A Prayer to Encourage Disheartened Mothers

　　By Lynette Kittle

　　“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem” - Isaiah 66:13

　　Like all moms, mine wasn’t perfect, but she loved God, she loved me, and she did the best she could while working through her own upbringing, marriage, life challenges, and growing as a person herself. My heart is grateful for the wonderful qualities she modeled for me and forgiving of her weaknesses. The more God transforms my heart and mind, the more I appreciate her efforts on my behalf, especially seeing her live out her faith in Jesus throughout her life, and her generous outreach with the love of God, to those around her. Even as an adult, whenever I am ill, no other person’s comfort comes close to the comfort my Mom gave me as a child. It seems God gives mothers a divine-like type of comfort that only they can offer their children. Over time, my love and compassion for my mom have only deepened.

　　The Bumpy Road of Motherhood

　　Still, motherhood is an on-the-job training role, learning along the way how to mother as we grow ourselves as women. Growing up with a wonderful mother certainly helps a new mother have a positive role model, but it can still be a pretty bumpy road for many of us. It’s often an ongoing trial-error experience. For those who didn’t experience a loving mothering experience, it can be even more challenging, one of lacking basic motherly know-how along with the desire to do better with their own children.

　　Motherhood’s Refining Process

　　Even in the best of circumstances, motherhood is not for the faint of heart. It’s full of unknowns, dealing with children who have their own wills, challenges, and spiritual journeys to face. As well, we face some of our own hidden fears and insecurities, as mothering has a way of bringing out the best, and the worst, in us at times, causing us to often deal with hidden attitudes and hurts in our own hearts.

　　Motherhood’s Way of Disheartening Us

　　For many, motherhood can be very discouraging, involving being blamed for everything and thanked for nothing. It definitely calls for patience in the life of a mother, waiting and hoping children will grow in a way that causes them to look back and see the care their mothers gave them. Sadly, for some, it doesn’t come in their lifetime. But even so, knowing they did what God requires—to love and teach their children about Him—there is satisfaction and peace. Although they may not see the result of their godly efforts on earth, God is at work through their efforts for the lives of their children.

　　Evangelist John Wesley wrote, “I learnt more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians in England.”

　　Proverbs 22:6 assures us that what we’ve invested for the Lord in the lives of our children stays with them for a lifetime. “Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

　　So for moms with prodigals, trust that God is at work in their lives, even if you aren’t seeing it. He is faithful to His word, and what we invest in the lives of our children, has a stick-to-itiveness to it.

　　Isaiah 55:11 assures us, “So is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to Me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it.”

　　Let’s pray:

　　Dear Father,

　　My heart is grateful to You for the privilege of being a mother. Thank you for entrusting me to teach my children Your ways. Help me, Lord, to look to You for encouragement when mothering is hard and my heart is disheartened. Cause me to turn to You, Father, rather than the attitudes and escapes of the world. Forgive me for the ways I’ve failed You and my children at times. Strengthen me to live out my faith before them in a way that softens their hearts and draws them to You. Lead me in praying for my children and to trust You to work in their lives, even when they seem far away from You and me.

　　In Jesus’ name, Amen