He Chose You

I can’t recall exactly what I shared, but I know the emotions behind the words were those of exhaustion, frustration, and utter uncertainty of how to handle this child of mine. She and the others listened with tender knowing looks—looks that told me they understood. And then, she said it.

“Remember, God chose you to be her mother. No one else but you.”

Her words were delivered with great empathy and authority. As they sunk in deep, I knew this to be true. I had to ask myself if I trusted God in all things, including equipping me to mother this child of mine.

As I ran on a crisp Autumn morning I was reminded of this exchange two years ago. I spent the last half of my run praying for this girl of mine.

Motherhood doesn’t come easy to me. And if I am honest, I am quite worried I will scar these little ones with my inadequacies.

Here I am again, in another season where I feel tired, frustrated, utterly ill-equipped. And so, as I ran, I begged Him to equip me and as the words came out I corrected myself. Of course, He will equip me. I have seen Him do so countless other times. Before I could even think, I changed my prayer—Lord, help me not stand in the way of the equipping.

And there it was. I have been standing in my own way with my unbelief. Do I believe His grace is sufficient in my mothering? Do I believe His power is made perfect in my weaknesses? Do I believe that with the power of the Holy Spirit I can choose the fruits of the Spirit—love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness—over my natural tendency for all things the opposite!

I am a work in progress. And for some reason my inadequacies in motherhood feel the most profound. But He chose me for her and her for me.

This, I know to be true, He will complete the work He has begun, and by the power of the Holy Spirit I can do the work He has set before me.

I may just need to get out of the way. “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” (2 Corinthians 12:9a)

** Written by Lindsey, this was originally posted on The Joyful Life magazine’s Instagram account.