The purpose of our motherhood is ultimately rooted in God and his good design. It’s not about us; it’s about him. As women created in God’s image, we exist to “glorify God and enjoy him forever.”3 We do that first and foremost by acknowledging the “bad news” that we are sinners who fall short of the glory of God and have no ability to accomplish this purpose by ourselves. Then, by believing and confessing the gospel or “good news” that Jesus Christ came to save sinners through his life, death, and resurrection, we’re made new.
This gospel story has undergirded our whole ministry at Risen Motherhood. Knowing Christ changes everything about who we are and how we live. It isn’t just about one moment in history where Jesus hung on a Roman cross; it encapsulates a story that we are invited to be a part of, and it gives us the answers to our deepest longings and questions. As the gospel compels us to look to Christ, we learn who we really are, who we need, and who we should be. We start to understand our past and look forward to our future. We discover where we can get life, hope, help, joy, peace, rest, love, comfort, strength, and so much more. We find answers to our questions. Our identities are secured so that no matter what happens to us or how we stumble, we’re safely bound to Christ, all the way through, until we reach home.
Much could be said about this—we’ve already written a whole book about it, and we’re going to unpack it more in this one! But for now, here’s what we want you to know: God does have a person he wants you to model your life after, and that person is his son, Jesus Christ. God doesn’t give you a formula or a precise point-by-point, product-by-product guide for every minute decision in motherhood, but he does give you his Word, with all the instructions you need to know to walk wisely through your motherhood
journey. God doesn’t leave you to figure all of it out on your own. He gives you his Spirit (and the church) to empower, help, and guide you along the way.
So you want to know what kind of mom to be? A Gospel Mom.4 We will explore this concept more throughout the book, but in case you need some convincing right up front, we hope you see that this kind of mom is full of joy and freedom.
A Gospel Mom…
Gains a new heart and a new nature with Christ’s righteousness. You do good not to earn anything but because good has been done for you and you know you are capable of following and obeying God’s commands.
Knows her mission and purpose. No matter your earthly accolades, you live a life sold out for Christ, displaying his goodness to the world around you and sharing the reason for the hope that you have.
Lives free from the punishment of sin yet still wrestles with its power. You won’t be perfect, and you will struggle with this tension of a sin nature until you reach heaven’s shores. You know God is in the business of redemption—nothing is too far gone or too bad for him to redeem.
Understands the realities of a broken earth and the hardship of life east of Eden. You know suffering and sorrow will be constant companions throughout your days on earth, and you don’t expect life to always be easy.
Lives free from mom guilt. Because there is no condemnation for those who are in Christ and your sins are fully paid for, you don’t have to suffer under the suffocating weight of mom guilt. If you’re struggling, you can dig under the surface and uncover whether you’re experiencing true conviction from the
Holy Spirit or condemnation as you fail to meet your own or your culture’s ideals.5
Rejoices because nothing can separate her from the love of God. When you fail, you can tell God, repent, and keep trusting him. He isn’t mad at you or disappointed. He loves you more than you can ever imagine. You know God promises to help you, through the guidance of his Word and his Spirit and other people around you.
Recognizes the battle is against the world, the flesh, and the devil—not other moms. You know the battle isn’t really about methods, ideas, or opinions on motherhood but instead against the spiritual forces of evil. You know who the true enemy is, and you stand your ground.
Walks in freedom from fear. While you know there are many things you could fear in this life, ultimately you only fear the Lord and believe that he is in control of all things. You rest secure that it’s not up to you to control every variable or protect from all harm.
Trusts God to continue to grow and change her. You know you are sealed with the promise of the Holy Spirit, who is living and active inside of you, growing you day by day into the likeness of Christ.
Sets her sight on eternity and the glory that awaits. You don’t live for the immediate rewards of today in your marriage or kids, your bank account, or your circumstances. Your gaze is fixed on the person and work of Christ and what matters for eternity. You live with hope and a future.
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[4] 4 When people use the word gospel, they can mean different things. For the purpose of this book and how we’re framing motherhood, we’re using the word gospel to represent the metanarrative of God’s redemption story through Christ for his people. The story of the good news of Jesus Christ is all-encompassing, and it also impacts all of life. The grand story of redemption is the one that informs all of our other roles and decisions. The mnemonic CFRC (Creation, Fall, Redemption, Consummation) is the tool we use to help ourselves and other moms remember the high-level points of this narrative so we can more quickly consider how they apply. We were not the originators of this idea—it’s been commonly used throughout church history in various traditions. We’ve learned from a wide variety of Christian authors and theologians over the years as we’ve developed our thinking about how CFRC interplays with our unique circumstances, personal conscience, and heart motivations.
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Gospel Mom, by Emily A. Jensen and Laura Wifler, shows moms how to navigate their everyday decisions and current circumstances through a biblical lens, and experience the freedom and confidence in who God made them to be.
As friends, fellow moms, and expert guides, Emily and Laura walk you step-by-step through the practices and thinking of how to rest in the grace of Christ, gaining peace and assurance in your motherhood.
Learn more about the book and how to purchase here.
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