The Motherly Love of Our Father God
A different kind of reflection for Mother's Day
Greetings Glory Carriers!
A few years ago, I stumbled upon a theme in Scripture that I hadn’t noticed before: about God being like a mother. It was intriguing because we are not used to thinking of God in this way, as being like a mother.
God, as we know, has revealed Himself to us in His triune nature, Father, Son and Holy Spirit.
“...yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” - 1 Corinthians 8:6
God is Father. God is Son. God is Spirit. For me, there is not question or problem there.
But when we go to Scripture, we can see that God is often described as being like other things as a way of helping us understand different aspects of His character and nature.
The Use of Metaphor in the Bible
If we recall our years in elementary school for a moment, this is called simile or metaphor. We see the inspired writers of Scripture describing God as…
Like a Shepherd -
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” Isaiah 40:11
“The Lord is my shepherd, I lack nothing.” - Psalm 23:1
“I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd lays down his life for the sheep.” - John 10:11
Like a Potter -
“Yet you, Lord, are our Father. We are the clay, you are the potter; we are all the work of your hand.” - Isaiah 64:8
Like a Rock/Fortress -
“The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge, my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold.” - Psalm 18:2
Like a Husband -
“For your husband is your Maker, Whose name is the Lord of hosts; And your Redeemer is the Holy One of Israel, Who is called the God of all the earth.” - Isa 54:5
Like the Vine -
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me you can do nothing.” - John 15:5
These are metaphors given to us to give us deeper insight to God’s character and nature. But like a mother? It’s just so unfamiliar – and maybe even uncomfortable – to some of us.
God is Like a Mother
But it’s absolutely there in Scripture. Take a moment to take in these verses:
“You deserted the Rock, who fathered you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.” - Deuteronomy 32:18
“For a long time I have kept silent, I have been quiet and held myself back. But now, like a woman in childbirth, I cry out, I gasp and pant.” - Isaiah 42:14
“Listen to me, you descendants of Jacob, all the remnant of the people of Israel, you whom I have upheld since your birth, and have carried since you were born…I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you.”
- Isaiah 46:3-4
“Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.” - Isaiah 49:15
“As a mother comforts her child, so will I comfort you; and you will be comforted over Jerusalem.” - Isaiah 66:13
“It was I who taught Ephraim to walk, taking them by the arms; but they did not realize it was I who healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with ties of love. To them I was like one who lifts a little child to the cheek, and I bent down to feed them.” - Hosea 11:3-4
“Like a bear robbed of her cubs I will attack them and rip them open…” - Hosea 13:8
“Jerusalem, Jerusalem…how often I have longed to gather your children together, as a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were not willing.”
- Matthew 23:37, Luke 13:34
From these we are introduced to a ‘mother-like’ expression of God’s nature and character. A God who…
Gives birth
Labors
Carries
Comforts
Nurses
Nurtures
Feeds
Fiercely protects
Affectionately holds
Gathers
Have you ever encountered this side of our Father God who comes to us like a mother? In all the tenderness and fierceness of a mother’s love? I am hit with fresh emotion of that thought, even as I write those words.
Our Father God has a mother’s heart. Wow.
Accessing this Motherly Love of the Father
There was a time a few years ago when I struggling to access God’s love. Or at least the ability to perceive it. It was during a demanding season of caring for my little ones and in my sleep-deprived state, I was lacking in my regular devotions with God. I really started to believe that God was disappointed in me. That somehow He was withholding His love. Until…
One night I was nursing my son in the middle of the night, I was peering down at him and suddenly aware of the intense and indescribable overflowing love I had for him. My mothering heart bursting forth as if it would explode. Suddenly, out of nowhere, I heard that little whisper from within,
“Ali, this is how I see and feel about you.”
I sat there for a moment and tried to process what I thought I was hearing. It was as if God was saying something like:
“My love for you has nothing – truly, nothing! - to do with what you do. Just as you love (with a fierce and unconditional love) the babe in your arms who is sleeping, helpless, needy and dependent, I love you.”
Wow. This was a revelation that transformed my view of God. I began to understand that God really did look at me with a loving gaze of delight, just like a mother has toward her child, not for what the child does but for who they are.
I love how author and dear friend of mine, Sarah Clarkson puts it:
“We are fragile little things, made and cradled by God, and to walk with him doesn't just mean being strong, it mostly means being held. Cradled, like a babe in arms….think on this image and let your soul ease back into the circle of God's gentleness, the tender place that always waits to receive and shelter you.” – Sarah Clarkson
I am whacked with emotion yet again when I read those Spirit-laced words. When was the last time you allowed yourself to be cradled by the motherly love of our Father God, like a babe in His arms?
This Mother’s Day
As we celebrate this Mother’s Day, whether you’re a mother or grandmother, or are honoring your biological or spiritual mothers and grandmothers, don’t forget to remember the God who comes to us like a mother.
As you do, may you, may we, find in increasing measure the powerful, transforming motherly love of our Father God, as we allow ourselves to be cradled in His everlasting arms.
Happy Mother’s Day From My Heart and Home to Yours,
Ali
Photo of the Week
I love this picture of our Heavenly Father loving us with the deep, tender, and fierce love of a mother. Random story: we have ducks that live by our house. I was trying to get a picture of a mom with her fresh baby ducklings and as soon as the mom noticed me, she covered all of her ducklings under her wing at the same time as they were running away from me! She had at least 8 ducklings. While I didn’t like being seen as a threat to them, I loved the picture of how the Lord protects us and covers us under the shadow of His wing!