Although being a mom is one of the biggest blessings I have ever received, it definitely is not easy. The days are often hard and the nights long. There are moments when you feel like life is out of control and you have no idea what you are doing, but the moment passes. Then you realize ‘You got this!’ and are grateful for the crazy yet exciting world of motherhood.
You may not know what you are doing all the time because our kids do not come with instruction manuals, but we strive to do our best every day. Helping to nurture, support, and protect the gifts God has blessed us with.
Along with that sense of responsibility often comes the belief that ‘mommy knows best’ and we have the perfect plans for our kids lives. I can admit that I have had those feelings at times, until I realized I do not always know best and my plans are not perfect. I know I am not alone.
However, I know someone who does. I had to learn to not trust in myself and the plans I have for my daughters. I had to learn to trust in God’s plans for them. So to help us all, I have two things that will help you learn how to trust God’s plans for your kids.
1) Accepting You Don’t Know Best
This is really a tough one for me. I carried those little people in my body for 9 plus months. With the twins, carrying them around for 38 weeks was no easy feat. Then after having them, I was the one who nursed them at 3 o’clock in the morning and 3 o’clock in the afternoon.
I am the one who knows what color cup they like the best. I know what activities both in and out of school they excel at and the ones they struggle with. I see how they process different things and interact with people.
So I can see who will one day make a great doctor, an awesome fashion stylist, or a brilliant engineer. Yet despite all of this, I think I know about my girls, and what you think you know about your kids, God knows best.
For I know the plans I have for you,” says the Lord. “They are plans for your good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.
Jeremiah 29:11 (NLT)
God’s plans and purpose for our kids is so much greater than anything we could ever imagine. Our kids are destined for such greatness and we should never want to hinder that by thinking or acting like we know best.
God gives us wisdom and discernment to be the uniquely beautiful mothers we are, yet we are still human. We don’t know everything or can see how everything is going to work out. So we have to trust that God does and the plans He has for our kids will be beyond anything we could have hoped for or imagined.
2) Trusting God’s Plans for Your Kids Means Accepting We Are Only Human
As much as some of us may strive to be at times, we are all far from perfect. Believing that we are perfect, can achieve perfection, or that anyone else is perfect is a lie. All we can do is do our best as moms.
What works for one mom may not work for another. Even within the same family, what works for one child may not work for another. Yet God gave us this huge blessing and responsibility as mothers because He knew we could handle it with His help.
Trains up a child in the way he should go, even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 (ESV)
Our job as moms is not to plan every aspect our children’s’ lives. We are to nurture, care for, and instill values that will carry them through adulthood. No matter how much we plan, we all know that not all plans work how we want them to.
So trusting that God’s plan for our kids is better than ours is never a bad idea. We may not know exactly what the future holds, but we do know that being intentional about our parenting everyday matters.
Motherhood is not easy and despite our best efforts we are going to make mistakes. So we have to give ourselves a lot more grace and learn how to trust God’s plans for your kids.
I’d love to learn one way you have learned about motherhood
that you want every mother to know in the comments!
Wow. This post was EXACTLY what I needed today. I’m currently 22 weeks pregnant with my first and we just went through a really traumatic emergency with one of my best friends yesterday…I’ve been worrying nonstop, of course about my friend, but also about my sweet boy and who he’s going to grow into and how can I make sure I do my best to do everything right. But you’re so right, God’s plan for our kids is FAR greater than our own, and I have flaws and will not be a perfect mom but I’m so thankful that I serve a Lord who is perfect and will give me grace along the way…LOVE this post so much!!!!
I’m so glad this was able to speak to you at a time when you needed it most, Monica. God did not give you a spirit of fear or worry, but it is so easy for us as moms to do that because we realize that there is so much we cannot control. So it is so important, both during pregnancy and beyond, to trust God in and through it all. ?
Thanks for these gentle reminders. It’s easy to get so busy with the day to day that you forget some of these important truths!
Love this! I’ve had the realization that my kids isn’t to MAKE my kids be good people.. That’s too much pressure. My job is to love and teach and trust the Lord and my own children to take it from there.
Yes, Meg!! it is so easy for us, as moms, to think we can make our kids do anything. However, once we realize and accept we cannot, and turn it over to God, the weight lifted and peace we receive is assuring. ?
I think sometimes we try to control too much that isn’t in our control.
This is a wonderful post. I’m sure it’s so encouraging and comforting to those who have kids. We live in a crazy world, but knowing God has a plan for our kids–and for ourselves!–is such a comfort!
Yes, Erica, and thank you! Taking our eyes off the world around us and the plans we have, and just trusting in God is so important. ?
It is very hard to let go. Often we need to understand that our way is not the perfect way. Thanks for this share.
That is so true, Aditi. Accepting that our way is not perfect and not the only way is so important in parenting; and life in general. ?
Great post! I don’t have kids but I’ll pass this on to my friends who do!
Although I don’t have kiddos of my own yet, I can definitely appreciate this message. And it’s great wisdom for the future. I’m sure my parents would of loved this information when I was running them ragged as a teen. Thanks for sharing!!
I don’t have children yet, but I totally agree with you. I see how the world is going and it’s only God that can protect the children from all bad influences. Blessings
Most important thing is praying for them and leading them to Jesus. I’m not perfect but doing my best with God’s help and guidance.
love this! My baby girl is my life, my best friend,but she challenges me all the time! In terms of she loves little toys and stuff and I hate those kind of things but I’ve had to really let her be herself. My son is alot like me. I love watching them grow!
“Train up a child in the way he should go…” Yes. My biggest fear is my children (one in particular) going astray! And I know that it happens but I have trouble letting God take control! I know that reading Bible stories and Keys for Kids every night does wonders but what if????? Lol. It’s an ongoing battle to let go and let God work in their precious little lives!
Thank you for this post! I am regularly reminded that I can’t raise my kids to be who God wants them to be without His help! Ultimately, our children are a gift from God, and it’s our job to guide them into the path that HE has planned for them. Thanks for the reminder!❤️
Yes, Amede! ?? We all need these reminders from time to time because it is so easy to get caught up in what we think we know and the plans we have. Trusting in God and letting Him guide us in life and our parenting helps to get us farther than we could ever go on our own. ?
What a great post! And I love the pictures of your family beautiful fall pictures!
Thank you for this wonderful post! We had a rough morning here, and this was so encouraging. I’m so thankful that we can trust Him with our children’s futures because I can freely admit that I have no idea what I’m doing about 96.437% of the time lol.
I had one of those mornings today too, Jordan. Trusting in God more than myself has become so comforting and easier the more I do it.