Mothering with Confidence

I have always been a little envious of the mom who seems to mother with complete confidence. She unwaveringly makes decisions, gives commands, and  sets limits. No tantrum, complaining or criticism causes her to lose sight of the long-term goals she has for her kids. She has fixed her face like flint.

I, on the other hand, don’t always fare as well. I will second-guess some of the decisions I make, especially when my kids respond negatively to it.

I’ll question: Am I being to harsh? Do they resent me? Will I scar them for life?

I don’t have a master’s degree in mothering. I know. Who does? But some moms seem to enter into motherhood with lots of good tools in their belt. I didn’t feel so well-equipped.

How do I know I have what it takes for this huge task daily before me?

“It is not that we are competent in ourselves to consider anything as coming from ourselves, but our competence is from God.” (2 Corinthians 3:5)

Competence means having suitable or sufficient skill, knowledge, experience, etc., for some purpose; properly qualified. Synonyms for competent are fit, capable and proficient.

When I feel insecure about my capability as a mom of 6 growing boys, I don’t have to search within myself to boost my confidence. I just need to look up. By faith, I mother, believing that God is supernaturally equipping me with what I need. My competence is rooted in Him! I get to use His tool belt!

Through His Holy Spirit, He equipped the craftsmen of the tabernacle with the skills and abilities required for the job.

“And He filled him with the Spirit of God, in wisdom, in understanding and in knowledge and in all craftmanship…” (Exodus 35:30)

In the same way, God enables us to be the moms each of our children need. Each one of our children house His presence much like the Tabernacle did. We are co-laboring with God to craft them into Godly men and women that live to bring Him glory. God has filled us up with His Spirit for the task at hand!

Maybe you’re a tomboy mom raising crafty, girlie girls. Maybe you’re homeschooling subjects you never felt you had a decent grasp on yourself. You feel out of your league. Unfit for the role.

No matter what we feel, the Scriptures always speak a truer message. We are competent…simply because God says so. He bought our competence on the cross. It’s a gift. Not earned. Not from within ourselves.

So, today we can stick our tongue out and say “Neener neener neener” to the devil who seeks to defeat and disable mothers.

When the devil digs up our past or present mistakes and waves them in our face to cause us to question and doubt our position as mothers, we can speak this verse (2 Corinthians 3:5 stated above).

He’ll have to deal with our Daddy on this one. Because our competence isn’t from ourselves but from Him.

 ”Christ in us the hope of glory” …in our homes and families! (Colossians 1:27)

For more on this topic, please read my post on Overcoming Insecurity!

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