The Redemptive Hope of Motherhood

Roadmap to Hope Through Naomi’s Motherhood Journey

RESET | RE-CONNECT | RENEWAL

RESET

Ruth 1: 2-20 Introduction of Naomi’s Loss

We meet a woman who has everything, and all of a sudden, she loses her entire family in a decade.

Sometimes in life, we are faced with challenge after challenge, and it’s hard to feel close to God. But He is always near, and He is always sending glimmers of Hope

Ruth 1:16–17 (NKJV)

“But Ruth said:

‘Entreat me not to leave you, or to turn back from following after you; For wherever you go, I will go; And wherever you lodge, I will lodge; Your people shall be my people, And your God, my God. Where you die, I will die, and there I will be buried. The Lord do so to me, and more also, if anything but death parts you and me.’”

Naomi’s season of motherhood did not end; it changed. Her calling to mother did not stop; the way she would mother was changing.

Naomi’s Mothering

• What we learn about Naomi in the text is that she was a wonderful mother-in-law. We know this because both of her daughters-in-law wanted to stay with her, and one refused to leave her.
• Motherhood often extends beyond our biological children. Being a mother often means we mother those closest to our children or in our proximity.
• God grants mothers a grace to keep loving well even when their hearts are breaking.
• Naomi was called to mother Ruth. Even though her son was gone, her assignment in motherhood shifted. Ruth would need Naomi’s guidance and direction in this next season. Ruth thought all was lost, but God had another plan.

“ Faith is depending on God when you’re living in the unknown, and sometimes the Lord lets us hit rock bottom so we can experience that He is the Rock at the bottom. Mom and Dad always told us that your greatest ministry is born from your greatest misery.” – Jonathan Evans, “Divine Disruption.”

Grief in Motherhood

We do not need to hide our honest prayers from God.

Scripture makes room for grief.

Psalm 13:1–3

“How long, O Lord? Will You forget me forever? How long will You hide Your face from me? How long shall I take counsel in my soul, having sorrow in my heart daily? How long will my enemy be exalted over me? Consider and hear me, O Lord my God; enlighten my eyes.”

God loved David, and David was honest with God.

Grief in motherhood does not only result from the loss of a child. Sometimes there is grief from the loss of a relationship with that child, grief in the child being lost in the world, grief in not being able to mother or not being the mother you thought you would be. God wants you to tell him. He can handle your hurt. He makes room for it.

God cannot heal what you will not reveal.

Acknowledge the Emotion; Praise Your Savior

Lament is not the opposite of faith. Lament is faith that does not lie about how much it hurts.

The hurt is real, and so is the Lord’s faithfulness.

Joy and grief can co-exist.

We must acknowledge our emotions.

It is not a sin to express emotional pain.

Jesus expressed His emotions and wept for Lazarus.

Psalm 13:5–6

“But I have trusted in Your mercy; my heart shall rejoice in Your salvation. I will sing to the Lord, because He has dealt bountifully with me.”

CONTINUOUS RESET

As a mother, and especially a mother who deals with grief, sometimes every day will be a reset.

We will have to remind ourselves that his mercies are new every morning. (Lamentations 3:22-23)

WORSHIP IS A WEAPON to fight anxiety in our lives.

Hebrews 4:16

“Let us therefore come boldly to the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy and find grace to help in time of need.”

Motherhood requires bold prayers.

Motherhood requires honesty with God.

RE-CONNECT

Boaz – The Kinsman Redeemer

We need family to support healthy motherhood.

Ecclesiastes 4:9–10

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their labor. For if they fall, one will lift up his companion.”

In the text, we see that Boaz is a godly man.

He goes into the workplace blessing people and looking for ways to help. God wants to use all of us, whether we are mothers or not, to support motherhood. Find a community where you can  bless others.

Whatever workplace, church, or community organization you are involved in, look for ways to love others well.

Ruth 2:4–20

The Power of Notice

Boaz notices Ruth and helps her.

Ruth 2:11–12

“The Lord repay your work, and a full reward be given you by the Lord God of Israel, under whose wings you have come for refuge.”

Men can help meet needs in motherhood.

God is intentional and meets needs through people.

Provision often comes through people. God needs us in tune with what He is calling us to do and who He has called us to support. We can only be sensitive to that if we are spending time in the world.

Ruth 2:20

“Blessed be the Lord, who has not forsaken His kindness to the living and the dead.”

Be the reason someone says there must be a God. Your kindness can change the trajectory of a life.

RENEWAL

Ruth 4:14–15

“Blessed be the Lord who has not left you this day without a close relative… May he be to you a restorer of life.”

Be open to God’s plan, not looking like your original plan for motherhood. His plan may be greater, or it may be different, but it will give life.

Trust God’s plan for restoration.

Maybe God has called you to be someone’s “work mom,” foster mother, adoptive mother,  bonus mom (stepmother), grandma,  spiritual mother, mentor, or aunty. Whatever the Lord has called you to do, do it well and partner with him in prayer.

“From Scripture we have received written proof of what God has done for us, what He’s created us and called us and empowered us into becoming. Then in prayer we cooperate with him to stamp these truths repeatedly into our hearts.” -Priscilla Shirer, “ Fervent.”

New Life

Naomi was able to mother again as a grandmother.

God calls women to motherhood in different ways.

Do not limit how God will call you to be a mother.

Contentment in Christ

“Christ-based contentment will turn you into a strong person. Since no one can take your Christ, no one can take your joy.” – Max Lucado

No matter what happens in motherhood or in life, Jesus, I have you, and in you I have everything.

Christ-Confidence.

Proverbs 31:28

“Her children rise up and call her blessed.”

RESOURCES

“Divine Disruption” – Dr. Tony Evns, Chrystal Evans Hurst, Priscilla Shirer, Anthony Evans, and Jonathan Evans

“The Garden Within’ – Dr. Anita Phillips

“Fervent” – Priscilla Shirer