Lies New Moms Believe that Steal Their Joy

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This year my new year started with that life-altering word on a little plastic stick from a grocery store saying “pregnant.” I eagerly embraced my hopes and plans for what becoming a mom would be like as I processed my first pregnancy. I had visions of walking around our neighborhood with a baby in a stroller in the fall with my favorite iced coffee in hand. I couldn’t wait to share my exciting news with friends, family, and even random strangers. Of course, an onslaught of opinions and advice quickly followed.

I wanted to humbly listen to the moms who came with advice for me because I knew “I don’t know what I don’t know” as a new mom. But as I listened to horror stories from a mom’s first year with a baby or how “impossible” it would be without family living close by I realized I was often listening to lies that oppose the truth of God’s Word disguised as helpful tips.

3 Lies New Moms Are Tempted to Believe

1.    No one will take care of you.

Experienced moms were quick to tell me my new role would mean constantly caring for a tiny human with no one to take care of me. “Forget about washing your hair now!” they’d joke. Did this new relationship with a baby mean I would always be the one looking after everyone else without anyone else looking after me?

The opposite is true in scripture. Scripture tells us that God goes before us and is looking after us in every situation. Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

Even on sleepless nights, even on days without showers, new moms can experience and embrace freedom in knowing God is always caring for her every need while she cares for little ones. He will not neglect you. The Lord will be faithful to care for you in motherhood as He does in all things. 

2.    You don’t have everything you need.

 As a frequent Instagram user, I spent the first few months of my pregnancy overwhelmed. I was suddenly the perfect target for hundreds of ads on expensive baby products that were always marketed as a “must-have.” When I shared my baby news with friends, I often heard about life-saving products or immediately asked about childcare, babysitting, or if I had family coming to help.

I left conversations and closed apps on my phone feeling unprepared. I started to wonder if I was really equipped to become a mom. I suddenly felt fear over the ever-expanding baby budget and wondered if I needed babysitters picked out now.

It’s tempting to believe that we don’t have everything we need as new moms but God’s promise to us is that He “will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:19 NIV).

Whether that need is for more support, provision, a hand-me-down stroller, or just for a friend to stop by and say “you’re doing a great job!” God is faithful to provide for us and promises we will have everything we need.

3.    You should be afraid of something going wrong.

As a newly pregnant mom, I couldn’t wait to share my news with excitement and joy. I was surprised that I was often met with lots of warnings. At times, it felt like I was being encouraged not to be too excited just yet because inevitably something was going to go wrong. Many moms looked at me like they knew of a certain impending doom that was coming my way. I became tempted to tuck my joy away and take a more cautious approach as I waited for this seemingly inevitable disaster of some kind to occur.

As I began to feel more anxiety and fear creep up about what might go wrong for me in motherhood, I began to cling to Psalm 112:7: “They will have no fear of bad news, their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

In motherhood and in life, lots of things go “wrong” or take an unexpected turn. But that doesn’t mean we have to tiptoe through life careful not to celebrate what God has gifted us with right now. Instead, we are invited to have a steadfast trust in God where we aren’t afraid of any bad news that may come our way. We know that God will redeem everything and we can trust Him even in the face of bad news.

Our hope isn’t in a picture-perfect story for us or our kids–it’s in Christ alone. Instead of believing that we have to be fearful of what could happen to us or our kids, we can embrace a life of freedom when we choose steadfast trust in God.

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