Pre-Order So God Made a Mother

“This is getting crazy,” my husband said to me one night while we sat at the dinner table.

“Stop talking to me about the virus. You’re driving me nuts. All of our conversations don’t need to be about it,” I retorted. 

This was a few weeks ago before the virus started showing up around where we live. I was completely ignorant about how this disease was sweeping the world. 

I have one news app on my phone. The only reason I use it is to check the weather. I had all breaking notifications turned off because I didn’t need to be reminded 20 thousand times a day about the awful things in our world, like shootings, tragic car crashes, and ridiculous politics. 

And then I went to Walmart to buy toilet paper.

RELATED: In Times Like These, It’s OK to Cry

I was completely blown away by the empty shelves for all the paper goods. I noticed people shopping in a frenzy all around me. It was like Black Friday but for food and toilet paper. When I got home, I turned on the news notifications on my phone. I spent some time learning about the spread of the virus. I quit playing ignorant.

It’s been a couple of weeks since I turned on my news notifications, and I’ve been the most stressed out these past weeks than I’ve been in a long time.

Not so much because of the content (don’t get me wrong, it’s all incredibly sobering and overwhelms my heart), but because I developed a new habit this past week that I laid to rest some time ago: Picking up my phone every time it dinged.

Not only did I find myself reaching for my phone more frequently during the day, but I also found myself reaching for it first thing in the morning. I wanted to read all the breaking news and stay up-to-date. 

A revival of an old habit slowly replaced a new habit I had in place upon waking: reading my Bible first thing.

When 2020 rolled in, I made it a habit to read the Bible every day. I found the best and easiest way for me to do this was to get over my annoyance of reading it on my phone. As soon as I woke up, I read from a Bible app. I kept my screen downtime during a certain window so when I looked at my phone screen early in the morning, the only app that was “awake” was my Bible app. This kept me from checking emails first thing in the morning and going down the rabbit hole that is social media.

But when I let coronavirus news overtake my phone, all bets were off. I fed my fear and desire of wanting to know the latest. After scouring my phone for the latest news, checking emails, and doing a quick check on Facebook, I’d get up to start my day. No Bible. No, “Hello Jesus.” Nothing.

To be honest, I went a week before I even realized I had not touched my Bible app.

A whole week.

No wonder during a time of crisis life felt incredibly overwhelming and stressful.

RELATED: I Don’t Have an Old Bible…Yet

Some people think believing in God and having faith is like going through life with a crutch, like trusting that God will work everything out is an easy choice. I don’t know about you, but trusting God and having faith doesn’t always come easily to me. I like to take control of my life (like stocking up unnecessarily on food and toilet paper) during a time of crisis. My default isn’t always to trust God, but to figure out how I can fix a broken situation on my own. I’ve got this, I tell myself. But I’m learning this human tendency to fight for control is really an invitation from the Lord.

Trusting God during a time of crisis isn’t a crutch; it’s kneeling before the Savior of the world and believing He heals the brokenness so we can walk confidently in who he is.

Yet we can easily forget this truth when we immerse ourselves in breaking news and information.

RELATED: God’s Plans Are Greater

With schools being canceled, businesses closing and social distancing, we’re creating new rhythms in our homes. Some families might decide to be more intentional with their children’s education. Some families are relying heavily on family and friends for childcare. Many workers are still showing up and serving their community so we can have healthcare and groceries. New habits are emerging in how we go about our day. 

As we navigate this time with new rhythms, pay attention to what you let into your heart.

The Bible encourages us to guard our hearts. Proverbs 4:23 says, “Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it” (NIV). Guard your heart as you seek to help others and take positive action to slow down the spread of coronavirus. 

Reaching for your phone to stay connected to the outside world may feel comforting, like you’re in control in some way, but be careful with how your heart responds to the information you’re feeding it. 

When you feel fearful about the uncertainty of the future, turn to the constant faithfulness of our God. 

When you feel sorrowful about all the deaths and sickness, turn to the power of prayer and discernment in how you help those around you.

When you feel panicky about possibly spending so much time at home, look for new rhythms the Lord may have for you so you can abide in him more.

By all means, stay active in helping your community. Don’t stick your head in the sand about the realities of what’s going on. Just know that trusting the Lord and believing in who he is may be the greatest thing your soul needs right now, instead of devouring news media. Your faith just may positively affect those around you too.

So God Made a Mother book by Leslie Means

If you liked this, you'll love our new book, SO GOD MADE A MOTHER available for pre-order now!

Pre-Order Now

Gloryanna Boge

Gloryanna is a teacher turned SAHM whose identity is found in her relationship with Christ. She is married to her high school sweetheart who insists that dirty clothes can be left on the floor. Gloryanna writes to encourage others in their walk with Christ, no matter what season you're going through. If you want to be encouraged, you can follow her writing at http://www.gloryannaboge.com/. You can also catch snippets of her faith and scribbles on Twitter - https://twitter.com/gloryannaboge Facebook - https://https://www.facebook.com/gloryannabogewriterand Instagram - hhttps://www.instagram.com/gloryannaboge_writer/a>

What Happens to the Mamas When Their Children Are Grown?

In: Faith, Motherhood
Five children walking hand-in-hand, color photo

A friend came up to me the other day after church and commented, “I’ve never seen you alone. I had to make sure you were okay.” It’s true. I’m never alone. I usually have one or two children hanging onto me and three more milling about with my husband close. But at that moment, my husband had stepped away to collect the younger ones from the children’s service, and my older two had run off with their friends. I was standing alone. And as I stood there, one thought crossed my mind, “This is what it will be like when...

Keep Reading

8 Fight Songs for the Single Mom

In: Faith, Living, Motherhood
Woman holding earbuds in ears

They whispered to her: You cannot withstand the storm. I have had days when the storms hit me while I sat on the shower floor with my knees to my chest feeling completely defeated, letting the hot water beat down on my body. I have had nights when the storms hit me as tears stained my pillow. As time has moved on, I am learning how to beat the storms. This is only possible because of the family and friends that God has brought into my life. This is my fight song. These are and have been my take back...

Keep Reading

Your Brother Is With Jesus Now

In: Faith, Grief, Loss
Brother and sister in yellow outfits smiling on park bench

“Thao is with Jesus now,” we told her, barely choking out the whisper. Jesus. This invisible being we sing about. Jesus. The baby in the manger? Jesus. How can we explain Jesus and death and loss and grief to a 3-year-old? And now, how can we not? We live it, breathe it, and dwell in loss since the death of her brother, our son, Thao. Here we are living a life we never wanted or dreamed of. Here we are navigating loss and death in a way our Creator never intended. What words can I use to describe death to...

Keep Reading

Even When You Can’t Find Joy, Jesus Is There

In: Faith, Grief, Loss
Sad woman through pane of rain covered glass

The international church service was vibrant with voices lifted up in songs of praise. Many clapped their hands and some even danced before God. But I wanted to be invisible. Joy felt like a land depicted in a fairy tale. I had returned from the hospital the day before—a surgery to remove the baby who had died in my womb. Watching this church buzz with happiness unearthed my fragileness. I slouched in my chair and closed my eyes. Tears trickled down my freckled face. My mind knew God was in control, but my heart ached as yet another thing I...

Keep Reading

He Mends Our Broken Hearts

In: Faith, Grief, Loss
Praying hands of woman with bracelets

Rays of soft sunlight streamed through the curtain onto the hospital bed. I stepped to the edge of the bed, taking a moment to soak in his face before gently holding his hand. Eighty-nine years is a rich, full life, and each passing day revealed more convincingly it was time for him to go. Grief and relief shared the space in my heart as I carried the weight of understanding each visit held the opportunity to be my last.  When he felt my hand, his eyes opened, and he gifted me a smile. Pop Pop always had a smile for...

Keep Reading

When I Feel Like a Failure, God Reminds Me of His Grace

In: Faith, Motherhood
Child hugs mother in sun flare

I’ve always been a teeth grinder, especially during times of high stress. Striving manifests itself physically through my teeth and jaw. I have even shifted several of my teeth from the grinding, moving my pearly whites to become crooked and a little unsightly. I should’ve known this morning that the night of grinding my teeth before was going to turn into a day of clenching my jaw. The spiritual warfare was intense, the temptations strong. I felt angry and burnt out.  After I finally laid my son down for a nap, I sat on the couch and told God, “I...

Keep Reading

My Father’s Faith

In: Faith, Grief
Man with grown daughter, color photo

I’ve been thinking a lot about legacy lately.  When my dad passed away in 2011, I lost the most influential person in my life. He was sacrificial in his love for me and others. His heart was devoted to the Lord, and it was evident to all who knew him. His death marked me in a significant way, and I still struggle with grief 11 years later. But his life marked me in an even greater way, and for that, I’m eternally grateful. As I reflect on legacy, I think about the impact that my dad’s faith had (and still...

Keep Reading

He’s the God of Small Things In Motherhood Too

In: Faith, Motherhood
Woman holding infant, black-and-white photo

Normally, on a Sunday afternoon during the girls’ naptime, I try to get some work done or lie down to rest. But a few days ago, I instead wrapped a blanket around my waist to keep warm and pulled cutting boards and pots out of the cupboard.  Before I had kids, I wondered what kind of mom I would be. In fact, I was pretty sure I knew. My outgoing and vivacious personality attracted kids to my side for years. Their energy matched mine, and we giggled and chased each other before collapsing on the floor. I pictured myself holding...

Keep Reading

Silence the Lie that Says You’re Too Much

In: Faith, Living
Mother and daughter smiling outside wearing sunglasses

As a kindergartner sometimes I tagged along to my mom’s work as a hotel housekeeper. While my mom worked, I played in the recreation room. Her boss checked on me and always had something fun to play with or a story to share.  One day, in a burst of excitement, I shared something special that happened over the weekend with the supervisor. The words bounded from my mouth like a puppy ready to play in the morning.  The boss chuckled, “Whoa, motor mouth! Slow down!” In a split second, my 5-year-old heart crumbled, and the lie that would follow me...

Keep Reading

Let’s Stop the Negative Talk about Marriage

In: Faith, Marriage
Square, wooden arch with floral and fabric in field, color photo

Growing up, I remember hearing many negative phrases used about marriage—on TV, by distant relatives, anywhere, really.  “The old ball and chain.” “All my wife does is nag.” “You’re happy in your marriage? You must still be in the honeymoon phase.” These are just a few examples of the many things I have heard for years that create a negative connotation around marriage. I never really thought much of it until I fell in love and got engaged to the man of my dreams. Can you guess what happened next? “Just wait . . .” I heard entirely too many...

Keep Reading