He Gives More Grace: Encouragement for Moms in Any SeasonMuestra

Day 5: What Motherhood Teaches Us About God

“See what kind of love the Father has given to us, that we should be called children of God.” 1 John 3:1

I remember the moment my son was placed into my arms for the first time. As I gazed into his tiny face, an overwhelming sense of love for this miracle coursed through me, and I knew my life would never be the same.

Before we had even left the hospital, God had given me a glimpse of his unconditional love for his beloved children: “‘For the mountains may depart and the hills be removed, but my steadfast love shall not depart from you, and my covenant of peace shall not be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” (Isaiah 54:10)

But while my firstborn was compliant, slept well, and smiled at anyone who came near, my second child was far more challenging. Colic kept him (and me!) from sleeping much for the first few months; he would scream for hours on end, and he wouldn’t let anyone hold him but me. Through this child, God had different things he wanted me to learn about his love. It was as I navigated my way through days of laughter and tears, joys and sorrows, exhilaration and defeats that God faithfully taught me about his steadfast love for me.

1 John 3:1 invites us to see what kind of love God has for us, that we should be called his children. His love for us is merciful, unconditional, compassionate, forgiving, and patient—a love that is seen most clearly of all through him sending Jesus Christ to save sinners. His love for us is a perfect, parental love. And through each season of parenting, God grants mothers opportunities to be both recipients of and reflections of his love for his children.

God’s Love Pursues Rebels

“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” (Romans 5:8)

One day my teenage daughter looked me in the eye and said, “Why can’t you be more like my friends’ moms? I never want to be like you!” By God’s grace, I grabbed her in a fierce hug and said, “No matter how much you push me away, Sarah, I will never stop loving you and fighting for you!” To my surprise, she collapsed in my arms and began sobbing. The battles would rage on for a while, but because I was able to respond with the love of Christ (at that time—I did not always get it right), my daughter knew in that moment that my love was stronger than her rebellion.

The same is true for us with God. Ephesians 2:1-3 essentially pictures us taking a similar stance to the one my daughter took against me. By nature, we want God on our own terms, not his. We are rebellious and don’t want him. “But God, being rich in mercy, because of the great love with which he loved us” saved us from ourselves (v 4). Why? So that we might be seated in his presence and enjoy his riches and his kindness for eternity (v 6-7). God’s love was stronger than your rebellion—so he brought you to faith. God’s love is stronger than your struggles—so he works in you by his Spirit. God’s love is stronger than any hurdle—so he will bring us safely home to himself one day. Our very best moments of motherly love are just a glimpse of the kind and quality of love he pours out for us.

Whenever you express love to your children today, use those moments as reminders of God’s love for you. Let your love for them be guided by his love for you, and let your love for them deepen your appreciation of his perfect love for you. For however great the love that you have for your children may be, it cannot compare to the incomprehensible love God has for his children—for you.

GRACE IN A LINE

God loves me even more than I love my kids.