Unfair Advantage

Motherhood is an extraordinary journey, a tapestry woven with moments of joy, struggle, love, and sacrifice. Yet, so many women find themselves battling feelings of inadequacy, questioning their capabilities, and wrestling with “Mom Guilt.”  As an empty nester, I have been there. I have faced the guilt that motherhood often knocks at the door of opportunity. I also look back at motherhood with moments of regret and guilt for how I parented my kids, but the beauty is that God has done a work in my heart and I no longer have to live under the weight or power of the guilt I once felt. 

Can we redefine our understanding of motherhood by learning to embrace our imperfections, surrendering our struggles to the Lord, and recognizing that we were never meant to carry the load of motherhood in our strength? 

We have been given an unfair advantage from the greatest example of parenthood, our Father God.  

This unfair advantage I am referring to is the Word of God, the truth that HE declares over our motherhood journey.  We are raising image bearers of Christ, the enemy knows and he will try and convince you that you are not enough, that you mess up in motherhood, and that others are so much better at it than you are.   God gave you the precious gift of children, He gave you what you need to be their mom, to speak into their lives, to raise them in His image. Through His grace, we can walk confidently, knowing that our imperfections, failures, successes and the journey of raising these beautiful children of God are part of His perfect plan. 

We also have to recognize that it is not in our strength but in His. What does this look like for you? For me, it is staying grounded in His truths daily. Even when we stumble and fall, we find the strength to forgive ourselves, receive His forgiveness, embrace His grace, and walk in the confidence that we are made strong through Him in our weakness (Psalm 142:3). God never asked us to be perfect mothers; He simply called us to be present and authentic, leaning on Him when we feel overwhelmed. He is our greatest helpmate. 

Mom guilt can be a heavy burden, whispering lies of inadequacy and failure. But what if we take those feelings and lay them at the cross? Proverbs 3:5-6 reminds us to trust in the Lord with all our hearts and lean not on our understanding. In all our ways, acknowledge Him, and He shall direct our paths. By surrendering mom guilt to the Lord, we find freedom and the strength to navigate motherhood with His guidance, not our own.  You have the unfair advantage of recognizing and tearing down the enemy’s tactics.  These lies are not from our Heavenly Father and stand against them with the power of His word, His truth. 

How do we know they are lies and not truth?  What does His word say about you?  Does your thought about your mothering line up with the Word and what it says?  The Bible is a treasure trove of wisdom and encouragement for mothers. Psalm 139:23-24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.” God doesn’t expect us to parent perfectly; He wants us to seek Him and let Him guide us. Embrace the truth of His Word, allowing it to shape your heart and actions as you journey through motherhood.

The enemy is a thief and He sets up a war against us as moms. If He can convince you that you are not enough, that you are a failure, that your children will not succeed because of you, that you don’t have what it takes then He has succeeded in keeping us from the greatest calling of raising Image Bearers of God’s glory.   In Psalm 142: 3 (TPT) it says, “For when I am desperate, overwhelmed, and about to give up, you were the only one there to help. You gave me a way of escape from the hidden traps of my enemies.” His truth becomes the weapon against the lies of the enemy. 

We are all forged in the fire and refined but posturing your mind, your thoughts and your heart so they are anchored in truth – will be the thing that will set you free from “Mom Guilt” of motherhood and allow it to become the fertile ground for growth.  

When we fall short, which we inevitably will, it’s crucial to surrender to Him and embrace God’s grace. It is in our weakness that He is made strong (Psalm 142:3). Motherhood is a journey of ups and downs, but through each stumble, we grow closer to Him and stronger in our faith. Lean into His grace and allow it to overflow into your parenting, creating a home filled with love, patience, and forgiveness.

Motherhood is a balance of celebrating the good days and embracing the hard ones. God is with us through it all, providing strength and encouragement. As Psalm 139:23-24(TPT) reminds us, “God I invite your searching gaze into my heart.  Examine me through and through; find out everything that may be hidden within me.  Put me to the test and sift through all my anxious cares. See if there is any path of pain I’m walking on, and lead me back to your glorious, everlasting way – the path that brings me back to you.” God’s understanding is a refuge for our anxious thoughts. Be present in each moment, knowing that He celebrates your victories and sustains you through challenges. Surrender your imperfections to Him, knowing that His grace is sufficient and that His truth will bring you life and strength to Mother the way He intended you to. 

Motherhood is a beautiful, complex journey, filled with imperfections and triumphs. By embracing our weaknesses and surrendering mom guilt at the cross, we open our hearts to God’s transformative grace and revelation of His Word. Trust in His guidance, show up authentically for your children, and walk in the confidence that you are made strong in Him. 

Remember, you are never alone in this journey; His promise of presence and strength is with you in every step of motherhood.

You have what it takes. Don’t let the enemy take advantage of you and whisper to your heart that you are not enough because it just isn’t true.  Stand tall, and take your stand against him, tell Him, who you are, and that there is no lie He can speak that can stand against God’s truth. This mama, is your unfair advantage. 

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