When Motherhood Leaves You Wandering

Are you wandering in the wilderness of motherhood?

As a new mom, I wandered in the wilderness for a long time. I wandered because I rarely sought guidance from the Lord. Six years later, I'm now a mom of three girls, but I continue to struggle in similar ways.

The journey of motherhood frequently wearies my mind and spirit, and in more ways than one, I'm always in need of guidance. Rather than turning to God first, my natural tendency is to turn elsewhere. I seek help from search engines, a friend, or social media rather than him.

In Isaiah 40:11 God promises, “He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” The word “lead” comes from the Hebrew word “nahal” which means, “to lead or guide to a watering place, bring to a place of rest.” Moms need gentle leading. God knows how vulnerable and weary we become if we are driven too hard or fast, (Genesis 33:13-14). We also need to be led to a place of refreshment.

God leads us through his Words.

We have access to all kinds of advice. A few key words entered into a search engine might direct us to a great Christian article, but where would God lead us if we seek him first? Psalm 25:5 says, “Lead me in your truth and teach me, for you are the God of my salvation; for you I wait all the day long.”

God leads us through truth, and his Words are truth. Psalm 119:105 says, “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” God's Words give us the guidance we need. Unfortunately, we expect answers in the same amount of time it takes for our web browsers to load a page. What if we expectantly read his Words and patiently wait for his response?

God leads us through prayer.

Moms are expected to juggle copious amounts of tasks each day. Our multitasking abilities are frequently brought to their limits. It can be challenging to pull away from the many tasks demanding our attention, but prayer must be at the top of our list. Whether we seek him in the quiet of the morning or during other pockets of time, it's essential to seek him.

Psalm 61:2 tells us God leads us through prayer. King David wrote, “from the end of the earth I call to you when my heart is faint. Lead me to the rock that is higher than I.” Motherhood is a wild, exhausting journey. We need to be led by our omnipotent God, who promises to lead us gently.

God leads us to living water.

Hagar wandered in the wilderness with her son, Ishmael, after being sent out by Abraham, (Genesis 21:14). Why did Hagar wander? She knew God would lead her, (Genesis 16:9) and take care of her, (Genesis 16:13) and yet, she never sought him for help.

In Genesis 21:15-17, Hagar succumbed to her wandering by crying out in despair, and God responded to her. In Genesis 21:19 it says, “Then God opened her eyes, and she saw a well of water. And she went and filled the skin with water and gave the boy a drink.” Our gracious Father led Hagar to a well of water, and he will do the same for us. God opens our eyes to the source of living water—himself—who will strengthen, restore, and guide us.

Blessings,

Sandra

Sandra Bretschneider is a wife, mother of three, speech-language pathologist, and writer with a passion for helping other women to dive deeper into God’s Word. She is the author of Knowing the Shepherd: A Names of God Bible Study for Moms. Connect with Sandra on Instagram @sandra.bretschneider