Hey sweet mama,
I need to tell you something important today, something that might change how you see yourself in the midst of all the beautiful chaos that is your life right now.
You know those moments when you’re standing in your kitchen at 7 AM, already exhausted, wondering if you have what it takes to make it through another day? Or when you lose your patience with your kids and immediately feel the weight of guilt and shame crushing down on you? Maybe it’s when you’re lying in bed at night replaying all the ways you felt like you failed as a mom today.
In those moments, there’s something I desperately want you to remember: if you belong to Jesus, you are not the same person you used to be. You are not defined by your worst moments, your biggest failures, or your deepest fears. You are a new creation, walking in the light of God’s incredible love.
Let me share this truth with you in a way that speaks directly to your mama heart.
The Truth That Changes Everything
Second Corinthians 5:17 says, “Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, the new creation has come: The old has gone, the new is here!”
Sweet friend, do you realize what this means for you? It means that woman you used to be – the one struggling with anxiety, shame, anger, or whatever else used to define you – she’s gone. The Holy Spirit lives in you now, and you have access to God’s strength, wisdom, and peace in ways you never did before.
This doesn’t mean you’re perfect now (thank goodness, because none of us are!). But it means you have a new identity, new power, and new hope that can carry you through the hardest parts of motherhood.
From Darkness to Light
First Peter 2:9 tells us that God “called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”
Before Christ, we were all stumbling around in spiritual darkness – trying to figure out life, parenting, and relationships without His guidance. We were operating from places of fear, insecurity, and our own limited understanding.
But mama, you don’t live there anymore.
What the Darkness Used to Look Like
Maybe for you, the darkness was:
- Anxiety that controlled your decisions – constantly worrying about everything that could go wrong with your children
- Perfectionism that exhausted you – believing you had to be the perfect mom or you were failing completely
- Anger that erupted unexpectedly – losing your temper and then drowning in guilt and shame
- Comparison that stole your joy – always measuring your family against others and finding yourself lacking
- Fear about your children’s future – lying awake at night worrying about all the things you can’t control
- Shame from your past – believing that your mistakes disqualified you from being a good mom
Whatever your particular darkness looked like, God has called you out of it. You don’t have to live there anymore.
What Living in the Light Means Now
Living in God’s wonderful light as a mom means:
You have direct access to divine wisdom. James 1:5 promises that if you ask God for wisdom, He’ll give it generously. You don’t have to parent from a place of anxiety or confusion – you can ask the Creator of your children for guidance and trust that He’ll provide it.
You have peace that surpasses understanding. Philippians 4:7 tells us about God’s peace that guards our hearts and minds. This doesn’t mean life won’t be stressful, but it means you can have an underlying peace even in the chaos because you know God is in control.
You have strength for each day. Isaiah 40:31 reminds us that those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. On those days when you feel like you have nothing left to give, God can supernaturally strengthen you for what lies ahead.
You have purpose in your calling. Ephesians 2:10 says we are God’s workmanship, created for good works that He prepared beforehand. Your role as a mom isn’t just biology or accident – it’s part of God’s beautiful plan for your life.
Living Out Your New Identity in Real Mom Life
Okay, this all sounds wonderful in theory, but what does it actually look like when you’re dealing with a toddler meltdown in Target or trying to get everyone ready for school on time?
When You Lose Your Patience
The old you might have been defined by that moment of anger – “I’m such a terrible mom. I always lose my temper. I’m going to mess up my kids forever.”
The new you can acknowledge the mistake without being crushed by shame: “I made a mistake, but that’s not who I am. I am loved by God, I’m learning to be more patient, and I can apologize to my children and start fresh.”
You can actually use these moments to model grace and forgiveness for your children, showing them what it looks like to own your mistakes and depend on God’s strength to do better.
When Anxiety Tries to Take Over
The old you might have been paralyzed by worry about your children’s health, safety, development, or future.
The new you can acknowledge your concerns while choosing to trust God: “I feel anxious about this situation, but I know God loves my children even more than I do. I can pray about this, take any wise action I need to take, and then rest in His sovereignty.”
This doesn’t mean you become careless or uninvolved – it means you can parent from a place of trust rather than fear.
When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough
The old you might have believed that you needed to be everything to your children – perfect mom, perfect teacher, perfect playmate, perfect provider.
The new you can recognize your limitations and point your children to God: “I can’t meet all of your needs, but I know who can. Let’s pray about this together.” You can be honest about your struggles while still being the safe harbor your children need.
When Comparison Steals Your Joy
The old you might have looked at other families and felt constant inadequacy – “Their kids are better behaved, their house is cleaner, they seem to have it all together.”
The new you can celebrate others without diminishing yourself: “God has given each family unique gifts and challenges. I’m grateful for what He’s doing in our family, even if it looks different from others.”
You can focus on faithfulness in your own calling rather than trying to live someone else’s life.
The Power You Have Access To
Here’s what I want you to understand: as a new creation in Christ, you’re not just trying harder to be a better mom with the same old resources. You have access to supernatural power through the Holy Spirit.
The Fruit of the Spirit in Motherhood
Galatians 5:22-23 lists the fruit of the Spirit: “love, joy, peace, forbearance, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness and self-control.”
Notice that it doesn’t say these are things you have to manufacture through willpower. They’re fruit – natural results of the Spirit’s work in your life.
Love – not just human love, but God’s perfect love flowing through you to your children Joy – not dependent on circumstances, but rooted in your identity as God’s beloved daughter
Peace – a supernatural calm even when life feels chaotic Patience – divine help in those moments when you want to lose it Kindness – the ability to respond gently even when you’re tired or frustrated Goodness – a heart that desires what’s best for your children, guided by God’s wisdom Faithfulness – strength to keep showing up, even in difficult seasons Gentleness – power under control, responding to your children’s hearts rather than just their behavior Self-control – the ability to pause and choose your response rather than just reacting
Prayer Changes Everything
Because you’re no longer in darkness, you can bring every concern about your children directly to their heavenly Father. You don’t have to figure everything out on your own anymore.
Pray for your children daily – for their hearts, their character, their future, their relationships with God Pray for wisdom in specific situations – discipline challenges, friend drama, learning struggles
Pray for your own heart – for patience, wisdom, discernment, and grace Pray with your children – showing them where your strength comes from and teaching them to seek God too
Overcoming the Lies with Truth
The enemy loves to whisper lies to moms, trying to convince us we’re still living in darkness. Here’s how to combat those lies with truth:
Lie: “You’re failing as a mom.”
Truth: God chose you specifically to be the mother of your children. He equips those He calls, and His grace covers your imperfections.
Lie: “Your past disqualifies you.”
Truth: God’s mercies are new every morning. Your past mistakes don’t define your future, and God can use even your struggles for good in your children’s lives.
Lie: “You don’t have what it takes.”
Truth: You have the same Spirit that raised Jesus from the dead living inside you. You have access to divine wisdom, strength, and love.
Lie: “Your children would be better off with someone else.”
Truth: God handpicked you to be their mom. He knew exactly what they would need, and He chose you to provide it.
Lie: “You’re too broken to be used by God.”
Truth: God specializes in using broken people. Your weakness allows His strength to shine through you.
Walking in Freedom Daily
So how do we actually live in this freedom on a Tuesday morning when the baby is crying, the toddler is having a meltdown, and you just spilled coffee all over the kitchen counter?
Start Your Day with Truth
Before the chaos begins, spend even five minutes reminding yourself who you are in Christ. Read a verse, pray a simple prayer, or just whisper “I am loved, I am chosen, I am equipped for today.”
Speak Truth Over Your Children
Instead of just correcting behavior, speak identity and blessing: “You are kind and loving, so I know you can find a better way to handle this frustration.” “God has great plans for your life.” “You are so loved.”
Practice Grace with Yourself
When you make mistakes (and you will), respond to yourself the way you’d respond to a dear friend. Acknowledge the mistake, learn from it, apologize if needed, and move forward without getting stuck in shame.
Remember Your Audience of One
You’re not performing for other moms, your extended family, or even your children’s approval. You’re living before an audience of One who already loves and approves of you completely.
The Long View: Generational Impact
Here’s something beautiful to consider: when you live as a new creation, you’re not just changing your own experience of motherhood – you’re changing the trajectory for your children and their children.
You’re breaking generational cycles of fear, shame, and dysfunction. You’re modeling what it looks like to depend on God, receive grace, and extend forgiveness. You’re showing your children that their identity comes from who God says they are, not from their performance.
The peace, joy, and freedom you walk in becomes the atmosphere your children grow up in. They learn that mistakes don’t define them, that God’s love is unconditional, and that they can trust Him with their whole lives.
When the Truth Feels Far Away
There will be days when this truth feels distant, when you feel more like the old creation than the new one. On those days:
Remember that feelings aren’t facts. Your identity in Christ is based on what God has done, not on how you feel in the moment.
Go back to Scripture. Read the verses about who you are in Christ until they sink deeper than your emotions.
Reach out to other believing moms. Sometimes we need our sisters in Christ to remind us of truths we can’t see clearly ourselves.
Be patient with the process. Sanctification is lifelong. God isn’t finished with you yet, and that’s okay.
Your Children Need the Real You
Here’s something wonderful: your children don’t need a perfect mom. They need a mom who knows she’s loved by God, who admits her mistakes, who seeks forgiveness when she needs it, and who shows them what it looks like to live in God’s grace.
They need to see you praying when you’re worried, apologizing when you’re wrong, and trusting God when life doesn’t make sense. They need to see that being a Christian doesn’t mean being perfect – it means being loved, forgiven, and empowered to keep growing.
Living in the Light Today
Sweet mama, you are not who you used to be. You are not defined by your worst parenting moments or your biggest fears. You are a beloved daughter of the King, chosen and equipped to raise the children He’s entrusted to you.
You have access to wisdom for every decision, strength for every challenge, and grace for every failure. You can parent from a place of rest rather than striving, trust rather than anxiety, and love rather than fear.
This is not too good to be true – this is the Gospel lived out in real life, in real motherhood, in the real challenges you face every day.
So tomorrow morning when you wake up, before your feet hit the floor, remember: you are a new creation. The old has passed away. You are walking in God’s wonderful light.
And that changes everything.
A Prayer for You
Father, thank You for making us new in Christ. Thank You for calling us out of darkness and into Your wonderful light. Help us to live from this truth rather than from our feelings or circumstances. When we feel inadequate, remind us of Your sufficiency. When we feel afraid, remind us of Your sovereignty. When we feel ashamed, remind us of Your grace. Help us to parent from a place of rest in You, trusting that You love our children even more than we do. Use us to show them who You are and how much You love them. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
You are loved, you are chosen, you are equipped, and you are not alone in this beautiful, challenging calling of motherhood.
With love and encouragement, Mish
P.S. If you’re struggling to believe these truths about yourself, start small. Choose one verse about your identity in Christ and read it every morning for a week. Let God’s truth slowly replace the lies you’ve been believing. He is so faithful to meet us where we are and help us grow.
