There’s something especially fitting about Mother’s Day arriving in the spring. The world is in transition—cold gives way to warmth, barren landscapes turn green, and heavy sweaters are exchanged for light t-shirts. It’s a season of renewal and growth, much like motherhood itself.
Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on my own journey through the many seasons of motherhood—looking back with gratitude, embracing the present, and trusting God with what lies ahead. Each season has brought its own beauty, and for that, I am deeply thankful.
Motherhood is filled with joy, but that doesn’t mean every season is easy. Each stage brings unique challenges and a wide range of emotions—from overwhelming delight to deep discouragement. No matter our personality, background, or strength, we all depend on God’s grace to love and care for the children He has entrusted to us. And we can rest in this truth: if God has called you to be the mother of your children, He has also equipped you for that calling.
“Faithful is he that calleth you, who also will do it.” 1 Thessalonians 5:24
Though every mother’s journey is different, we all pass through various seasons. They may come in different orders or intensities, but each one is appointed by God. In His perfect wisdom, He weaves together joy and sorrow, laughter and tears, trust and hope. We can be confident that every season is purposeful and perfectly timed.
God also calls us to walk alongside one another. Older, more experienced mothers are encouraged to guide and support younger women with wisdom rooted in His Word (Titus 2:3–5). While our children are a gift from God, we were never meant to raise them alone. There is great value in learning from those who have walked ahead of us.
Even as seasons shift and culture changes, God remains constant (James 1:17). His Word—full of truth, instruction, and promises—applies to every season of motherhood. Whether you are caring for infants or watching your children raise families of their own, God is with you.
Each stage of a child’s life introduces a new chapter: sleepless nights with newborns, the energy of toddlers, the challenges of school years, the complexities of adolescence, and the transitions into adulthood. Along the way, mothers face many struggles—exhaustion, anxiety, self-doubt, loneliness, and even guilt. We question our decisions, wrestle with expectations, and often feel both overwhelmed and underappreciated.
Yet within every challenge lies an opportunity. These seasons shape us, refining us into the image of Christ and allowing us to bring glory to God.
“To every thing there is a season, and a time to every purpose under the heaven:” Ecclesiastes 3:1
Ecclesiastes 3 reminds us of life’s rhythms and contrasts, and motherhood reflects that same balance:
A time to hold close, and a time to let go.
A time to support, and a time to step back.
A time to say “no,” and a time to say “yes.”
A time to correct, and a time to encourage.
A time to play, and a time to work.
A time to guide, and a time to trust.
A time to set boundaries, and a time to release them.
A time to decide, and a time to let them choose.
A time to advise, and a time to comfort.
A time to be responsible for them, and a time to hold them responsible.
A time to celebrate, and a time to console.
A time to help, and a time to wait.
A time to speak, and a time to pray.
A time to be a mother, and a time to be a friend.
Wherever you are, don’t rush through your current season. Embrace it fully and remain faithful within it. The next season will come soon enough, bringing its own blessings and challenges. Instead of worrying about what’s ahead, find joy in what God has placed before you today.
Take comfort in knowing that God is already in your future. He is continually working in you and through you, shaping your life until the day of Christ (Philippians 1:6).
No matter what your present season feels like—harsh and difficult or warm and joyful—you can hold onto the hope found in God’s promises. He makes everything beautiful in His time, and He desires for us to find joy in the work He has given us.
“He hath made every thing beautiful in his time: also he hath set the world in their heart, so that no man can find out the work that God maketh from the beginning to the end…And also that every man should eat and drink, and enjoy the good of all his labour, it is the gift of God.” Ecclesiastes 3:11&13
Let us not forget as we diligently persevere through each season of motherhood the words of Elizabeth Elliot,
God isn’t just raising my children…He’s raising me too.
Kim Shadday
Understanding the need for women to seek trusted Biblical counsel rather than suffering in silence, and from her own personal experiences, Kim submitted to the Lord’s leading to become a Biblical counselor. She has a bachelor’s degree from Indiana University in Social work (1995), a certification from ACBC (2011), as well as a master’s degree from Maranatha Baptist University in Biblical counseling (2019). She is committed, through counseling, to help women understand the importance of good theology as it relates to all of life’s issues.
Kim has been married and serving alongside her husband at Crosspointe Baptist Church for over 25 years. They have two sons, Bryce and Austyn, who are the delight of Kim’s heart. Now that they have flown the coop, she finds herself with more time to enjoy a cup of coffee, a good book, and long walks and bike rides with her loving husband.
