My wife Michelle did an incredible job this past Sunday, doing something that I can’t do well! She talked about what it’s like being a mother! She has a perspective on parenting that I, as a father, don’t have.
“The Lord bless you and keep you;the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you;the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace” (Numbers 6:24-26, ESV). I love this passage of Scripture, and it ties into the three-part blessing that Michelle shared.
God wants to bless you (“The Lord bless you and keep you…”): One of the most important things about motherhood is blessing. But even blessings can become distractions. Michelle used the perfect example. Imagine you have a beautiful home that you love spending time at, so much so that you stay there instead of going to church. This would prevent you from being in community with others and could prevent you from growing in your relationship with God! Enjoy your blessings, but don’t let them distract you.
God wants a relationship with you (“the Lord make his face to shine upon you and be gracious to you…”): Take a look at 2 Corinthians 4:6, which says, “For God who said, ‘Let there be light in the darkness,’ has made this light shine in our hearts so we could know the glory of God that is seen in the face of Jesus Christ” (NLT). How do you get to know God? As Michelle said, “We get to know the nature of God by getting to know Jesus. The more we listen to Jesus’ words, the more we focus on Christ, the more we see that God is gracious.” It’s especially important for mothers to have a strong relationship with God so that they can set an example for their children.
God wants to give you peace (“…the Lord lift up his countenance upon you and give you peace”): Peace is something that comes only from the Holy Spirit. When you’re feeling down, remember these encouraging words from Philippians 4:7! “And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus” (ESV). I hope Michelle’s message is an encouragement to mothers in quarantine, and really, an encouragement to everyone.