, wisdom, and strength you need for today.
Where in your motherhood journey do you need the Lord's guidance?
What burden can you lay before Him today?

Prayer:
Lord, I thank you for making me a mother. It truly feels like a calling to be able to raise my child knowing and loving you. I pray for every mother reading this, that they find strength in their walk through motherhood. Let us know that everyday is a blessing and help us to not lose faith in ourselves when we are having a challenging day. Help us to all find strength and wisdom through You. Amen.

Digging In
If someone passes down your aisle, you scoot aside to let them through. If someone sneezes, you immediately respond with “Bless you.” These gestures communicate care in the simplest, most routine human form. We do these things with no self-interest or intent for reciprocation. But how deep does that compassion go? Do we ask someone “How are you?” with a mind fully prepared to respond to any type of reply? And with a heart fully invested in celebrating their successes or helping them carry their burdens? Do we truly want to know their successes or struggles and engage further once they have confided in us? Or do we ask because it seems appropriate, but then want to duck into the next open door to escape the interaction once they start to give an answer other than “fine” or “good”?

Our human nature wants to have empathy, to show compassion, to love like Jesus, but the world, after lurking backstage in the shadows, enters from stage left. It dances in circles around us, causing a tornado of vulnerability and defeat. This weary whirlwind of the world encircles us, creating an environment where we can’t see beyond our own lives. Those little acts of kindness are now cautiously handed out to others, wrapped in our own protective boundaries and passive good intentions.

If we dig any deeper into the lives of others, we may fall short in our commitment to care. We may hear of their success that could spark jealousy or resentment within our hearts. We may hear of a hardship that won’t fit on our wagon that is already weighed down by our own burdens. So, how do we break free from the cyclone of self-centeredness while leaving all the worldly scars behind?

The answer (as are all answers) is found in scripture. You have to stop looking outward. (Remember you’re in a tornado, so you can’t see anything clearly. Come on y’all, stay with me here.) You must focus inward—inside your heart and mind.

Sitting in church on Sunday, I took a few notes here and there … Philippians 2:1 … Unity … Indicative before imperative … Dig deeper … You know, the standard, minimal notetaking with every intention of fully fleshing out the meaning at a later date. These terms stuck with me. I opened to the scripture during my study time, and a clear message began to form.

Philippians 2:1 (ESV)
So if there is any encouragement in Christ, any comfort from love, any participation in the Spirit, any affection and sympathy,

The indicative (what we already have) is what God has already done for us. When you ask, “How does this affect me?”, this is the verse that covers “self.” Every verse following talks about others. This is the only “What about me?” verse; not because you get less, but because what you are given is all-sufficient. Here is the focus change that will pull you out of that vortex of vanity. You have received comfort, love, participation in the Spirit, affection, and sympathy. Soooooo—this tornado we get stuck in is only happening by the allowance of us and our reluctance to re-focus. If we are walking with Christ and are focused on His ways, there is no storm that can touch us.

Now that we have switched our focus, let’s dig deeper.

Philippians 2:2
complete my joy by being of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.

We enter the imperative—a call to action. Verse 1 is the reminder that helps us clear our heart and mind of the storms of self-service, to allow us to dig deeper into others, and to interact with true compassion and Christ-like love. Verse 2 says “pass it on.”  Live in community, as one accord.

If someone is hurting and, in-turn, you don’t hurt too, sister, something is wrong! It’s time to clean off that wagon, so you can help them haul that heaviness to the foot of the cross.

And if someone is celebrating, and it sparks something negative in you, girrrrrrl, you better get that shovel out and start clearing all that rotten fruit out of your heart!

Where do we need to dig? Should we be digging inward to clear the worldly storm debris, or should we dig deeper into others to help them clear theirs? The answer is both—both simultaneously, both intensely, and both consistently.

Hard times will always come our way. What direction do we allow our focus to draw–toward Him or toward the storm?

Hard times will always come to others. What direction do we allow our love to flow—toward them or toward ourselves?


With love like His,
Jessica

Finding Jesus, Again
By Miranda Olexa

I’ve known about Jesus my whole life. I went to church with my family on most Sundays. My best friend would take me to youth group with her on Wednesday nights and to church camp in the summer. I knew who Jesus was and what he did for me, but I had just a basic understanding and no solid foundation. I eventually grew up and left high school and my friends. More tragedy struck, and instead of drawing closer to Jesus, I ran the opposite direction. Looking back on it now, I know that He was always with me. He never stopped guiding me, protecting me, and saving me over and over. Even when my faith in Him wavered, He remained. Now here I am striving to be a Godly woman, a Godly wife, a Godly mother, and I can’t help but think, if He was with me even when I wasn’t living for Him, how much greater would it be to live for Jesus, to walk in a path that is righteous to Him every day?

1 John 2:3–6 says, “This is how we know that we know Him: if we keep His commands. The one who says, ‘I have come to know Him,’ and yet doesn’t keep His commands, is a liar, and the truth is not in him. But whoever keeps his word, truly in him the love of God is made complete. This is how we know we are in Him: The one who says he remains in Him should walk just as He walked.”

I’m not going to lie, reading this scripture, and then understanding it, was like having ice cold water splashed in my face. It revealed that, yeah I knew who Jesus was, and I knew of the sacrifice He made for me, but knowing Him and living for Him are two completely different things. I was a liar and did not have the truth. But there is good news! The scripture says that whoever keeps His word, in him the love of God is made complete. How glorious is that? We know we are in Him when we remain in Jesus, walk as He walked, and live a faithful, Christlike life.

I encourage you to look back, think about the areas where God has moved in your life or when the Holy Spirit was guiding you, but you didn’t realize it or appreciate it at the time. And now think about what your future looks like if you surrender yourself to Jesus. How much greater would your blessings be? How much more could you bless others through those blessings? I challenge you to find ways to incorporate worship and praise for Him in your daily life. Read the bible, everyday, even for just a little bit. Soak in God’s word and learn from it. Pray—pray when you’re driving, pray when you’re washing dishes, pray when you’re at your wit’s end, and you just don’t think you can take one more person needing something from you. Put Jesus first—over your own flesh, in your marriage and other relationships, when you’re raising your children. Then reflect on your life and watch how God is moving through you. Your life will change. Lives around you will change. Because, like we just read, if you keep His word, live out His commands, the love of God is made complete in you. How sweet is that? It’s not going to be easy; we read in the Word countless times that proclaiming Jesus’s name and living a life for Him is distinctly not easy. But I promise you, the reward far outweighs the cost.

My prayer today is that you find your way back to Jesus, like I did. That even if you know of Him, that you strive to live a life for Him and like Him—build a relationship with Him and live faithfully.