Faith-Filled Mothers

Scripture: Luke 1:30–35

Luke 1:30–35 NASB95

The angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; for you have found favor with God. “And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall name Him Jesus. “He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High; and the Lord God will give Him the throne of His father David; and He will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and His kingdom will have no end.” Mary said to the angel, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” The angel answered and said to her, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason the holy Child shall be called the Son of God.

Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 2002 Edition Stats, Stories and More

After dinner one Mother’s Day a mother was washing the dishes when her teenage daughter walked into the kitchen. Horrified to see her mother at the sink, she exclaimed, “Oh, mother, you shouldn’t have to do dishes on Mother’s Day.” The mother was touched by this seeming thoughtfulness and was about to take off her apron and give it to her daughter, when the daughter added, “They’ll keep till tomorrow.”

Introduction: Have you seen the commercial on TV about the teenager who goes to her mother and says, “Mom, can I get twenty dollars.” The .mother responses by saying, “That do you think, I am make of money.”

The teen replies, Isn’t that what M-O-M stands for; Make of Money.

Well every mom knows it does not stand for Make of money.

However, everyone know being a Mom is challenging, but has great rewards.

Nelson’s Annual Preacher’s Sourcebook, 2002 Edition Stats, Stories and More

About a third of all mothers spend ten or more hours per day with their children; another 47 percent devote four to nine hours daily. Eighty-two percent consider at least half of their parenting hours “quality time.”

• Almost every mother polled (98 percent) says she has a close relationship with her children.

• Ninety-nine percent say their fondest hope for their children is for them to be good people. They’d also like their kids to someday have happy marriages (97 percent), successful careers (79 percent) and children of their own (75 percent). Just 19 percent want their offspring to be rich.

According to a survey by Ladies Home Journal, 85 percent of women say that motherhood is the best thing that ever happened to them. What’s the greatest part? Twenty-one percent say it’s watching their kids grow. A category called “Everything” came in second (18 percent), followed by children’s “unconditional love” (14 percent). But 70 percent of all mothers consider motherhood incredibly stressful. It was certainly stressful for Mary. She was the mother of no ordinary boy, but she was a mother still, with all of the concerns, hopes and dreams of any mother for her children. She had found favor with God, was a recipient of His grace, and therefore could say, “My spirit has rejoiced in God my Savior” (v. 47). Yet at times a sword pierced her soul. The calling of motherhood is not an easy one, but Mary demonstrated how to be an effective parent, living a life in His favor and grace. From varied scenes in her life we can see three attributes every godly mother needs.

Be a Model.

A godly mother is a model to follow.

Luke reveals the divine dialogue of God’s plan for this young “mother-to-be.” At first it must have been hard for Mary to understand God’s plan for her life, but she was faithful. Though she struggled to understand, she depended on God moment by moment. This is exactly what God wants mothers to do today. Moms are still the significant caregivers. They have an awesome responsibility to nurture these gifts from God we call kids. Although overwhelming at times, parenthood was never meant by God to be undertaken alone. He is our strong ally.

Ruth Bell Graham said, “As a mother, my job is to take care of the possible and trust God with the impossible.”

Godly mothers are models who trust and who can be trusted.

During a storm, a mother once shielded her children from the rain with her own body, demonstrating self-sacrifice. This mirrors Jesus' love for us—a model of the ultimate sacrifice. Just as Christ bore our burdens, mothers often lay down their lives daily, prioritizing their children’s well-being above their own desires. Such acts of love and selflessness remind us of our calling to serve others, particularly the vulnerable around us.

Be an Optimist.

A godly mother hangs on to an optimistic attitude. In John 2:1–11, a wonderful scene unfolds between a mother and a son. Moms believe their kids can do anything. How true this was of Mary’s son, Jesus! The wine had run out at the wedding feast. Mary apparently had some responsibility at the wedding, so she asked her firstborn for help. She didn’t know what Jesus would do, but she knew he would do the right thing, and she told the servants to follow His directions. She believed in Him, and this is an attribute children desperately need from their parents today. Psychologist Martin Seligman of the University of Pennsylvania has demonstrated that children’s attitudes are more shaped by their mothers than by those of anyone else. “The mother’s level of optimism and the child’s level were very similar,” he wrote in his book Learned Optimism. “This was true of both sons and daughters.... If a child has an optimistic mother, this is great, but it can be a disaster for the child if the child has a pessimistic mother.”

A mother sat down with her son who was worried about his future. He grumbled about all the things that could go wrong. With a smile, she turned to him and said, 'Remember when you were afraid to ride your bike without training wheels? Look how far you've come! Sometimes, we must let go of the fear to see the wonderful things ahead.' Just like Proverbs 31 describes a woman who laughs at the days to come, a mother often embodies that optimism and faith in a promising future.

Be a Mainstay.

In John 19:25–27 and Acts 1:12–14, Mary demonstrates one outstanding attribute—she was a mainstay of the faith. At the foot of the cross when the world had turned its back on Jesus and in the Upper Room when the world thought Jesus was dead, Mary was firm in her reliance on God. A mainstay is the supporting line extending from the mainmast of a ship. It is the chief support of the mast and crucial to the ship’s ability to set sail. This is a beautiful description of Mary. She was a mainstay of faith for her son, His followers and the early church. This is also a beautiful picture of all godly mothers. Without faith, it is impossible for a mother to please Him (Heb. 11:6). Their faith in God makes mothers a source of continual strength for their children.

I learned more about Christianity from my mother than from all the theologians of England.

John Wesley (Founder of the Methodist Movement)

Conclusion: The greatest and most unselfish substance in the world is the love of a mother for her child. Mary was a model to follow, an optimist at all times, and a mainstay of faith. Mary was a godly MOM, and every mother who partners with God can be a light of inspiration to her children as well.