Abram and Sarai had been waiting for years to have a child, holding onto God’s promise even as they grew older. Frustrated and doubtful, Sarai told Abram that he should have a child with Hagar, her maid, hoping to finally grow their family through surrogacy.
Abram took Hagar as his wife and she soon became pregnant. Their household was filled with tension as Sarai became jealous and Hagar was mistreated.
The decision led to heartache and conflict for everyone involved, and Abram realized that rushing ahead without God’s timing brought more pain than peace. Despite their mistakes, God’s promise remained.
Wives and mothers have a valuable role within the family unit. Our spiritual, physical, mental, and emotional health are of utmost importance. As we focus on staying strong for our families, let’s also consider how we manage our time, talents, purpose, and God’s promises to us.
Mental Strength: Stewarding Our Thoughts and Trusting in God's Promises
Sarai dealt with doubt and impatience as she struggled to trust that God for the promise. When things get difficult, resist the urge to be in control of the outcome of situations and instead surrender and lean on God’s promises.
When we try to take matters into our own hands, things often get messy. It’s best to be still and know that God is God. (Psalm 46:10) Rest in Him and in what He’s promised us.
Meditating on God’s Word can help us maintain mental strength. Scripture replaces doubt with faith. We can remind ourselves of promises like Romans 8:28, which says, “ And we know that all things work together for good to those who love God, to those who are the called according to His purpose.”
Practical Application:
Spend time praying, journaling, and listening to God’s word to renew your mind. Whenever thoughts don’t align with what God says, replace them with His word. Speak His promises out loud.
And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, that you may prove what is that good and acceptable and perfect will of God. Romans 12:2 NKJV
Spiritual Strength: Stewarding Our Faith and Relationship with God
In the case of Abram and Sarai, their impatience with God’s timing led to drama and conflict. The lesson here is to remain steadfast in difficult seasons. It is not our job to interfere with what God is doing in our lives.
Cultivate your relationship with God through prayer, scripture reading, and spiritual discipline. This will help you maintain trust in the Lord even when things are tough. Remind yourself of His faithfulness to you and your family over the years and thank Him for His blessings daily. A heart of gratitude and praise will lift your spirits. Gratitude is an act of worship and it pleases God.
Practical Application:
Prioritize morning devotion time to give God the first part of your day. Create a worship playlist of songs that encourage you to worship and revere God while expressing gratitude. Keep a prayer journal to document God’s faithfulness, answered prayers over time, and words that He speaks to you personally. Review this prayer journal regularly.
Physical Strength: Stewarding Our Bodies for Energy and Service
Your body belongs to God. It’s the temple of the Holy Spirit. Take care of your body with proper nutrition, adequate rest, and exercise. These acts will equip you to best serve and support your family.
Read the ingredients of the food you eat. Focus on real whole foods with minimal ingredients you recognize and can pronounce. For example, an organic apple has one ingredient with no preservatives.
Ask yourself if God made it and if it has a mother to decide if it’s real food. Fruits, vegetables, meats, etc. have a mother/seed. A box of Oreos or a bag of Cheetos do not.
Proper self-care allows us to stay energized and focused, helping prevent burnout. Be sure to keep your body active and get enough sleep. Treat yourself from time to time and make time to do things you enjoy. Have something to look forward to whether it’s a family vacation or a bottle of kombucha after dinner.
Practical Application:
Incorporate movement by taking family walks after dinner or playing with your kids outside. Plan healthy nutrient-dense meals and commit to a consistent sleep schedule that allows you at least 8 hours of sleep.
Emotional Strength: Stewarding Our Emotions and Responses
The results of Sarai’s decision led her to feel insecure and jealous. Her emotions affected her behaviors which led to conflict with Hagar. Managing our emotions is crucial to maintaining peace in our homes. (Review Episode 43, 5 Ways to Manage Your Emotions as a Toddler Mom)
Feelings and emotions are normal. Identify them, then take the necessary steps to manage them properly. Usually, stepping away to take a break or a good night’s sleep gives you the space needed to regulate emotions and gain control. This is helpful because blowing up in anger, yelling, or hurting someone with our words can do a lot of damage in relationships.
Be especially careful to maintain emotional strength when interacting with your husband, children, and anyone else in your household. They deserve the best version of you, not the worst.
When we cultivate patience and understanding, we set a good example for our children.
Practical Application:
Step away to pray, take a break, or rest when you feel your emotions rising. Learn your triggers. Are you more irritable when you’re exhausted, on your period, hungry, stressed, etc.? Make a mental note of things that you find to be therapeutic for you.
Stewardship of Time, Talents, and Purpose: Embracing Our Role in God's Plan
Time
Manage your time. You can get a lot done when you have a plan for the hours you have in a day. Make a daily plan. Use a planner and write down your top 3 “must-do” priorities and anything else that needs to be done.
Focus on faith and family. It’s easy to push them to the back burner to get more things done. Resist the urge. Years from now, it’s unlikely that you will ever say, “I wish I had worked more hours! I wish I’d done more chores.”
But it is possible to regret not slowing down to enjoy the love of your husband and watching your children grow up. Prioritize time with those you love.
Use your time to share the love of Jesus with others in practical and tangible ways, like acts of service.
Talents & Gifts
Use your gifts to serve your family and community. What are you good at? What do you love? Are you an amazing cook? Prepare delicious meals for your family. Volunteer at a shelter or contribute to your church’s potluck.
God has uniquely equipped each of us with talents to bless others. Don’t sit on your gifts and let them go to waste. Use them to bless others and glorify God. No gift or talent is too small or insignificant. Someone somewhere is waiting for you to use your gift.
Purpose
You have a purpose. There are assignments God has for you to complete to advance His kingdom. Your purpose aligns with God’s bigger picture and goes beyond you. He will do wonderful things through you if you let Him.
Just as Abram and Sarai’s lineage became part of God’s redemptive plan, your life is also part of God’s grand plan.
Practical Steps:
Set goals and priorities for each season. You may plan for each year, month, or quarter. Consult with the Holy Spirit to receive instructions about how to use your time, talents, and walk in purpose. Serve others, and say “no” when it’s necessary to avoid overcommitment and burnout.
Stewardship of God's Promises: Learning from Abram, Sarai, and Hagar
Abram, Sarai, and Hagar have taught us to wait on God instead of taking matters into our own hands. God’s timing is perfect and it pays to trust Him. What has God promised you? Steward His promises well by holding on to them in faith and refusing to doubt. Remain steadfast in faith and be confident that God will do as He promised.
Practical Application:
Reflect on God’s goodness, read His word, and surrender control. Listen to sermons, and podcasts, and read books and devotionals that build you up in faith. Remember, we walk by faith and not by sight. (2 Corinthians 5:7)
Wrapping Up Staying Strong for Our Families
In staying strong for our families, we honor God by stewarding our minds, bodies, and spirits with faith and intentionality. By trusting in His promises and cultivating resilience, we become a steady source of love, support, and guidance for those we cherish. Let us rely on His strength daily, knowing that He equips us for every season and purpose He has called us to.