A mother’s unconditional love reflects God’s own tender care for His people — an unbreakable bond that echoes Isaiah 66:13 and invites us into His warm embrace.
This is the third devotional in our “Fruit of the Spirit for Moms” devotional series. Find the accompanying YouTube series here, or the series in written form here.
I’ve sort of wanted to forget my 5th childbirth, and as I’ve avoided thinking about it, truth be told, many of my memories of those weeks of ongoing labor, the final 30 hours of labor, intense pushing, and a final placenta detachment and hemorrhage have dimmed. I was so determined to have a redemptive birth story, and instead, I had one that was exceptionally more difficult than my last. It may have just been my most difficult birth.
I wrote down a list of what I prayed and hoped would be the outcome of labor, delivery, and the first couple weeks of postpartum life, and not one, yes not one, God allowed to transpire. He said ‘no’ to every single longing I wrote down. That’s never happened at one of my births and postpartum periods. I’m always blessed with at least one thing that goes according to my wishes, even if it’s during those first postpartum weeks.
And yet, the most glorious thing happened out of that birth story. As I write this, my 2-month-old is nestled against me in my worn-out wrap that has held all five of my baby boys. He is a joy, and I’m addicted to smelling the aroma of his baby head, watching his smiles, nursing him, and holding him close.
No wonder the memories of labor are fading, because although I never would have thought it in the moment, what resulted from what many consider the most draining, exhausting, and painful nine months a human can go through, now has resulted in an unconditional love.
The truth of a mother’s unconditional love remains etched into the very fabric of our souls. It’s a love that begins at the moment of conception and never truly ends. It’s more than maternal behavior; it’s a powerful force, a guiding light, a source of strength, and in its most beautiful form, an embodiment of unconditional love that mirrors the divine.
Isaiah 66:13 (ESV) tells us,
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
What a picture. The love of a mother is not only tender and nurturing — it is used by God Himself as the metaphor for His own love to his precious people. He does not say, “like a mighty warrior” or “a just ruler,” though He is both. No, He chooses to say, “like a mother.” And in that, we are given the permission to gaze at a mother’s love, to study it, feel it, and be undone by it — and find the heart of God.
Note: This week’s YouTube video highlights my easy salmon recipe and easy peasy salad recipe.
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The Essence of Motherhood: Sleepless Nights and Steadfast Hearts
To mother a child is not an easy task. It is made of sleepless nights, hard work, and hard decisions. Plus, let’s be clear, my oldest is only seven. I’m well aware that my experience is limited in scope. And yet what I do know is that from scraped knees to broken hearts, a mother is the listening ear who holds it all, without expectation of thanks. We as mamas have an innate ability to anticipate our children’s needs, even when our own are unmet. There is no manual, and yet we move from the time of birth onward with instinct to our child’s needs and wants.
Our warm embrace is our child’s first definition of safety, and our physical affection their first language of love. What an honor to show these children unwavering affection and love. We are the first face a newborn sees, the first arms that carry, and the voice that sings lullabies of sweet love.
Want to work on cultivating the Fruit of the Spirit with your littles? Check out some of the resources I have below!
Out of all the Fruits of the Spirit that we explore in this devotional series for mamas, I’m going to guess that love is the one that will come easily to all of us. And yet, even though we have been given this natural and sacrificial gospel-formed love, it does not come without our own sinful failings getting in the way.
Love is patient and kind; love does not envy or boast; it is not arrogant or rude. It does not insist on its own way; it is not irritable or resentful; it does not rejoice at wrongdoing, but rejoices with the truth. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. 1 Corinthians 13:4-7 ESV
As much as it pains me to say, just because loving our children comes easily (probably more easily than anyone else in our lives), our love is imperfect. If 1 Corinthians 13 is our definition of love, I don’t know about you, but I fail miserably multiple times a day. We are sinfully parenting sinful children, who are in need of a Savior, just like us.
The Love That Offers, Not Earns
The love of a mother does not ask, “What will you give me in return?”
It offers — again and again. Unconditional devotion. Unwavering support. A maternal bond that defies logic. Yet didn’t I just say above that we are doing it imperfectly? Yes, but there is something about a mother’s love that is the deepest love on earth. Time and time again, we see mothers who love children, through the worst of their character flaws.
This kind of unwavering love teaches us something deep about the character of God. He does not wait for our perfection. He does not love us more when we perform well. Just as a mother’s gaze softens when she looks at her own children, no matter what their flaws, so does His.
Psalm 103:13 (ESV) says,
“As a father shows compassion to his children, so the Lord shows compassion to those who fear him.”
And I might add, as a mother shows compassion, tirelessly and without condition, so He does too.
A Glimpse of God’s Greater Love
And yet, as precious as it is, even a mother’s love is only a shadow of the greater love God has for us.
He sees the baby you were, the adult you’ve become, and the child you still are in His eyes. His love surpasses even the love of a mother, and I think that’s saying something.
Romans 8:38-39 (ESV) reminds us:
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers… will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
God’s love is the only truly unconditional love, never exhausted, never confused, never tired of us. And when we falter as mothers ourselves, when our mental health wanes, when we snap instead of speak gently, when we fall short of our ideals, He does not. He covers us with His grace.
A Mother’s Love Is a Ministry
The unique bond between mother and child is not only natural, it is sacred. When a mother rocks her little boy to sleep, kisses his forehead, or prays silently over a fevered body, she ministers.
Mothers have the potential to play a pivotal role in God’s story of redemption for our children.
Mothers build the foundation for healthy relationships, not just in the home but in the world. Our greatest mission field is right there in the home. Your home, my home.
A mother offers advice to wandering teens and continues to show up for adult children, not because they still need her, but because her unbreakable bond tells her she’ll always be needed.
And one day, long after the diapers and dance recitals are gone, our children might just say to us:
“I remember the love of my mother. It taught me the love of God.”
A Mother’s Unconditional Love
Maybe you’re in the trenches right now, wondering if anyone sees. Maybe you feel invisible. Maybe you’re walking through difficult times and wondering if you’re enough.
You are.
Your love matters. Your presence matters. Your devotion reflects the very heart of God. If you doubt it, look back at Isaiah 66:13.
This Fruit of the Spirit might be easier than the rest because God has created us with an innate ability to love these children, but it does not mean that we do it perfectly. This world is not perfect, and our love will never be perfect. But as we know, Jesus’ is.
Let His love be the well you draw from, again and again. Your calling as a mother is worth all the unconditional love you pour out. Be encouraged, mama, as you love, you are also being loved.
Closing Prayer
Lord, thank You for the gift of a mother’s love. Thank you for the countless ways you show your own love through her hands, her voice, and her heart. Help us to love like You do, with fierce tenderness and relentless grace. For every mother reading or listening, be her source of strength, her peace in the chaos, and her rest in the storm. May she know that she is seen, cherished, and loved by You. Amen.
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