The Mission of motherhood

And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up. Galatians 6:9 ESV

Parenthood is a strange and sacred mission. God entrusts us with children—to nurture, teach, guide, introduce to Jesus, and love with all we have. And then, one day, something happens that is rarely mentioned at baby dedications: we must let them go.

If you are a mom of little ones, this might feel unimaginable. But if you have stepped into the next season of parenting, you know exactly what I mean. The daily micromanagement gives way to macro-oversight—still present, still prayerful, but no longer in control. And let me be honest: nothing truly prepares you for that shift.

I never imagined how hard it would be to watch my children make their own choices, especially when those choices did not reflect the faith in which they were raised. The illusion of control I once clung to unraveled quickly, and it hurt. I found myself in a place where I never expected to be - the mother of a prodigal.

When my child veered down a path I had not planned for, fear crept in. I questioned everything. Had I failed? I looked around and saw other moms with seemingly perfect families, and mine felt like a mess. I was desperate to fix it, to say the right words, to bring my child back to what I thought was “right.” But nothing I said seemed to reach a heart far from the Lord.

That is when God gently whispered to mine: Trust Me.

In that still moment, I realized my mission as a mother had never been about managing outcomes. It had always been about planting seeds of truth, of Scripture, of worship, of heaven. Every Sunday service, every bedtime prayer, every moment of Christ-centered love was not wasted. The results were never in my hands.

I finally understood -motherhood is not just a physical assignment, it is a spiritual one. We are called to faithfully sow seeds of the gospel, trusting that God Himself will water them in His perfect timing. Our mission was never to make those seeds grow. That is His job.

So, wherever you find yourself today—as a mom in the thick of diapers or one learning to release adult children into the world—I pray you find peace in your purpose.

If your journey looks different than you expected, do not lose heart. Stand firm in your God-given authority as a mother. Declare that your children will come home—healed, whole, and ignited by holy fire.

 Do not stop believing in the One who holds your child’s future. The mission of motherhood is holy. It is eternal. And even when your hands let go, your prayers never stop holding on.

Debra McNinch

Founder, BATTLECRY Prayer Movement