Motherhood and Ministry
I couldn’t help myself! I found myself scrolling endlessly on social media, searching everything I could think of “How to handle sleepless nights?”, “What to do when the baby won’t stop crying?”, “Is sleep training necessary?” The list went on. I was desperate for answers. One morning, my sister told me, “Just stop searching things online and decide for yourself!” It was exactly what I needed to hear. Her words hit me like a wake-up call.
I had become that girl worried, scared, googling every small thing, and questioning every decision. I mean, how was I supposed to survive motherhood? I needed the wisdom of those who had done this before, right? Wrong. The constant searching only made me feel more overwhelmed. I read about having babies in bed by 7-8 p.m., but that’s exactly when our church services and ministry commitments are happening. The pressure of trying to fit into a mold that wasn’t made for our life rhythm felt unbearable.
Now, I don’t search things up like I used to. I’ve learned to rely on the people God has placed in my life: my mom, who’s just a phone call away, and my mom friends who are walking this motherhood journey with me. They are the voices of experience I need right now. That night, as I lay in bed, my heart felt heavy. I was questioning everything, even my calling. I thought, “Maybe it’s time to give up ministry. How can I raise my children well while still doing what I love leading people and being in the Lord’s house?”
Then I remembered my own childhood. My parents took us everywhere. Late nights, endless church services, meetings yet, we never felt deprived. They always made us feel secure, not because of what we had, but because of who we had.
Proverbs 22:6 says, “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
My parents lived this out, showing me that being in God’s presence as a family was the greatest gift.
I also look at my friends in ministry who seem to walk this journey with so much grace. They bring their children along for the ride, fully present with their children and fully committed to serving others. That is the mom I aspire to be. One who loves and leads her children while also leading others in the faith.
God has called us to love and nurture these precious little humans, and He has also called us to serve in the capacities He’s placed us in. It’s not about choosing one over the other; it’s about integrating both.
Isaiah 40:11 reminds us, “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 comforts me, reminding me that God gently leads us, especially in our different roles.
Every day, I am reminded that we’ve all been given a form of leadership in this life whether in ministry, in our home, in a business, as a student. Wherever you find yourself, you are called to lead in your realm. There is nothing more rewarding, life-giving, or eternally significant than leading our lives for the Lord. Colossians 3:23-24 says, “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.”
So yes, our life may look different than the gal down the street. But our Father has given us a purpose far beyond what we could ever imagine. We are raising the next generation, serving His kingdom, and fulfilling the greatest calling of all…living a life that points to Jesus.
In this beautiful, messy mix of motherhood and ministry, I am learning to trust that God’s grace is sufficient for me. Corinthians 12:9 “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me. He is with us every step of the way, equipping us to lead with love, wisdom, and strength, both in our homes and in the places He has called us to serve.