EquippedMama

Trust in the Lord with all your heart,

and do not rely on your own understanding.

Acknowledge him in all your ways,

and he will make your paths straight.

Do not be wise in your own estimation;

Fear the Lord and turn away from evil.

This will bring healing to your body,

and refreshment to your inner self.

Proverbs 3:5-8 New English Translation

If you’ve been through the process of childbirth, you probably are already very aware that mothering takes a serious hit on your pride.

Following the birth of my eldest, I realized just how many people that I did not know had been in my hospital room during her delivery. My nurse, who I had only met about 5 hours prior, made sure I didn’t pass out while I was showering. Any other time that would be uncomfortable, but hey, I didn’t want to pass out, either.

Then I tried breastfeeding, and quickly invited an acquaintance into my home to help me make sure I knew what I was doing. Modesty was lost somewhere along the way.

Fast forward a few months to my first cross-country flight with my child. She’s a really good kiddo, but you cannot always be dignified and keep a little one quiet.

The situations I described are noteworthy instances of being humbled in my journey of mothering. Yet, I have begun to recognize my need for constantly fighting pride. How often I am tempted to look at my mothering endeavors with some level of self-satisfaction and pride. Into this topic, the Proverbs speak practical wisdom for mothers of all ages. It reminds us of our dependence upon the Lord for wisdom and direction.

It reminds us of our need to stay humble before the Lord.

In this brief passage, the writer of Proverbs encourages the reader that there is no room for self- reliance and arrogance. To trust in the Lord with all our heart, we cannot be trusting in ourselves. To not rely on our own understanding, we recognize that we lack wisdom and need instruction. To acknowledge the Lord in all our ways we give up the rights to boast in our own efforts and achievements. We cannot simultaneously acknowledge the Lord and ourselves.

However, in humbling ourselves before the Lord, we open our hearts and minds to being led by his instruction and his care. The Proverb states that the Lord will make the paths straight for those who acknowledge him. To those who are willing to let him lead, the Lord offers a path that is clearly marked and perfectly aligned to his good plan. This is an immense source of hope and encouragement for us in our journey!

Secondly, as we seek to humble ourselves before the Lord, we are not only the beneficiary of his direction, but also his grace. One such promise to those who humble themselves before the Lord is found in 1 Peter where we are told;

God opposes the proud but gives grace to the humble.

And God will exalt you in due time,

if you humble yourselves under his mighty hand.

1 Peter 5:5b-6 New English Translation

What does humility look like lived out in the day to day of mothering? First of all, it means understanding and acknowledging that you have failed and you will fail. A humble mother is quick to acknowledge her failures, confessing wrongs to her spouse, children, and others as needed. A humble mother looks to the Lord for the grace he provides, and when she fails, she is reminded yet again that God showed us grace when we least deserved it (Romans 5:8). A humble mother is also willing to confess again. And again.

Walking in humility plays out in all aspects of mothering. Toddler temper tantrums become opportunities to discipline in grace, rather than embarrassment or anger. When someone gives advice, it is able to be received, rather than becoming a source of frustration. A humble mother understands that she does not walk in her own understanding, so when her plans are disrupted or her ideas dislodged, it is not a personal inconvenience or attack.

Most importantly, when we walk in humility, we are freed from needing to walk in our own understanding. As we acknowledge our need to rely on the Lord in all our ways, he directs our steps.

If you’ve found your pride crushed by your children or the overwhelming task of mothering, be encouraged by this passage.

There is grace to be found for the humble mama.