Contributed by Wendy ML Tan • May 19, 2026
Motherhood-there is no manual available on how to be a mother, and a good one at that. And so, all mothers go through motherhood the best that they can in the various seasons of their life. Some mothers head into motherhood telling themselves they want to be exactly like their mothers, some tell themselves they want to give a different life to their children from what they had experienced.
As I ponder on what motherhood looks like, and being a mother myself, I can confidently say, mothers learn on the job. What works for one mother may not work for another. And mothers never stop learning. Mothers learn from the day they celebrate the great news that they are expecting to the end of days, for a mother does not stop being a mother no matter if the child is 5 or 50 years old. And in between, mothers learn how to make big decisions (on daycare, schools, activities, health, personal growth), how to celebrate their children’s milestones and achievements, or how to handle rejections and failures. Mothers also learn through the heartbreak of battling with their adolescents and struggling desperately to rein them in. And there are seasons where letting go may be the best lesson. Some mothers also learn how to cope with the empty-nest syndrome, and if privileged, some mothers learn to relive their second parenthood as grandmothers.
What is often unseen and unspoken is how lonely it can be to be a mother. Mothers worry, sacrifice, and feel exhausted as they give their best to their children and family, always putting others above themselves. They do this every day, without rest and without recognition. There are moments that mothers question themselves if they made the right decision, and if their best was good enough in nurturing, protecting and caring for their loved ones. The silent burden of trying to hold everything together for the family can be overwhelming.
Yet, there is hope in our God. God is with us, aware and in control, and patiently waiting for us to turn to Him. This sermon aptly reminds us to draw our strength from the Lord, we do not have to walk the motherhood journey on our own. Be spiritually filled, persevere with strength, cry out to Him in prayer in our moments of fear and weakness. Most importantly, see God as the Almighty, the Creator who reigns sovereign over our challenges.
Looking inwards, I am still learning to be a mother. I am not perfect, I may have made some mistakes here and there, but I see the hand of God in control as I surrender it all to God. There was a time when my child developed nocturnal asthma, a consequence of Influenza B. After many long nights of disrupted sleep, my heart aches to see him losing weight and struggling with his cough and breathing. The medication and nebulizer does not seem to work at all. And so in faith, we step out during the altar call to ask for healing. The pastor anointed him with oil and prayed over him, and lo and behold, he was healed!
There are other testimonies too, on the goodness of God in our lives, but that’s a story for some other time. But for now, in all honesty, I can say that I am learning to surrender to God more and more each day. As I watch my child grow into his own person, I too learn to trust in God more and more. I constantly remind myself to choose to lift my eyes above the storm and focus on God. He will give me peace, wisdom, patience, and love that overflows my cup to sustain me and my family. I am encouraged that every prayer I utter reaches His ear, and nothing is too big or small for Him.
And so, for all mothers out there, for the times you are weary and overwhelmed, know that God is in the boat with you. Call out to Him and you will experience His love and peace, and the renewed strength as He lifts you up from your state of despair. Mothers, we can all continue our motherhood journey with God by our side, with renewed faith, courage and hope, and in knowing how big our God truly is.
