Attributes of God That Moms Are Not Called to Emulate

Mother Superpowers

Should you may have any superpower as a mother, which might you select? Perhaps you’d like the flexibleness to be in all places directly—watching over your youngsters at dwelling, college, apply, and all the remaining. How would you prefer to learn your youngsters’s minds or have the capability to get your to-do record executed on daily basis and nonetheless have time and vitality to spare?

Whereas these talents are tempting, we’re probably not supermoms, and we have been by no means meant to be. By God’s good design, we’re dependent creatures, and we glance to the Lord for “life and breath and every part” (Acts 17:25). However, typically we transfer by way of our days appearing as if we are self-sufficient, every part does rely upon us, and we actually are in management. We will even really feel like that’s what’s anticipated of us.

As mothers, we have to keep in mind that solely God is God and that this actuality is an effective factor. Whereas there are some attributes of God that we’re known as to emulate, others belong to him alone. Understanding and embracing this fact can remodel our parenting.

Solely God Is God, and That’s a Good Factor

Simply as our younger youngsters rely upon us, we rely on God. However although our youngsters ought to develop more and more impartial as they age, we mothers are by no means meant to outgrow our dependence on the Lord. It’s once we resist this actuality, once we insist on doing issues our manner, that there are issues. Nevertheless, a humble recognition of who God is and who we’re (and aren’t) results in our rescue from this false sense of self-sufficiency.

There’s nobody else like God. Scripture says he’s incomparable:

There’s none such as you among the many gods, O Lord,
     nor are there any works like yours. —Psalm 86:8

To whom then will you evaluate me,
     that I ought to be like him? says the Holy One. —Isaiah 40:25

Who’s a God such as you, pardoning iniquity
    and passing over transgression
     or the remnant of his inheritance?
     He doesn’t retain his anger ceaselessly,
     as a result of he delights in steadfast love. —Micah 7:18

We will’t label God or stuff him into any of our bins. Our phrases fall brief in describing him. But our Lord chooses to disclose himself in his phrase. American writer and evangelist A. W. Tozer outlined an attribute as being “no matter God has in any manner revealed as being true of Himself,”¹ and learning God’s attributes is one strategy to get to know him higher for who he really is.

Figuring out God by Finding out His Attributes

Although God is one, and we are able to by no means really separate his attributes from each other, them individually is an try to wrap our finite minds round God’s infinite, mind-boggling nature. After we do, it’s useful to differentiate between what theologians name God’s communicable and incommunicable attributes.

A lot of God’s attributes are communicable—which means that they’re meant for us too. God communicates, shares, and passes them on to his individuals. As 2 Corinthians 3:18 explains, “And all of us, with unveiled face, beholding the glory of the Lord, are being remodeled into the identical picture from one diploma of glory to a different.” There’s this mysterious switch that takes place. As we behold God, as we spend extra time in his presence and get to know him higher, we grow to be increasingly like him. Examples of those attributes embody God’s love, persistence, goodness, and gentleness. As mothers, we’re meant to mimic these virtues and more and more show them in our parenting.

As mothers, we have to keep in mind that solely God is God, and that this actuality is an effective factor.

However God’s incommunicable attributes are all his, and he doesn’t share them with anybody else. They embody his self-existence, self-sufficiency, incomprehensibility, eternality, unchangeableness, and sovereignty, in addition to the truth that he’s current in all places, omnipotent, and all-knowing. These attributes provide nice hope and freedom to believing mothers.

Why Does This Matter?

God has each communicable and incommunicable attributes, and each are necessary. However what distinction does it make to us, as mothers, that some attributes solely belong to God—that they’re not meant for us, and that we aren’t known as to emulate them? God’s incommunicable attributes yield three sensible encouragements—in addition to many extra—to mothers:

1. We don’t should be supermoms.

Greater than the rest in my life, motherhood has illuminated my want for God. It’s revealed my weaknesses and limitations, exhibiting me what I’m not and can by no means be. And although I may be tempted to really feel responsible and discouraged, and even to check myself with different mothers who appear to have all of it collectively, the Lord’s instructing me that there’s a greater manner. Our very limitations can lead us to the Lord and his sufficiency (2 Cor. 12:9). We mothers can’t do all of the issues, be in all places directly, or say all the proper phrases; however God is omnipotent, current in all places, all-knowing, and all-wise. We’d like him, and so do our households.

2. We will rely upon our nice God.

The outcomes of parenting don’t finally relaxation on our efforts. Isn’t this excellent news? We lack assets, however not God. We lack energy, however not God. And thru Jesus, we are able to draw close to to God in prayer (Heb. 4:16), casting our cares on him (1 Pet. 5:7), assured in his means to do what we are able to’t do. We will’t change our youngsters’s hearts, however he can. We will’t save their souls, however he can.

3. We will belief God.

When nervousness and worry about well being, security, decisions, and the longer term weigh on our shoulders, God’s sovereignty reassures us that though we really feel uncontrolled, God stays in full management. As a result of he’s good, smart, and {powerful}—and by no means adjustments in his nature—we are able to belief him.

Motherhood Is Holy Floor

Motherhood turns into holy floor when God makes use of it to open our eyes to see who we’re—our finiteness, our dependence on the Lord, and our want for him—and to attract us nearer to him. In a world the place we frequently really feel like we should be the robust ones, God welcomes us to return to him humbly, as youngsters: “Whoever humbles himself like this baby is the best within the kingdom of heaven” (Matt. 18:4). In God’s kingdom, humility and weak point aren’t frowned upon however honored, and the self-existent one welcomes us. So let’s go to him, pouring out our sorrows and asking him to maintain and assist us.

We weren’t made to hold the load of the world—and even the load of our households—on our personal shoulders. Relatively, God’s incommunicable attributes free us from that burden and provide hope in somebody—named Jesus—who’s our true and supreme hero. “He’s the radiance of the glory of God and the precise imprint of his nature, and he upholds the universe by the phrase of his energy” (Heb. 1:3; see additionally Col. 1:15–17). Having rescued us from sin by way of his loss of life and resurrection, our Lord’s energy gives all we want for all times—together with mother life—”by way of the information of him who known as us to his personal glory and excellence” (2 Pet. 1:3).

As an alternative of emulating God’s incommunicable attributes, we worship him for being all that we’re not. We like him for being incomprehensible and past our understanding, and we reward him for appearing in incomprehensible methods, akin to saving helpless sinners. In the end, we give up to the Lord and belief him with our households.

Katie Faris is the writer of Every Hour I Need You: 30 Meditations for Moms on the Character of God.

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