My son has hit the terrible twos at full throttle. Just a few days ago, he threw a tantrum to end all tantrums before bedtime. I wanted to lose my temper and match him shout for shout because this was the third tantrum this week; I was tired, and dangit, why couldn’t he just understand he needed to go to bed?!?! But I didn’t lose my temper. Instead, I gritted my teeth, calmly put him to bed, and promptly burst into tears in the living room.
It was one of those moments when I looked up to the ceiling and asked, “God, what am I doing wrong?” Why wouldn’t he listen to me? Why couldn’t he understand? Was it me? Was I a bad mom? How do I even do this? How do I raise my son?
I felt lost, hurt, and didn’t know what to do.
But I knew what I could do, and that was to pray and turn to God for advice.
As it turns out, the Bible has a lot of advice to help mothers and fathers struggling with the realities of parenting and raising a child. Here are some of my favorite verses that I’ve turned to for guidance. Refresh your soul with this biblical encouragement for moms.
Biblical Encouragement for Moms to Keep You Rooted
Bible Verses For When You Need Guidance On Raising Children
I can’t count the times I worry about raising my son on a daily basis. How do I teach him right from wrong? Is it too early to teach manners? When do I start teaching him about Jesus? The Bible provides answers to these questions.
Psalm 127:3: “Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.”
Parenting hasn’t gotten any easier since the days of Mary and Joseph. The challenges have just evolved. But, one thing remains the same – children are and always have been a gift from God. So, when your child is throwing a monstrous tantrum, remember that though this moment is difficult, your child is a gift.
Proverbs 22:6 “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.
The book of Proverbs offers so much biblical encouragement for moms. It reminds us that it is our role as a mother to teach our children the path of Christ. It’s easy to fall into the worry about our child’s future. Lord knows I’ve sat awake chewing on my lip, wondering how to ensure my son will grow into a godly man. But, by teaching our children the right path from a young age, we help ensure they stay on that path into adulthood.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 “These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.”
Similarly, the book of Deuteronomy reminds us that it is our responsibility as a mom to sit with our children, to be with them, and guide them along the path of Christianity. We don’t just preach the Bible to them. We walk beside them. We eat, sleep, and breathe the way of Christ every day so that our children learn by example. From the moment they enter the world, we follow Christ’s example, and as they grow, they will learn and see that we truly mean the lessons we teach from the Bible.
Bible Verses For When You Feel Like A Failed Mom and Need Strength
Every mom will experience moments where they feel like an absolute failure. Those moments cripple you, leaving you feeling weak and empty. But, the Bible reminds us on many occasions that we are only human, weakness is in our nature, but in God, we find strength and resiliency.
2 Corinthians 12:9-10: “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may rest upon me. For the sake of Christ, then, I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities. For when I am weak, then I am strong.”
As mothers, we often put too much responsibility on our shoulders. We believe we cannot make mistakes, and thus when we do, we identify our mistakes as weaknesses. What we forget is that to be human is to make mistakes, to be human is to have weaknesses and that in weakness, God gives us strength. How’s that for biblical encouragement for moms?
Whether your mistake was yelling at your son because he left out his legos and you stepped on one, or it was you accidentally dropping the F-bomb in front of your daughter, these mistakes do not make you a failed mom. They make you human. They remind us that we need God. And if we turn to him for guidance in those moments, we become stronger for it.
Bible Verses For When You Need Patience and Grace
One of my greatest weaknesses as a person and a mother is patience. I’m horrible at it. So, I often turn to scripture as a way to reflect on patience and ask for grace for my failings. It brings me peace knowing that God forgives me for my weaknesses and reminds me to give my son grace for his actions, too.
Jeremiah 29:11: “For I know the plans I have for you, declares the LORD, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.”
The book of Jeremiah reminds us that God has a plan for our children and us, even if we aren’t privy to it yet. As a mom, it reminds us that we aren’t the only hope for our child’s future; God has His hands over their growth. We simply are part of that plan.
Romans 12:12 “Rejoice in hope, be patient in tribulation, be constant in prayer.”
The terrible twos seem like an endless saga of tantrums, but the Bible even has advice for this and other seemingly never-ending phases. And the book of Romans teaches us to be patient in times of difficulties and turn our frustrations and fears into prayers.
Romans 8:38-39: “For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Additionally, the book of Romans reminds us that though we may feel like a failure, God doesn’t see us that way. Nothing in Creation, not even our perceived sins or failures, separates us from God. His grace protects us, forgives us, and guides us through all struggles, great and small, including raising our children.
Bible Verses For When You Need Confidence
I struggle with having confidence in my parenting ability daily. I come from a divorced household with lots of parent-related baggage and am terrified of passing it on to my son. So yeah, I struggle with confidence. But the Bible has a way of reminding me that if I walk in faith, then God guides my parenting. -And what better parent is there in the whole universe than God?
Proverbs 31:25-25 “She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom and faithful instruction is on her tongue.”
If you ever need a confidence boost and guidance on how to be a strong, Godly woman, look to Proverbs Chapter 31. In it, a noble and Godly woman and wife is described. The passage reminds us that a woman who walks in faith is strong and dignified. So, if you ever worry about your actions, find comfort and confidence in knowing that as long as you live and follow the word of God, you will find strength.
Psalm 139:13-14: “For you formed my inward parts; you knitted me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; my soul knows it very well.”
I’ll be honest; sometimes, I forget the incredible capacity of God’s love. I struggle with my self-confidence. I don’t feel like a blessing or a wonderful work of God. If you’re like me and you find your confidence failing, remember this: you are a child of God, and so are your children. He made you knowing full-well your weaknesses and strengths, and He loves you still. So let yourself feel confident in the love of your Heavenly Father!
And don’t forget, as a mother, God blessed you with a child. God chose you to carry this child into the world. He has a plan for you as a mother. So trust in His plan, and confidence will follow.
Mothering Is A Faith-Filled Journey
Every mother experiences feelings of failure, weakness, and weariness. But as Christians, we are blessed with the best source of strength and advice to get us through every parenting struggle: God and His Word. Remember that God guides us every day. Lean into this biblical encouragement for moms, and trust that He will guide you and your children through all of your struggles.
If you’re struggling to find ways to feed yourself God’s previous Word each day, check out this article about how to be intentional with God’s Word.
