Hey Mom! Congratulations on the birth of your new baby! Like most new moms, you have probably been bombarded with advice and information. There’s a friend or relative on every side of every issue. There’s always a new expert to refute the last expert’s advice. And there’s always a company trying to convince us their product is the best product for our children. On some level, every mom just wants to know we’re doing it right. Here is the truth: Whether you breastfeed or bottle feed, use cloth diapers or disposables, hold your baby or let your baby cry it out, you are a good mom! You were made for this. God chose you to be this child’s mom. He knows you are the exact person your little boy or girl needs. We’re excited for you, and we’re here for you.
3 Lies New Moms Believe
By Shay Shaw
When I first became a mom, I didn’t realize Satan sold me several lies, so I bought them all. I didn’t know there was another way to look at my new life as a mother other than through the lens of self-doubt and fear of the unknown. I believed every new mom was experiencing the same thoughts, so there was nothing really wrong with what I believed about motherhood. Except there was something wrong: They were lies. The worst part about believing a lie is not knowing it’s a lie. There are three lies you may have believed, but I want to share the truth I learned so that, after seeing them exposed, you will no longer believe them and they will no longer have a hold on your life. Lie #1: My life will never be the same. Of course it won’t be! When my son was born I remember thinking to myself, “I’ll never be able to shower whenever I want to, to make spontaneous decisions again, to do what I want whenever I want to,” and more. I struggled with this for so long, but over time God opened my eyes. Why did I want things to be the same? In reality, all I was doing was robbing myself of the joy of motherhood by fixating on the past. I failed to realize I was in a new season, and with this new season came new triumphs and challenges (Ecclesiastes 3:1). I didn’t need to fret over my life not being the same as it used to be. I had to realize my life as a new mom could be whatever I wanted it to be. The only thing holding me back from allowing this new season to
be the greatest season of my life was me. Life as a new mom doesn’t have to be the same; it can be better! Lie #2: Asking for help makes me a bad mom. As a single mom living far from family, I struggled with this lie the most. I believed my son was my responsibility and mine alone — therefore, I needed to do it all by myself. I felt as though asking for help showed I was inadequate to take care of my son, which meant I was a bad mom. Believing this lie kept me from reaching out to others for help when I desperately needed it. I found myself overwhelmed, anxious, and doubting I could be the mom God wanted me to be. I allowed my pride to hold me prisoner and drain me physically, spiritually, and emotionally. The truth is that I couldn’t do it by myself. I was making life harder when it didn’t have to be. When I finally reached out for help, I was blown away at how God had strategically arranged His plans for provision (Deuteronomy 31:8). He was just waiting on me to realize my need for Him, and ask for help!
“Life as a new mom doesn’t have to be the same; it can be better!”
Lie #3: I feel so alone; no one understands what I‘m going through. Feelings are fickle. They change like the seasons and are not always good indicators of truth. The moment you place your faith in Christ, the Holy Spirit lives in your heart forever (John 14:16). This debunks the lie of being alone. Secondly, there are people who understand
exactly what you’re going through. The question is, do you talk to them about it? Or even better question, do you have godly friends you can talk to? Becoming a new mom was when I realized how badly I needed community. I needed women in my life who I could relate to and they could relate to me. Since starting a group for young moms, I am reminded daily that I am not alone. They hold me accountable, they are my prayer warriors, and they are there for me through the good and the bad. I can talk to them about things only a mother would understand. Even if they aren’t going through the exact same situation, they still understand me and where I am coming from. It’s much easier to dismiss the lies the enemy tries to throw my way with women in my corner who constantly help me follow Jesus step by step (Ecclesiastes 4:12). If any of these lies have been holding you captive, I pray you use God’s truth to unlock the prison these lies create. Being a mother is one of the greatest gifts in the world. The best way you can steward this gift is break free and walk in truth. Embrace your new life, ask for help whenever you need it, and know that you are never alone!
Three Promises for Parents
By Sara Alexander
By the third child, I thought potty training would come as naturally as riding a bicycle. But my Wyatt was determined to prove me wrong. How many more rounds of “Wheels on the Bus” will I have to sing before my child goes on the potty? Rewarding him with M&Ms was no longer working, and I was out of ideas. At some point, every parent feels like giving up. Whether we’re dealing with those late night feedings, up to our elbows changing diapers, or taking care of a fussy baby, parenting can feel like an uphill battle. When we’re ready to raise the white flag, here are three promises to help us keep going: 1. God is at work even when we can’t see it. Proverbs 3:5–6 cautions us not to rely solely on what we can see and understand. But instead, “in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.” Just because our words and actions are not eliciting the desired response does not mean our children aren’t listening, watching and learning. Our kids see and hear way more than they let on. That’s why submitting “all our ways to him” is so important. Our lives are the primary example our kids see of how Jesus loves, forgives and provides. Every time we persevere in patience, give grace and ask for forgiveness, we’re communicating what it means to follow Jesus.
“The same power that brought Jesus back to life lives in us and equips us to do good things as we raise our children.”
2. God has equipped us for the job at hand. The same power that brought Jesus back to life lives in us and equips us to do good things as we raise our children. And, when we feel overwhelmed and don’t know what do, we have access to help! James 1:5says if we lack wisdom, we should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault. As we read the Bible, pray for our children and seek out wise advice, Jesus equips us for the battles ahead. 3. God loves our children even more than we do. Our children were His before they were ours, and God chose to put them in our homes. Psalm 127:3 s ays, “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Sometimes, the best thing we can do is remind ourselves that He didn’t make a mistake when He gave us kids. Just like God has the power to work all things together for our good, He has the power to work all things together for their good (Romans 8:28).
Throughout the Old Testament, God reminded His people to work hard, but not to put their faith in their hard work. In one story, as Israel headed into battle against a unified army from Ammon, Moab, and Mount Seir, the Lord spoke through a prophet and said, “Do not be afraid or discouraged because of this vast army. For the battle is not yours, but God’s’” (2 C hronicles 20:15). While our battles may involve Cheerios and bottles instead of swords and spears, the principle holds true today. The battles we face as parents are not ours but the Lord’s. He is faithful to answer our cries for help. When we will submit our lives to Him, as for His help and trust His promises, we will see a reward.
In Parenting, Perfection Is Not The Point By Lauren Ayers
I remember it clearly — the day I found out I was to become a mother. I couldn’t wait to take this new adventure by storm. I took all the classes, read all the books, and quizzed all my friends that had already had kids. One friend compared the joy of waking up to her new baby every day to the joy she felt as a child on Christmas morning. I was beside myself with anticipation. When my baby girl arrived, I found the reality of motherhood to be different than my expectations. I had a baby girl who wouldn’t sleep and cried incessantly with colic. Thinking back to my friend’s Christmas morning description, I looked at my husband one night and said, “What kind of messed-up Christmases did this girl have?!” Years later, with two girls and one more on the way, I have a little more perspective than I did in those early days. Each season of parenting has its own joys and trials, but in those harder moments, it’s important to remember that it is a season. 3 LESSONS GOD CONTINUES TO TEACH ME THROUGH MOTHERHOOD 1. Motherhood shapes us to be more like Jesus. The sacrifice and opportunity to serve as a mom is like nothing else I’ve experienced. Your baby is completely dependent on you to meet his/her every need. Sometimes it can feel like a thankless job, but God sees your sacrifice. He came to this world to serve and not be served (Mark 10:45). Being a mother allows us the opportunity to emulate this great calling. 2. Our weaknesses don’t have to be a negative. The truth is that at some point in parenting you will feel like you’re in over your head and you will become keenly aware that you don’t
“Each season of parenting has its own joys and trials, but in those harder moments, it’s important to remember that it is a season.
have all the answers. God teaches us that our weakness is made perfect in His strength (2 Corinthians 12:9). It is in these moments that we realize our need for a Savior and turn to Him. We have a God who answers our prayers and promises to give us strength. 3. You, too, are wonderfully made. God custom designed each of us (Psalm 139:14). This means not only is your child wonderfully made, but so are you. He is not a God of accidents, but of a perfect creation that He precisely designed. You are His creation, and He created you to be this baby’s mother. There is comfort in knowing that in all circumstances, we have access to pray and seek wisdom from the One who fearfully designed our babies and us. In hindsight, I think back to my friend’s comment in regards to what Christmas actually is about. My mind wanders to Mary as she held her newborn baby in her arms. It probably wasn’t what she expected — delivering her baby in a manger. It was messy and overwhelming, but in God’s timing, it couldn’t have been more perfect.
Bringing a baby to church can be overwhelming. What if I forget something? What if the baby is fussy? What if I need to breastfeed? We’ve got you covered. The Moms’ Viewing Room was designed for moms with babies 12 weeks and younger. Watch the service with other moms in a private, quiet environment.
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