Mother’s Day • Jonathan & Lindsey Hansen
Seen and Strengthened: A Mother's Day Message for Every Season
Mother's Day can be a complex day filled with joy, grief, hope, and pain all at once. Whether you're celebrating motherhood, mourning loss, or somewhere in between, God sees you exactly where you are and offers strength for whatever season you're walking through.
When Life Doesn't Go According to Plan
Life rarely unfolds the way we expect it to. We make plans, set goals, and envision our future, only to find ourselves in circumstances we never anticipated. This reality is beautifully illustrated in the Old Testament story of Ruth and Naomi - two women who found themselves widowed and facing an uncertain future in a foreign land.
When we meet Naomi in the Book of Ruth, she's at her lowest point. She's lost her husband and both her sons, leaving her feeling abandoned by God. In her despair, she tells the women around her: "Do not call me Naomi, call me Mara. For the Almighty has dealt very bitterly with me. I went away full, and the Lord has brought me back empty" (Ruth 1:20).
The Human Response to Pain
Naomi's response is deeply human. When life falls apart, we often ask "Why?" Why did I lose that job? Why did that relationship end? Why can't I get pregnant? Why is my child walking away from God? These questions reflect our natural response to pain and disappointment.
But Ruth and Naomi's story teaches us something powerful about navigating difficult seasons. Instead of staying stuck in their grief, they chose to walk forward in faith.
The Power of Shifting Perspective: From "Why" to "How"
One of the most transformative moments in the Book of Ruth comes when Ruth makes a declaration of faith: "Where you go, I will go. And where you lodge, I will lodge. Your people shall be my people and your God, my God" (Ruth 1:16).
This represents a crucial shift in perspective. Instead of remaining stuck in the question "Why is this happening?" Ruth chose to ask "How?" How is God going to redeem this situation? How can I move toward healing? How do I take the next step forward?
Pain as a Razor's Edge
Pain and suffering act like a razor's edge in our lives. They can either cause us to run from God in bitterness and blame, or they can propel us toward God in faith and dependence. Ruth chose the latter, moving toward God and His people rather than staying isolated in her grief.
What Does Walking by Faith Actually Look Like?
Walking by faith isn't about having all the answers or feeling confident about the future. It's about taking practical steps forward while depending on God. Here are three clarifying questions to help navigate any season:
1. What is in front of me that only I can do?
Faith doesn't require a grand five-year plan. Sometimes it's simply about identifying the next right thing. Psalm 119:105 reminds us: "Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path." Like ancient oil lamps that only illuminated one or two steps ahead, God's guidance often comes one step at a time.
Take inventory of your God-given assignments. What has He placed in your hands right now? Your relationship with Him, your marriage, your children, your health - these are the foundational responsibilities that deserve your faithful attention.
2. What is in crisis or broken that needs my attention?
A crisis is often God's green light to start working on something that isn't working. Rather than ignoring problems or hoping they'll resolve themselves, faith sometimes means rolling up your sleeves and addressing what's broken.
This could be a relationship that needs repair, a personal struggle that requires attention, or a health issue you've been avoiding. God often uses breakdowns to move us toward healing and wholeness.
3. What is eternal?
Life can feel like juggling multiple spinning plates. Some plates are glass - if they fall and shatter, the impact is devastating and long-lasting. Others are plastic - they bounce when dropped. Learning to distinguish between what has eternal significance and what doesn't helps prioritize our time and energy.
People are eternal. Relationships matter forever. Our faith, integrity, and the work God has called us to do have lasting impact. As the saying goes: "Only one life will soon be passed. Only what's done for Christ will last."
Seeking First the Kingdom
Jesus addressed our tendency to worry about all of life's spinning plates in Matthew 6:33: "But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you." This isn't about perfect balance - it's about proper priorities.
When we put God's kingdom first, everything else finds its proper place. God is a God of order, not chaos. Focusing on eternal priorities actually brings clarity and peace to the rest of life's demands.
Access to the Wonderful Counselor
One of the most beautiful names for Jesus is found in Isaiah 9:6: "He will be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace." The Hebrew word for "wonderful" (pele) means miracle-working, extraordinary, beyond human understanding. We don't just have access to a good counselor - we have access to a wonder-working counselor who knows the end from the beginning.
How to Access Divine Wisdom
The access point to this wonderful counselor is surprisingly simple: talk to Him. Turn your life into an ongoing conversation with God. James 1:5 promises: "If anyone lacks wisdom, let him ask God, who gives generously to all without reproach, and it will be given to you."
Additionally, surround yourself with the people of God. Proverbs 15:22 warns: "Plans fail for lack of counsel, but with many advisers they succeed." You weren't meant to navigate life's challenges alone.
God Specializes in Redemption
Ruth and Naomi's story doesn't end in the graveyard where we first meet them. Through their faithfulness and willingness to move toward God, their lives were completely restored. Ruth married Boaz, had a son named Obed, and became part of the lineage that would eventually lead to King David and ultimately to Jesus Christ.
Their story proves a powerful truth: there is no season so barren that God cannot bring forth a harvest. When we walk hard roads by faith, God either redeems us, redeems the situation, or redeems both. In eternity, He will redeem all our pain and wipe away every tear.
Life Application
This week, practice walking by faith by asking yourself the three clarifying questions: What is in front of me that only I can do? What is broken that needs my attention? What is eternal? Begin each day in conversation with your wonderful counselor, inviting Him into every decision and concern.
Consider these reflection questions: In what area of your life do you need to shift from asking "Why?" to asking "How?" What "glass plates" in your life need more attention than the "plastic plates"? How can you move toward God and His people in your current season, even if it feels difficult?
Remember, when you walk by faith, you can expect both victory and battle. God never promised a life without struggle, but He did promise to be with you through every storm, serving as your shelter and strength no matter what season you're navigating.
Setlist
WFC Lenexa + WFC Anywhere
Washed - Elevation Rhythm
The blood - Bethel
Mercy - Elevation Worship
King of Kings - Hillsong worship
WFC Speedway
Washed - Elevation Rhythm
The blood - Bethel
Mercy - Elevation Worship
King of Kings - Hillsong worship
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