Be Still and Know that He is God

Stigmas will always be attached to a single mom. There will always be prejudices. There will always be a curiosity, spoken or silent, on how one came to be. In the society and culture I grew up in (a relatively conservative one), single moms have to work extra hard to earn back the trust they once betrayed.

Battles will always have to be fought – whether it be emotional, social, financial, or physical. Emotionally, we need to be reassured and accepted after having been rejected or left out in the cold. Socially, we need a place where we can belong and let out steam. Financially, we need to be able to provide for our kids while wearing the hats of both dad and mom. Physically, we do need that extra rest from working doubly hard.

It is heartbreaking to know that there are very few Christian churches where I live that have an established ministry for single moms. More than anything, we need the guidance and strength to keep ourselves grounded in the faith and walking forward.

Personally, I forget that I am weak. Many times, I depend on my own strength to get through each day. But God would always remind me of King Hezekiah’s story behind Psalm 46:

King Hezekiah of Judah was surrounded by the army of Sennacherib, King of Assyria. Forty‑six towns and villages in Judah had been sacked. Over 200,000 residents had been taken captive, along with much spoil. At least 185,000 troops surrounded Jerusalem, and it looked like only a matter of time before the city fell.

But proud Sennacherib did not reckon with the fact that Hezekiah’s God is the living God who will not be mocked. Hezekiah prayed, God spoke, and in one night the angel of the Lord defeated Sennacherib by killing 185,000 of his soldiers (2 Ki. 18‑19; 2 Chron. 32; Isa. 36‑37). (bible.org)

Psalm 46 was written out of that situation. God provided deliverance.

In most cases like mine, single moms are in the situation we’re at because of reckless acts of rebellion in the past. And while our sins have been forgiven and paid for by the Lord Jesus Christ at the time of our salvation, and while we must bear the consequences of our actions, God promises that He will provide deliverance for us. Just as He has done so for every one of His children, God is faithful and His grace is sufficient to see us through.

No problem, whether emotional, physical, or spiritual, is too big for our God. If we will learn to take refuge in Him and lean on Him alone for strength, then with the psalmist we can face the most extreme crises with quiet confidence, because God is with us and He is sufficient. But we would be in error if we thought that God insulates us from problems. (bible.org)

 And that’s the pillow on which I sleep each night. I pray that you, my fellow single moms would, too.

“Be still, and know that I am God. I will be exalted among the nations,

I will be exalted in the earth!”

Psalm 46:10