Keep Marching

Insanity is defined as doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results. By that definition, parenting can feel a little insane at times! I wake up with the best intentions and full of hope for the day ahead. Yet, almost without fail, someone is upset by breakfast and we grab our bags as we run out the door late for school. Again. 

I rise to parent another day and expect my children, complete with their own sin natures, to suddenly become sanctified saints who bask in my great parenting skills. Yet I’m called to get in the mud and get my hands dirty planting the seeds and tending the soil of their souls. I’m called to consistently and faithfully share the love of God with them and trust the Lord to regenerate their hearts. Most days this feels both routine and mundane. Other days can feel like a battle.

On the mundane days, it’s easy to feel like what I’m doing is pointless or meaningless. Am I even making a difference? I don’t know about you, but as a mom, I’ve been waist deep in laundry, wiping runny noses, and breaking up sibling squabbles, only to sit back in exhaustion and think to myself, “I have a college degree. I’m, like, really smart. Lord, don’t you think my brain would be better used doing something more for you? Like, something meaningful?” 

The story of Jericho can remind us to trust God in the midst of the mundane and monotonous, because He is faithful and He is good. 

Just March

In the beginning of the book of Joshua, the Israelites crossed the Jordan River after being in the wilderness for forty years. They were full of vision and the mission God had called them to. They were prepared to do battle in order to conquer the Promised Land of Canaan. It was the night before the big game and they were pumped up and ready to go. However, Joshua gathers the priests and gives them the God-ordained battle plan. They aren’t going to fight. Instead, they are going to march. That’s right, just march. 

I think many moms are doers, we see a problem and like to fix it. So, when we’re told not to do something, and to seemingly do nothing – like march – it’s very difficult. For me, it was being at home alone with a baby all day. I felt like I was a slave to sleep schedules, diaper changes, and feeding routines. I went from sharing the gospel daily with college students in campus ministry, to wiping spit up and attending storytime at the library. While I knew I was planting seeds and nourishing the soul of my daughter, I missed being in the action of adult life. 

Now, I know not all moms feel this way. For some, staying at home is a dream, or even a deep longing that has gone unfulfilled. Mothering is a blessing from the Lord and being able to pour the love and foundation of the Christian life into the next generation is gospel work. However, for some, the monotony and repetition of being at home can be difficult when we’re used to doing “big” and seemingly more significant things for God. 

I bet that’s kind of how the Israelites felt. “God, we’re, like, really strong. And we’re pretty excited to get to it and fight for the land you promised us. Can’t we do something other than just march? Like something meaningful?” 

He is Faithful

On the seventh day “the people shouted a great shout, and the walls fell down flat, so that the people went up into the city… and they captured the city” (Joshua 6:20). The people were obedient to march and God was faithful to give the city into their hands as promised. Today, we have an even bigger picture of God’s enduring faithfulness in the gospel of Jesus. God was faithful to His promises to the Israelites to drive out the Canaanites and give them the Promised Land and in the same way, He was faithful to His promise to send His Son to die on the cross for our sins. We can look back at both of these events and the faithfulness of God with hope and faith that He has always fulfilled His promises and He will continue to do so. Even when we are unfaithful or doubt His plan, God is always faithful to do what He says He will do.  Keeping his faithfulness in front of us will help us to remain faithful when the task drags on or feels too big.

He is Good

Today we are trained to want instant gratification, so when our mothering efforts are not met with immediate results, we can often grow weary of obedience, becoming disappointed and discontent. When that happens we can doubt God’s goodness in His plan or how he is, or isn’t, acting. I’m sure on day three of marching around Jericho, there were some grumbles and moans of doubt amongst the Israelites. Grumbles about the heat and boredom of simply marching – doubt that God had a good (and effective) plan. Yet, their consistent obedience was blessed with victory. God’s plan, although (sometimes) strange, was a good plan to show the Israelites that He can do what He says He will do.

Some days are big, like crossing the Jordan River or the walls falling down. But most days of mothering are like the third day of marching. As mothers, we are called to be obedient to the physical demand of raising our children, and we are called to be obedient to the spiritual demands of mothering–trusting God’s plan, daily discipleship, and constant prayer.

He is faithful and He is good. And, as such, He deserves our consistent, faithful obedience. Even in the mundane of matching socks and school pick up lines.