Month: September 2025

A Mother’s Heart – Day 11 – Standing in the Gap

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Today, let’s discuss mothers who stand in the gap in their homes. Just what does that mean? It’s a reference to mothers who are born again but their husbands are either not saved or they have chosen the way of the world for a time. The picture I used for today’s devotional is a poignant depiction of the mother’s role in a situation like this. She is constantly mending what has been spiritually broken in the home, sewing together the threads of faith and love that can sometimes fray when Dad is not involved. In her unwavering commitment, she not only embraces the nurturing aspects of motherhood but also takes on the essential responsibility of providing spiritual guidance, actively representing both roles of mother and the spiritual father. When Dad is not representing the Lord in the home, someone has to teach the children about love, compassion, and the values that ground them. Someone has to stand in the gap, which resorts to Mom; her prayers become the shield over her family, her teachings shine a light on the path for her children, nurturing them in the ways of righteousness while she remains a beacon of hope and strength. In doing so, she cultivates an environment where faith can flourish, encouraging her children to develop their own relationship with God, ensuring that the legacy of faith continues to thrive within their hearts. As good as this sounds, it is overwhelming for mothers to carry that burden alone.

Fathers are so important! Children need the firm foundation that Dad builds for the home, which he is to build on Christ. This foundation is crucial because it shapes the values and beliefs of the children as they grow. When Dad is an active participant, he fosters a sense of security and direction, instilling biblical principles that guide their lives. However, when Dad is not involved in this essential role, that foundation becomes the responsibility of the mother, a burden that she may not be prepared to carry fully. Leading the family spiritually is not in her wheelhouse; it is not a task that God has assigned to her. Her husband is meant to lead the home as he is led by Christ, taking responsibility for nurturing the family’s spiritual growth together. The mother plays a crucial role in enforcing and teaching the children according to the father’s leading, which supplements the instruction with her own insights. Yet, when the father is guiding the family in the ways of the world, prioritizing the world’s standards over biblical teachings, the children are caught in the crosshairs of conflicting morals and values. They find themselves fed two different sets of morals and, as they navigate their young lives, they quickly begin to see compromises and contradictions that can lead to confusion and disconnect in their understanding of right and wrong. This two-headed coin can create a tumultuous environment where the children struggle to establish their own identities in Christ, often leading them away from the strong spiritual foundation that is intended to guide them.

1 Corinthians 11:3 But I would have you know, that the head of every man is Christ; and the head of the woman is the man; and the head of Christ is God.

Ephesians 5:23 For the husband is the head of the wife, even as Christ is the head of the church: and he is the saviour of the body.

A mother struggles when she is left to the spiritual upbringing of her children. On top of everything else she has to do to keep her home going, this can be an overwhelming burden. It sometimes becomes more a burden than a joy to teach her children about the Lord. Her children hear one thing, but Dad does the opposite. How does a mother navigate around that with her children without dishonoring their father in their eyes? It’s a battle, that’s for sure. She has to stay fortified with the armor of God in order to fight the darts of the enemy. His attacks are never fair. Just as a lion doesn’t think of fairness when he is looking for prey, neither is Satan fair. He catches you at your weakest moments. (1 Peter 5:8) She clings to the hope that as the Lord allows these trials and challenges in her life, she will honor Him through it all.

Job 23:10 But he knoweth the way that I take: when he hath tried me, I shall come forth as gold.

Then there are those mothers and fathers who have done what the Lord has taught them to do in leading their children in the ways of the Lord. The children have been raised in church and taught biblical standards to take with them into adulthood. However, every child is different and not everyone will continue in that teaching. Some are pliable and easily taught, while others are hard-willed and resistant to guidance. The complexities of adolescence can amplify these differences, often leading to conflicts and misunderstandings. Some get to the point that they discard what they’ve been taught and go to the ways of the world instead; they may seek acceptance in peer groups that do not share their foundational beliefs. This departure from cherished teachings and values can be painful not only for the parents but also for the children, creating a gap that seems insurmountable. Their decision has led to defiance filled with bitterness, which often manifests as resentment toward their upbringing and parents. Now that they are out of the home, Mom can no longer mend the torn tapestry she so desperately tried to sew for her family, feeling helpless as she watches her children navigate through life without the principles she held dear. Because she was the parent that was with the children the most during their formative years, she is looked upon with contempt and has become the “bad guy” in her prodigal’s life, grappling with the painful label of “failure” while yearning for reconciliation and understanding. In her heart, she carries the weight of unfulfilled hopes for her children, wishing they could return to the warmth of their shared values and familial love. She feels as though she overlooked the needs of her prodigal child and “missed something.” The enemy uses this situation to attack her while she’s down. Praise the Lord, however, that she has the Word of God and His Holy Spirit to encourage and comfort her.

Isaiah 40:31 But they that wait upon the LORD shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint.

Dear mother, you are not alone. So many mothers are going through something similar. God will use it to give to you beauty for ashes, oil of joy for mourning, and a garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness! He loves you and doesn’t want you wallowing in deep sorrow. Be encouraged and move forward. Don’t let one child’s wayward path be the prominent chapter of your book. You may have other children who are being faithful, so let them be the prominent chapters of your book!

Isaiah 61:3 To appoint unto them that mourn in Zion, to give unto them beauty for ashes, the oil of joy for mourning, the garment of praise for the spirit of heaviness; that they might be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the LORD, that he might be glorified.

A Mother’s Heart – Day 10 – Peer Pressure

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Psalm 34:18-19 The LORD is nigh unto them that are of a broken heart; and saveth such as be of a contrite spirit.  (19)  Many are the afflictions of the righteous: but the LORD delivereth him out of them all.

We long for the day when he reaches out to restore fellowship. Then he might reflect on our efforts with a sense of appreciation rather than resentment. We can’t pinpoint one specific thing that we did wrong as he made it a point to list a plethora of our faults. We know some parents whose children turned to drugs, got in trouble with police, some have rap sheets that are quite long. While other parents have no idea what they did wrong, but you could probably find the root of the problem lying with worldly friends.

Children have a built-in desire for friends, as we all do. Their need for companionship is often rooted in the innate human longing for connection and understanding. That is how God created us. That is why He created Eve because God said it was not good that the man should be alone. (Genesis 2:18) The importance of good, equally yoked friendships cannot be stressed enough; these relationships provide a foundation for social skills, emotional support, and personal growth in the Lord. Friends can make or break your child if parents aren’t present in their social life. I raised my children in church but that doesn’t guarantee their immunity from bad choices in friendships. Unfortunately, the ones that my sons gravitated towards were not good for them. To top it off, they were the pastor’s grandchildren. We couldn’t very well forbid our sons from hanging out with them when they were attending the church’s private school. I regret the choice we made by having our sons attend there, but that is a mess that cannot be cleaned up. I won’t be able to tell this side of Heaven the extent of the damage this did to them. But what I do know is that my prodigal son holds deep-seeded resentment for this very thing. Not only was he bullied and made fun of, but he also claims things that cannot be shared here without dishonoring the man of God.

Our son prodigal will not have an open dialogue with us whatsoever. He has removed himself from any kind of contact with us. If only he could understand that we sent our children to private Christian schools in order to protect them from the evils of this world. We did not do it to keep them from what is called socialization today. We did it to protect them spiritually. Alas, the end result was that very thing we feared would happen! He caved in when it came to peer pressure, succumbing to the allure of a lifestyle that seemed far more exhilarating than the one he knew. He saw life outside the church as tempting and intriguing, filled with vibrant colors and moments of freedom that beckoned to him. It didn’t take long before the enemy and his world had their way with him, leading him down a path of choices that often felt greater than our teachings. Our other son, the alpha male, took the bull by the horns and created havoc in our home; his defiance echoed through our walls, challenging our authority and testing our patience.

The Book of Proverbs is filled with verses dealing with the fool, providing a stark reminder of the consequences of folly and the choices that lead one astray. As parents, we tried so hard to keep them from the world, shielding them with our beliefs, but we ultimately failed to teach them how the world really was, its complexities, and its challenges, leaving them unprepared for what awaited outside our doors. As I look back on the lack of my parenting skills in this area, it is with much regret, knowing that we could have better equipped them for life’s journey. Although they both have turned out to be wonderful men, each forging their own paths, just not men in love with God, which weighs heavily on my heart as I reflect on the decisions we made during their formative years.

I’ve said this several times so far in this series that we were not perfect parents, and I realize now that our journey has been filled with both triumphs and challenges. However, we did the best we could with what we gleaned from the Scriptures, the messages delivered in church, and the guidance we received from counseling. Our intentions were genuinely pure, rooted in love and a desire to guide our children toward a fulfilling life. Nevertheless, our prodigal son does not see it that way, and it pains us to acknowledge that he feels neglected and angry. The gap between our intentions and his perception has been difficult to bridge, especially since he no longer wishes to see us or speak to us.

Isaiah 40:29 He giveth power to the faint; and to them that have no might he increaseth strength.

Dear mother, don’t be discouraged! The same God who watches over us, watches over our prodigals, never taking His gaze away from them even in their wandering. His eye is on the sparrow, let alone one of His creation, created in His image, for each of us holds a unique place in His heart. We are promised that all things will work together for good, reminding us that even in the midst of trials and uncertainty, there is a divine purpose at play, weaving together the tapestry of our lives in ways we might not yet understand. I use the word tapestry a lot because that’s exactly what I see my life as. If I look at the underside of a finished tapestry, I see knots and scrambled threads. However, the finished side is the way the Lord sees His work. We won’t know until we reach Heaven just how beautiful our life’s tapestry will be. So trust in the journey that the Lord lovingly placed you in, for His love is unwavering, and in times of hardship, we can find comfort in the knowledge that He is always at work behind the scenes, turning our pain into purpose and our struggles into strength.

Romans 8:28 And we know that all things work together for good to them that love God, to them who are the called according to his purpose.

If you happened on this page and would like to read more content on the various scenarios of a mother’s heart, you can find the table of contents here.

A Mother’s Heart – Day 9 – Bitterness

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Bitterness … it is one of the hardest emotions to overcome, often festering quietly within our hearts until it manifests in destructive ways. We see it rear its ugly head in the form of demonstrations all around the world, where anger and resentment boil over into public displays of discontent. Unfortunately, those who hang around bitter people become bitter themselves, as the pervasive nature of negativity can seep into one’s own outlook on life and relationships. You are who you hang around with, as the saying goes, highlighting the profound impact that our social circles have on our emotional well-being. But the Bible was the originator of that saying, emphasizing the importance of surrounding oneself with godly influences. When you put two people together, one will influence the other, for better or worse; thus, it’s crucial to choose companions who uplift rather than drag us down. Only by breaking free from the chains of bitterness can we find true joy and fulfillment in our lives.

Proverbs 13:20 He that walketh with wise men shall be wise: but a companion of fools shall be destroyed.

1 Corinthians 15:33 Be not deceived: evil communications corrupt good manners.

Isaiah 40:28 Hast thou not known? hast thou not heard, that the everlasting God, the LORD, the Creator of the ends of the earth, fainteth not, neither is weary? there is no searching of his understanding.

Grace and kindness are forgiving while bitterness seeks to hurt. It nestles itself in the deepest part of the heart, infecting it with venom that spreads through thoughts and actions, clouding the mind and darkening the spirit. The only anti-venom is salvation and the work of the Holy Spirit in one’s life. He restores peace, helping to heal wounds that bitterness has caused, providing a gentle reminder that love can triumph over resentment and that healing begins with forgiveness. However, could it be that it isn’t your prodigal who is bitter but you, harboring unrecognized resentment and anger? Beware! This internal bitterness can lead to a vicious cycle, affecting your relationships and robbing you of joy, making it essential to break free from its grasp. It is crucial to examine your heart and seek true forgiveness, not just for others, but for yourself as well. It’s a journey that involves deep introspection and the courage to confront uncomfortable truths. If it is your prodigal who harbors bitterness, know where it comes from because we are dealing with the enemy.

Ephesians 4:30-32 And grieve not the holy Spirit of God, whereby ye are sealed unto the day of redemption.  (31)  Let all bitterness, and wrath, and anger, and clamour, and evil speaking, be put away from you, with all malice: (32) And be ye kind one to another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, even as God for Christ’s sake hath forgiven you. Ephesians 6:12 For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.

Most of our prodigals claimed salvation, some at a very early age, much like my own prodigal son, who once displayed his faith and a budding relationship with God. But once he got out on his own, he abandoned the godly principles he was raised on, choosing instead a path that strayed far from his upbringing. Did salvation truly take root in his heart? The evidence suggests otherwise, as his spiritual fruit does not bear witness to a life transformed by grace. Instead, he bears the fruit of the father of this world, the father of lies, enriching his life with deceit and a disregard for the values, reflecting a stark contrast to the teachings that were instilled in him during his formative years.

John 8:44 Ye are of your father the devil, and the lusts of your father ye will do. He was a murderer from the beginning, and abode not in the truth, because there is no truth in him. When he speaketh a lie, he speaketh of his own: for he is a liar, and the father of it.

The enemy would love nothing more than to destroy your family altogether, targeting not just the physical bonds but also the emotional and spiritual connections that hold you together. This is why we as mothers of prodigals must stand firmly in the gap and be intercessors for our loved ones who have strayed. We must pray fervently, just as Elijah did when he implored God to defeat Baal and restore the people to the truth. The devil takes on many deceptive forms; sometimes, he appears even as an angel of light, masking his true intentions, while other times his intentions are not masked but quite obvious. Don’t be surprised if your prodigal is led astray in search of fulfillment, trying to find peace through religious cults that promise solace but deliver only confusion and heartache. The enemy is a master of lies and a great deceiver, of this there is no doubt! It is essential that we remain vigilant, steadfast in our prayers, and unwavering in our faith, knowing that God is greater than any obstacle or deception the enemy puts forth.

2 Corinthians 11:13-15 For such are false apostles, deceitful workers, transforming themselves into the apostles of Christ.  (14)  And no marvel; for Satan himself is transformed into an angel of light.  (15)  Therefore it is no great thing if his ministers also be transformed as the ministers of righteousness; whose end shall be according to their works.

Be encouraged, mothers! God is at work and His Spirit is working in your prodigal’s life just as He did in yours prior to your salvation. God’s Word promises not to go out void into nothingness. God will accomplish His will!

Isaiah 55:11 So shall my word be that goeth forth out of my mouth: it shall not return unto me void, but it shall accomplish that which I please, and it shall prosper in the thing whereto I sent it.