Being a mom often involves a delicate balance between holding on and letting go.
We hold our children close as babies, take care of their needs as best we can as they grow up from toddler years to teenage years, and then…
When they leave home whether for college or university or perhaps marriage, work, or some other reason we feel like we are releasing them, often with trepidation and a lot of prayer, into a world of unknowns.
Feelings of uncertainty and fear can give us sleepless nights, because we know our children will face circumstances and decisions that we cannot control.
So, how do we live with faith and not fear, with certainty rather than uncertainty as moms?
We can learn from a mother in biblical times, and the lesson we learn from her is relevant whether we are a mom or not.
Jochebed—her name is often not well known to us, but her actions are very familiar to us. Jochebed was the mother of Moses. She was the woman who hid her baby in the small papyrus basket and set him afloat on the Nile River.
Jochebed gave birth to her son during a time the Israelites lived and worked as slaves under the oppressive rule of Pharaoh who ordered that all Hebrew baby boys be killed.
Then Pharaoh gave this order to all his people: “Every Hebrew boy that is born you must throw into the Nile” (Exodus 1:32).
Yet, Jochebed had the wits to hide her baby in the one place that was meant to bring death for her child—the Nile—but it brought him life.
Jochebed also hid her child out of faith, not fear.
By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict (Hebrews 11:23 emphasis mine).
To you and I, it would make sense for Jochebed to hide her baby out of fear of Pharaoh and her Egyptian neighbors. And yet, Jochebed knew that her child was special.
When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months (Exodus 2:2).
Although the text doesn’t say so, it infers that Jochebed knew that her child was not only special to her, but special to God.
Then when Pharaoh’s daughter discovered baby Moses, we can only imagine the relief Jochebed felt when she knew he would be allowed to live. But also the trepidation of knowing her child would be raised as an Egyptian—a people who not only worshiped other gods, but oppressed her and her people.
I imagine that every bone in Jochebed’s body wanted to hold onto her son during that time she nursed him. I picture her taking every opportunity she could to teach Moses and instill in his mind everything she knew about God and his people. I am sure she didn’t want to let him go.
Jochebed did not know what would become of Moses as he toddled into Pharaoh’s palace and the arms of his Egyptian mother.
Yet, Jochebed teaches us a lot when we want to hold on rather than let go. From her, we can learn what we should do when we, and the ones we love, face an unknown, uncertain, and what looks like a frightening future.
We are to have faith rather than fear. Ask God to replace your fear with trust in his plan today.
We are to trust God can do far more than we can do. Surrender your limitations and invite him to work in ways you cannot imagine.
We release those we love into God’s hands. He does know the future and their future. Take a moment to name your loved ones in prayer and place them in God’s care.
We may do what we can to protect the ones we love but we trust in God’s protection, which is far greater. Remember God cares for your children and loved ones as you entrust them to him. Remind yourself daily that God’s compassion reaches far beyond your own.
We courageously depend on God and his unseen work. Rest in God’s love, knowing he sees and values them even more than you do.
While we do our part, we trust God to do his part. Lean on him daily in prayer, faithfully trusting him to complete what you cannot.
Your faith and trust in God can have ripple effects beyond what you can see.
You can learn more from the faith of Jochebed and find prayers to give you faith over fear in Pray Naturally.
Pray
