How many children do you have? I have 2 children.
How old are your child(ren) OR how long have you been a mom? They are 6 and 2.
Are you a mom of girls, boys, or both? I have one of each.
How has fierce faith driven you to intercede for, stand with, or fight against on behalf of you and or your family – in spite of what things looked like in the natural?
There have been many times that fierce faith has been the driving force in getting me and my family through the situation we were in.
Honestly 2022 came with many trials, struggles and heartaches for my own family as well as our extended family.
We started the year with a severe car accident, followed by the loss of our newborn nephew, and ended the year with my health issues (to name a few).
Truly, in years past, between the financial or emotional burden of each thing- it would have completely destroyed us. We would have broken into pieces. And though there were times we surely felt like we were going to… my husband or I would remind each other that Jesus would carry us through.
I would never have been able to cope with any one of these on my own accord. Christ is our firm foundation, our cornerstone, our strength, our hope.
Never had that played out more true in my life than during the endless trials of last year. I watched as God so gently guided us through every battle. There were days that I felt the enemy was going to completely take hold. However, as soon as I began praying or opened up my Bible to get into the word, the glimmer of hope would shine in.
We still have struggles in this life, we always will. But we have a peace and a hope that comes when we walk with Jesus Christ.
“I have said these things to you, that in me you may have peace. In the world you will have tribulation. But take heart; I have overcome the world.” John 16:33
What do “high tides” of faith look like through a mother’s eyes? How does it power her perspective, prayers, responses, attitude, etc.?
For me high tides of faith have come in waves just like the ocean. However, the amount of time that my high tide may last can be anywhere from a few weeks to a few months.
When my faith is strong and powerful, I am able to stand firm in my beliefs as a mother and for my children.
I notice that my prayers, responses, or attitude is bold and unwavering. I do not hesitate or think twice about what others believe. I walk in that faith that I am doing what is best for my children and my family. I trust that the Holy Spirit is leading me in the path I need to go one step at a time.
I can walk obediently without questioning.
Similarly, what does a world with low tides of faith look like for a mom? How does it impact her?
I find value in those low tide moments just as much as I do in the high tides. It usually happens when doubt or shame or regret creep in. But I often find my biggest revelations or convictions as I work through those low tide moments.
Yes, it can be challenging and feel discouraging, but I always end up stronger and wiser in the end.
God is always using my low tides to refine me as a mother.
I believe there is so much to learn from each, and hence the purpose for the ever-flowing tides of our faith.
If you find yourself in a low tide season, do not try to rush your way out of it. Instead, be still, reflect and try to fully understand what it is that God is wanting to teach you. Allow his refining process to take hold and stay in the word as much as possible.
“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”
2 Corinthians 12:9
In the oftentimes unending demand of mothering, how do you keep Christ first?
Motherhood certainly comes with many demands; many unexpected events and trials.
I cannot imagine how I would get through our days without our Lord Jesus Christ helping me through. One thing I strive to do is read my Bible in the morning before the kids wake up. Some days, this doesn’t go as planned. But my desire is to always spend quality time in the morning with the Lord.
On the days I do not get to read alone, I can feel a difference and I will make it a point to read a little more in the Bible with the children. I will by no means say I am perfect at this. But everything we do throughout our day we invite Jesus to be with us.
I am working on getting better at taking a moment in prayer when I can feel the stress or anger rising or my patience wearing thin. I realize that I cannot do this on my own, it is only with the help of God that I can endure and show up as the best mom possible. Many days, I cling to Philippians 4:13. “For I can do everything through Christ who gives me strength.”
We are in our second year of homeschooling, and it is a journey all in itself.
Through our curriculum and time together we incorporate praying, Bible reading, and worship time.
Our family only listens to KLove or Christian music. I absolutely love that we can still be worshiping the Lord while we are running errands and driving from one place to the next.
When we spend time outside, we give thanks to the Lord for all that he provides. My son usually says grace at dinner, which I think he and my daughter will alternate as she gets older.
One of our favorite ways to end our day is with a worship dance party after dinner. I believe it is so important to constantly invite Jesus into the mundane, daily life tasks.
We can praise our Lord and Savior no matter what we are doing!
Elaborate on the wilderness of silence and not hearing from God? How have you navigated these times and how do you interpret them?
As I write this, I am in a bit of a wilderness season, so this question really jumped out to me.
My husband and I have been anxiously waiting over the last two years to see what our next step is that God is leading us to. We sold our house in May of 2021, a few months after our daughter was born. We are currently renting a house that he so graciously provided for us at the exact perfect time we needed. However, we have big dreams and ideas of living a simple life (as I write that it sounds a bit like an oxymoron). But a life with a little more land to roam and raise animals.
A life that allows us to give back and serve our community.
A life with more emphasis on living like Jesus.
We have looked at many houses in many areas- truly nothing has been off limits for us. Each time we thought we were following and listening to God, yet he very quickly would reveal that we were not fully listening. Many doors we tried to nudge open, he would completely shut in an instant. I know that he is refining us. Little by little, each time we are learning something new.
At this moment right now, I feel so distant from God. Like crickets when I pray. At times, it can be hard to pick up my Bible and read. It can feel like God is not even listening. However, I know that is not true at all. God is always with us.
“In my distress I called upon the Lord; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.” (Psalm 18:6)
Even Jesus went through a season in the wilderness for forty days and forty nights. He was tempted by the enemy three times, yet he left there filled with the Holy Spirit’s power. How? Because he trusted God during this season of transition instead of falling into sin.
In these moments, I know I must seek his word more fervently than ever. Reading the Bible is one of the most common ways God speaks to us. And in order to build my discernment and cast out all fear, doubt or anxieties, I need to be reading and digesting scripture. Above all, it brings me closer to knowing who God is. And when we walk with confidence in our almighty Father, we will be able to withstand any wilderness season.
“But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31
I also have to move forward fully trusting my faith in God. Knowing that in the silence, he is working all things out. My task right now is to have faith until he tells us our next step. It is my duty to continue to trust in the Holy Spirit to lead me out of the wilderness.
“Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see.”
Hebrews 11:1
I must remind myself that it is not the time for me to know. God will reveal to me what I need to hear at the exact right time. But for now, he is calling me to be still… to have patience. He is calling me to pray like never before!
He is testing my definition of patience and reminding me that my timeline is not his timeline. “Rejoice always, pray without ceasing, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17
Whenever we find ourselves in a season of wilderness, remember that this time of testing can result in an amazing season of transformation. Ultimately, we need to remember that God alone is enough.
We must stay vigilant and continue to seek the LORD constantly. And when the time is ready, God will bring us to our promised land. Psalm 23 is a great one to memorize and recite anytime, but especially during the wilderness season.
“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want…”
What legacy do you wish to create/leave for your children?
My perspective of this has changed drastically over the years, and is something I have actually been putting a lot of thought into over the last few months.
I went through some difficult health issues last year and it brought me to the thought of what would happen if I was not here.
What would I be leaving behind for my children?
What would they remember?
What would be the best thing I could leave for them?
And my answer was simple – following and having faith in Jesus Christ.
I believe the best legacy I can leave is teaching them who they are rooted in Christ. Teaching them the skills to nurture and grow a long lasting, personal relationship with the Father is something that you cannot put a price tag on.
I know that having an intimate relationship with the Lord will provide my children guidance, peace, and hope for all circumstances of life- no matter what they face. They are, of course, going to have to go through their own trials and obstacles, but even faith the size of a mustard seed can move mountains.
I know that the foundation in Christ will bring them back to love and truth each time.
One of my favorite verses for this is “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” Proverbs 22:6
I am all the more grateful for the women (like Lindsay) who have chosen to join me on this journey of transparency. I can’t thank you enough.
For the Moms is an annual written blog series which aims to ignite and connect Godly Women in various stages of Motherhood toward the revelation of their Divinely given assignment and their impact as the gatekeepers of the home.
The purpose and mission is to elevate Christ and conceptualize Godly character in Motherhood – and to reach down and pull up those Mothers who are just starting, who are understandably worn, or who have somehow lost their way.
Further, For the Moms is a movement that is calling to attention the warriors within us for the times in which we live. We will aim to unravel the mistakes and cycles of generations past. We will wage war for our families. And, we will diligently seek the Lord’s face concerning His will for our children, and who we are becoming through our Motherhood.
My prayer is that the women who lay eyes on the For the Moms Series, will be encouraged, emboldened, and all the more hopeful. I sure am.
For the Moms,
Hannah
- Episode 30 – Marinating in the wait w/ Karen Mejeur
- For the Moms – Tides of Faith w/ Eliza Sarai Ray
- For the Moms – Tides of Faith w/ Karen Mejeur
- For the Moms – Tides of Faith w/ Lookha Succes
- For the moms – Tides of faith w/ Aimee Niblack
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