Where God's Provision Begins

Hear the word of the Lord, you Israelites,

because the Lord has a charge to bring

against you who live in the land:

“There is no faithfulness, no love,

no acknowledgment of God in the land. Hosea 4:1

Baby showers, gender reveals, delivery day preparation, matching mommy robe and swaddle, nursery decorating, parenting classes. We’ve all been there. The beginning stages of motherhood are wistfully exciting. It’s like the honeymoon phase of a relationship. Only in this case, let’s call it the “babymoon” phase. The babymoon phase has its thrills and presents a future to look forward to when your little bundle of joy arrives. You cannot wait to meet him or her, and when you finally do, your heart is full.

Days, months, weeks, and years pass by and the spotlight moves off of you, onto bigger, better, newer ventures of others. You feel a little lonely, and somewhat forgotten. Sleepless nights, constant crying, dirty diapers, temper tantrums- reality sets in. You are a mom, a full blown mom. And this is not a drill.

In the trenches, we need more encouragement than ever. We need the spotlight of God’s presence shining down on us, more than anything. We need godly influences surrounding our lives. We need biblical inspiration and godly truth breathed into us on a daily basis. Although the babymoon phase was exciting, we can learn to be grateful for the season of motherhood we are currently in. We may be “in the thick of it,” but God is right here with us. His presence envelopes our lives. His love, grace, and new morning mercies fill our mommy mugs in full. When the babymoon phase ends is where God’s provision begins.

The Israelites also experienced coming off of a mountain high after being delivered from the Egyptians, in the wilderness. At times they complained, doubted God, and even worshiped other idols. Let us not fall prey to the same snares of the devil the Israelites became caught in. Let us learn from them, and adopt hearts of gratitude and spirits of joy, acknowledging God in all we do.

We know that God is at work in our lives, even when the work is hard. We will experience hardships and daily struggles in motherhood, but God is with us. He is for us. His presence goes before us. His great love and stamp-mark of approval is all that we need.

The Lord notices our behind the scenes hard work and daily diligence. Unlike the shifting spotlight, and changing seasons of our lives, His zeal for our hearts remains constant.

Dear Jesus,

Help me to live for you. May I strive to honor and please you above all else. Help me to remember that you are watching and notice me, even when no one else does. Help me to live for your applause. In Jesus’ worthy name, amen.

Steps of Faith:

• In what small way can you praise the Lord today?

• Read the following verses and remind yourself that the Lord is who you are living for. How can you rely more on his daily provision in your life?

A person is not a Jew who is one only outwardly, nor is circumcision merely outward and physical. No, a person is a Jew who is one inwardly; and circumcision is circumcision of the heart, by the Spirit, not by the written code. Such a person’s praise is not from other people, but from God. Romans 2:28-29

Check out my book! The Meaning of Motherhood