Mama's Faithfulness

A Mother's Day Prayer:

Sovereign Lord, I come before You today humbly, confessing my many failings and shortcomings. I acknowledge that I often take Your blessings for granted—my safety, my family, and the gift of life itself. I have not always honored You as I should, nor loved my neighbor as myself. Forgive me for my selfishness, my lack of faith, and the ways I fall short of Your perfect standard. Lord, I lift up the mothers who are enduring unimaginable trials—those fleeing war, facing loss, or caring for their children amid chaos. I ask that You strengthen them, sustain their faith, and grant them Your peace that surpasses understanding. Be their refuge and shield and remind them of Your presence even in the darkest moments.

I pray for Your mercy to be poured out upon those affected by violence and upheaval worldwide. Comfort the grieving, provide for the needy, and raise up Your church to be a beacon of hope and compassion. Place your hand of compassion upon those on the church prayer list. Give them healing, comfort, and understanding today. Also, give strength to those who care for the sick, may they feel your Holy Spirit in their lives too.

Father, I also ask for Your grace to deepen my trust in Christ—to rely not on my own strength but on Your sustaining power. Help me to be a faithful witness of Your love, reflecting Your mercy and truth in my words and actions. Thank You for Your unmerited grace, which covers all my sins through Jesus Christ. Holy Spirit, work in me to produce genuine repentance and a renewed desire to serve You faithfully. In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.

Exodus 2:1-4

Now a man from the house of Levi went and married a Levite woman. 2 The woman conceived and bore a son, and when she saw that he was a fine baby, she hid him three months. 3 When she could hide him no longer she got a papyrus basket for him and plastered it with bitumen and pitch; she put the child in it and placed it among the reeds on the bank of the river. 4 His sister stood at a distance, to see what would happen to him.

2 Timothy 1:1-7

Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the will of God, for the sake of the promise of life that is in Christ Jesus, 2 To Timothy, my beloved child: Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father and Christ Jesus our Lord. 3 I am grateful to God—whom I worship with a clear conscience, as my ancestors did—when I remember you constantly in my prayers night and day. 4 Recalling your tears, I long to see you so that I may be filled with joy. 5 I am reminded of your sincere faith, a faith that lived first in your grandmother Lois and your mother Eunice and now, I am sure, lives in you. 6 For this reason I remind you to rekindle the gift of God that is within you through the laying on of my hands, 7 for God did not give us a spirit of cowardice but rather a spirit of power and of love and of self-discipline.

Good morning, dear reader. As I reflect on this Mother's Day, I am reminded of the profound impact that mothers have on our lives and our faith journeys. Today, we delve into the scriptures to explore the theme of "Mama's Faithfulness," drawing upon the stories in Exodus 2:1-4 and 2 Timothy 1:1-17. These passages illuminate the steadfast faith of mothers and their pivotal role in shaping the spiritual destinies of their children.

 Jochebed's Courageous Faith

In Exodus 2:1-4, we encounter the story of Jochebed, the mother of Moses. Although this story of a faithful mother comes from Exodus 2, we are not even told her name until chapter 6. In a time of great peril, when Pharaoh had decreed the death of all Hebrew male infants, Jochebed's faith did not waver. She hid her son for three months, and when she could no longer conceal him, she crafted a basket of reeds and placed him in the Nile River. Her faith was in God, who would guide the basket. Her daughter, Miriam, watched over the basket from a distance, demonstrating the family's collective faith and hope in God's providence. Jochebed's faithfulness was not in vain. God used her courageous act to preserve Moses, who would later lead the Israelites out of bondage. Her story reminds us that a mother's faith can change the course of history.

Mothers have always kept faith even in dire times. They've defied kings, survived famine, resisted terrorists, and faced bullies to protect their families. They challenge governments, drunk drivers, school boards, and drug dealers to keep their children safe, fed, educated, and treated fairly. Every Mother’s Day, moms are honored, but their instinct to protect remains strong all year round. Unfortunately, the faithfulness of Jochebed is not a story that is placed in the past and forgotten.

Right now, Ukrainian mothers are fighting for their families amidst war, whether by taking up arms, saving lives, or fleeing to safety, often leaving their husbands behind. On March 25, 2022, Hani Moskovitz, a dedicated social worker and orphanage manager in Ukraine, fled with her three young children as explosions shattered her community. Despite her own fears, she organized the urgent escape of 60 children, ensuring their safe passage to the border and onward to Israel, demonstrating sacrificial love and unwavering faith.

Similarly, Marina, a mother of two, fled Odesa with her children, leaving everything behind, including her husband. Facing an uncertain future, she stays strong for her kids, embodying resilience amid hardship. She remains in Moldova waiting to reunite her family. (Eckstein, 2022)

These women exemplify courage, sacrifice, and unwavering trust in God's providence. As we celebrate and honor our mothers on Mother's Day, let us honor their faithfulness—and remember that the strength of a mother reflects God's grace. A grace that is handed down generation to generation.

 2 Timothy 1:1-17: The Legacy of Faith

In 2 Timothy 1:1-17, we see a generational testament to a mother's faithfulness through the life of Timothy. Paul writes to Timothy, acknowledging the sincere faith that first lived in his grandmother Lois and his mother Eunice. This generational faith was passed down to Timothy, equipping him for his ministry. Paul urges Timothy to fan into flame the gift of God, a gift nurtured by the faith of his mother and grandmother. The faith of Eunice and Lois reminds us that a mother's influence is profound and far-reaching. They planted seeds of faith in Timothy that bore fruit in his life and ministry.

Timothy’s maternal nurturing is like that of Monica, the mother of St. Augustine. Monica's persistent prayers and unwavering faith were instrumental in Augustine's conversion, despite his initial resistance. Her faithfulness and devotion were key in shaping one of the most influential theologians in Christian history. (Falola, Toyin; Et al., 2025) Can you remember a time when your mother prayed for you? I can only imagine, that for every one time we remember, there were a hundred others.

 The Impact of a Mother's Faith

The faithfulness of mothers is a powerful testimony to God's work in our lives. Whether through the courageous acts of Jochebed or the nurturing faith of Eunice and Lois, we see how God uses mothers to shape the spiritual destinies of their children. But not all mothers give birth to their children. Some mothers, for a multitude of reasons, are gifted motherhood by other means. These mothers are no less a mother. I can argue from personal experience that they can be even more influential in the life of a child.

On this Mother's Day, let us honor and celebrate the mothers in our lives who have been pillars of faith. Let us also be inspired to carry forward the legacy of faith they have imparted to us. Remember, as it is written in Proverbs 31:28-29, “Her children rise up and call her happy; her husband, too, and he praises her: ‘Many women have done excellently, but you surpass them all.’”

Today we honor our mothers. However, honoring our mothers, according to scripture, should never be regulated to one day. Our faith is based on the commandment to honor our mother (and father,) every day. May we all strive to embody the faithfulness of these remarkable women, trusting in God's promises and leaving a legacy of faith for generations to come. Amen.

Let us pray: Heavenly Father, we thank You for the mothers who have shown us the path of faith. May their examples inspire us to live faithfully and courageously, trusting in Your divine plan. Bless and strengthen all mothers today and always. In Jesus' name, we pray. Amen.

Works Cited

NIV Study Bible [Book]. - Grand rapids, MI : Zondervan, 2011.

NRSVue // NRSVue Holy Bible with Deuterocanonical/Apocryphal Books of the Old Testament. - Grand Rapids : Zondervan, 2022.

Remember the mothers fleeing a war zone this Mother's Day [Online] / auth. Eckstein Yael // ChristianPost.com. - Christian Post, May 8, 2022. - May 1, 2025. - https://www.christianpost.com/voices/remember-the-mothers-fleeing-a-war-zone-this-mothers-day.html.

Saint Monica [Online] / auth. Falola, Toyin; Et al. // Wikipedia. - Wikimedia Foundation, inc., May 8, 2025. - May 10, 2025. - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Monica.

The Westminster Study Bible [Book] / ed. Powery Emerson B. [et al.]. - Louisville, KY : Westminster John Knox Press, 2024.