Encouragement and practical wisdom for the modern Christian mom

A mother’s love is one of the most powerful forces in the world—deep, selfless and enduring. While motherhood is full of joy, it also comes with exhaustion, doubts and hard days.

Sometimes we can feel like the struggle of motherhood in today’s world is vastly different from our foremothers. Yet, there are numerous lessons to learn from mothers in the Bible.

God’s Word is packed with examples of mom who loved their children fiercely and who had to learn about patience, sacrifice and trust in God.

Let’s take a look at five different mothers in the Bible and what each of them can teach us today.

This post is part of a series on Biblical love. Find all the details and links to other posts here.

Hannah: A mother’s love through surrender

Hannah longed for a child, and in her deep pain, she turned to God in prayer. She vowed that if God gave her a son, she would dedicate him back to the Lord.

“‘I prayed for this child, and the Lord has granted me what I asked of him. So now I give him to the Lord. For his whole life he will be given over to the Lord.’ And he worshiped the Lord there.”

1 Samuel 1:27-28

When God answered her prayer and she gave birth to Samuel, she kept her promise, bringing him to the temple to serve the Lord.

Hannah’s story reminds us that motherhood is an act of surrender. We don’t have control over everything—our children’s futures, choices or even their safety.

But just as Hannah entrusted Samuel to God, we can trust that God loves our children even more than we do. On days when worry grips our hearts, we can cling to these words from the Apostle Paul:

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:6-7

Surrendering our children to God doesn’t mean we stop being involved—it means we cover them in prayer, seek His wisdom in our parenting and trust His plan even when things don’t go how we expected.

Practical application

Pray continually and specifically – Just as Hannah poured out her heart to God about Samuel, we can lift our children up in prayer daily. Whether it’s praying for their friendships, decisions, faith or future, we can trust that God hears us.

Keep a prayer journal to track prayers and see how God moves over time. You can also start with pre-written powerful prayers for your children.

Trust God with their future – Hannah dedicated Samuel to the Lord, fully trusting God’s plan for his life. As moms, we often want to control our children’s paths, but true surrender means trusting that God’s plan is greater than ours.

When worry creeps in, remind yourself that God not only has a plan to give you hope and a future (Jeremiah 29:11), but He has the same plans for your children as well.

Model faithful obedience – Hannah followed through on her promise to God, even when it was difficult. We can surrender our children by modeling an unwavering faith—showing them what it looks like to trust God in hard times, worship Him in all circumstances and make faith-filled decisions.

When they see us walk in obedience, they learn to do the same. Sometimes this can be as simple as praising God out loud in front of them or involving them in a volunteer project with us.

The Canaanite woman: A mother’s love that perseveres

The Canaanite woman in Matthew 15:21-28 showed unshakable persistence when pleading with Jesus to heal her demon-possessed daughter. Though Jesus initially seemed to turn her away, she did not give up. Her faith moved Him, and He healed her daughter.

Motherhood requires perseverance. Whether it’s advocating for our children at school, praying over their struggles or simply surviving sleepless nights with a newborn, we are called to keep going.

This woman’s story encourages us to pray boldly for our children and to never stop believing in God’s power to move in their lives.

Even when our prayers feel unanswered, we can cling to God’s promise that no good is wasted:

“Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.”

Galatians 6:9

Sometimes, our greatest act of love is to keep showing up—through the tantrums, the teenage rebellion or the tough seasons of life.

Practical application

Pray boldly and persistently – The Canaanite woman refused to give up when seeking Jesus’ help for her daughter. As moms, we can follow her example by praying persistently for our children, even when we don’t see immediate answers.

Keep bringing their needs before God, trusting that He hears and will act in His perfect timing (Luke 18:1).

Advocate for your children – Just as this mother boldly sought healing for her daughter, we are called to stand up for our kids. Whether it’s ensuring they get the help they need in school, guiding them through challenges or teaching them to make wise choices, perseverance means never giving up on them, no matter how hard the journey gets.

Cling to faith in difficult seasons – The Canaanite woman didn’t let discouragement stop her. When parenting feels overwhelming, we can persevere by holding onto faith.

Trusting God through tantrums, teenage rebellion or struggles with faith itself requires endurance. But just like this mother, we can believe Jesus is still working, even when we don’t see it yet.

Mary: A mother’s love that trusts God’s plan

Mary, the mother of Jesus, had to trust God in ways most of us will never fully understand. From the moment the angel Gabriel told her she would bear the Son of God, Mary responded with faith.

She watched her son grow into His ministry, knowing He was destined for the cross. As Jesus suffered, Mary stood nearby, witnessing His pain but trusting in God’s greater plan.

As moms, we often want to shield our children from hardships. But sometimes we must stand by them and trust God is working, even when we don’t understand. These verses are great to cling to in times like these:

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Proverbs 3:5-6

Whether we’re watching our children navigate friendship troubles, big decisions or struggles with faith, we can follow Mary’s example by trusting God’s plan for their lives.

Practical application

Say “yes” to God, even when it’s uncertain – When the angel told Mary she would give birth to Jesus, she responded with trust, even though she didn’t have all the details (Luke 1:38).

As moms, we won’t always understand what God is doing in our children’s lives, but we can choose to trust Him. We can follow Mary’s example of surrender by releasing our fears about our children’s future or stepping out in faith as He leads our family.

Walk beside your children through their hardships – Mary didn’t try to stop Jesus from fulfilling His calling, even when it led to suffering. Likewise, we must resist the urge to shield our kids from every difficulty.

Instead of fixing everything for them, we can pray for them, offer wisdom and remind them that God is always with them (Isaiah 41:10). Because the the truth is not everything is fixable, and our children must learn to deal with challenges.

Trust that God is writing their story – From the manger to the cross, Mary had to trust God had a greater plan for Jesus. In the same way, we don’t always see what God is doing in our children’s lives, but we can believe He is at work.

Even when their journey doesn’t look like what we expected, we can trust that His plan is better than ours (Proverbs 3:5-6).

Jochebed: A mother’s love that protects

Jochebed, the mother of Moses, faced an impossible decision. When Pharaoh ordered all Hebrew baby boys to be killed, she knew she couldn’t kill her child.

So, she hid her son for three months before placing him in a basket in the Nile River (Exodus 2:1-10). She trusted God with his life, and He provided—Moses was found by Pharaoh’s daughter and eventually led Israel out of Egypt.

Jochebed’s story reminds us that protecting our children sometimes means making hard choices. From setting firm boundaries to making sacrifices for their well-being to covering them in daily prayer, we are called to guide and protect them.

We may not always see immediate results, but like Jochebed, we can trust that God is at work.

Our children may not be facing threat of death from a king, but we still must protect them making tough choices. We do things like monitor their friendships, limit their screen time and say not to something “everyone else” is doing.

These things take courage and strength, but Proverbs 22:6 encourages us:

“Start children off on the way they should go, and even when they are old they will not turn from it.”

Proverbs 22:6

Practical application

Take wise action while trusting God – Jochebed didn’t just pray for Moses’ safety—she also took action by hiding him and then placing him in a basket in the Nile.

As moms, we can take practical steps to protect our children, such as setting boundaries with technology, choosing the right influences and teaching them about God’s truth. At the same time, we trust that God is in control beyond what we can do.

Let go and trust God’s plan – As painful as it must have been, Jochebed had to release Moses into God’s hands. We, too, will face moments when we must let go—it’s the very nature of parenthood to prepare them for life on their own.

Letting go isn’t easy, but we can rest in the promise that God loves them even more than we do (Isaiah 41:13).

Pray for God’s protection and guidance – Jochebed couldn’t follow Moses into Pharaoh’s palace, but God was with him every step of the way.

Likewise, we can’t always be with our children, but we can cover them in prayer, asking God to protect and guide them through all they face. Our prayers invite God to work in their lives (Philippians 4:6-7).

The widow of Zarephath: A mother’s love that trusts in God’s provision

In 1 Kings 17:8-16, a widow and her son were facing starvation when the prophet Elijah came to her. She had just enough flour and oil for one last meal, but Elijah asked her to make bread for him first.

She obeyed, and God miraculously provided—her flour and oil never ran out.

Motherhood often comes with seasons of scarcity, whether it’s finances, time, energy or patience. The widow’s story teaches us that when we put our trust in God, He provides.

When we feel like we have nothing left to give, He fills in the gaps. Throughout the Holy Bible, we can find promises of this very thing.

“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”

Philippians 4:19

Practical application

Trust God even when resources are scarce – The widow was preparing what she thought would be her last meal when Elijah asked her to make him bread first. Instead of giving in to fear, she trusted God’s provision.

As moms, we often worry about whether we’re providing enough—food, opportunities, emotional support and on the list goes. But God promises to meet our needs, and when we trust Him, He provides in ways we never expected.

Obey God even when it doesn’t make sense – The widow’s obedience to Elijah’s request led to God multiplying her flour and oil so she never ran out.

Sometimes, God calls us to trust Him in ways that don’t make immediate sense. It may be choosing faith over fear, stepping out in obedience or making sacrifices for our family.

Even when we don’t see the whole picture, we can trust He is working for our good.

Rely on God’s strength in hard seasons – Later in her story, the widow’s son became sick and died, and she cried out in grief (1 Kings 17:17-18). But through Elijah’s prayers, God brought her son back to life (1 Kings 17:21-22).

When we walk through painful seasons with our children—illness, struggles with faith or other difficult circumstances—we can bring our heartache to God. He hears our prayers, and while His answers may not always look how we expect, He is always near (Psalm 34:18).

Encouragement for moms: Living out a mother’s love

Motherhood is a journey filled with love, joy and sacrifice. Like the mothers in the Bible before us, we will have moments of surrender, perseverance, trust and protection.

But through it all, we are never alone. God walks with us, giving us strength for each day.

On the days you feel overwhelmed, remember this verse that talks about the special place moms have in God’s heart:

“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

Isaiah 40:11

God sees your love, your effort and your heart. Keep leaning on Him, knowing that the love you pour into your children is a reflection of His great love for you.

No matter what season of motherhood you are in—from cradling a newborn to guiding a teenager to praying for an adult child—you are seen, valued and loved. Your love as a mother is a beautiful reflection of God’s love, and He will sustain you every step of the way.

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7 Prayers for overwhelmed moms

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