A study found that most children growing up in the 21st century will be raised in a home where both parents or guardians work. Although the numbers of stay-at-home fathers has increased, it also found that women carry the brunt of caring for children, and the number of females that are the sole breadwinners and head of household continues to increase. For many single mothers, this can be a lot of pressure, and it sometimes can feel as though it’s hitting you from all sides. We must be continually thankful that we know God through the Lord Jesus Christ, because we can give all our burdens to Him. In 2Corinthians 9:8, Heavenly Father promises to be our Sufficiency. He is our Source and will take care of all our needs, but we don’t always trust this, and when our faith in Him wanes, things can get sticky very fast.
It’s when we don’t depend on God, and we try to handle things on our own that we go through some of our toughest times emotionally. Battling the constant demands of family can take a toll if the single parent doesn’t have a firm grip on the love and goodness of God. Sure, there are going to be challenges in life, even when our faith is strong. Our faith would never receive a workout if we didn’t encounter challenges and obstacles that stretch it and cause us to become more like Christ. He said in John 16:30 that in the world, we are going to have tribulation, but he has overcome the world. Romans 8:37-38 tells us that overwhelming victory is ours through Christ and nothing can separate us from his love.
God requires us to renew our minds to the truth of His provision and promises. This means that we continually confess His promises, even in the heat of our troubles. If we don’t do this, we run the risk of being overwhelmed emotionally, and creating a space in our homes where the peace of God isn’t invited.
As single parents desiring marriage, until God presents us with a spouse, it is very important that we don’t allow that desire to rob our children. Through the strength of Christ, we should create a loving and warm place for our children to call home. They can read bitterness and sadness very well, and we should do our best to believe God in such a way that our joy and hope is always anchored in Christ. Proverbs 21:9(NLT) says, “It’s better to live alone in the corner of an attic than with a quarrelsome wife in a lovely home.” This verse paints a clear picture of how a wife can make a home a terrible place to be. God knows the reality of being a single parent, but the answer isn’t to become angry and stressed out. The answer is to do as Christ commands in Matthew 11:29-30, which is to go to him with all our burdens and allow him to teach us about himself. God will meet all our needs, and no matter what we face, whether single or married, we can come boldly to God’s throne of grace, and Hebrews 4:16(NLT) tells us, “There we will receive his mercy, and we will find grace to help us when we need it most.”■
Scripture quotations marked (NLT) are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. All rights reserved.
“When We Need It Most”, written by Kim Times, edited by Reverend Fran Mack, for Sundie Morning Sistas ©2021. All rights reserved. All done to the glory of God through Jesus Christ, our Lord! SMS is dedicated to inspiring and encouraging Christian Women through the Word of God.