a whole new lesson in trust...
Having a kid has been a whole new lesson in trust. I recently had my first child and throughout the pregnancy, and even now being just a few months postpartum, my faith has been stretched to a whole new level. I have learned to trust God not only with my life, but my child’s life too. I am simply chosen to be her parent for however long God allows. I have learned to treasure every good moment and to turn to God in the hard ones because He will see me through. Sometimes it’s a song or a piece of scripture that just reminds me of God’s promises, and when I look at my child I am in awe of God’s intricate creation.
the ABCs
I remember before she was here worrying that something was going to go wrong and God gently reminding me that no matter what happened He was there with me. Recently I’ve been doing a devotion on the Bible app called “Hello Baby, I Love You! ABC’s for Young Moms” and it has helped me remember that God loves my child more than I do and that I don’t have to be her everything. I don’t know about you but that really takes the pressure off! One of the days was titled, “H is for Help” and it talked about how we need to remember to ask God and even for others for help sometime. This is something that is really hard for me to do.
I often find myself asking God, “just please let her sleep”, multiple times a day, and you know what? That’s completely okay. I’m not made to do this alone. Thankfully I have a wonderful husband who is great with her and an amazing help to me, but not everyone has that support. So, in those hard moment’s, I remember that I am not alone - God is with me and He never intended for me to raise our little one without His help. Asking for help isn’t a weakness, it’s actually a sign of strength. 2 Corinthians 2:12 says, “"My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me.”
stretch marks & added weight...
Another thing that came with childbirth for me was more body insecurity. From the stretch marks to the added weight, it’s been really hard to not be down on myself. This is just another area where God is growing me.
I try to keep these scriptures in mind when I’m struggling:
- Psalm 139:14 “I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.”
- 1 Peter 3:3-4 “Your beauty should not come from outward adornment, such as elaborate hairstyles and the wearing of gold jewelry or fine clothes. Rather, it should be that of your inner self, the unfading beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is of great worth in God’s sight.”
It might be hard in the world of social media to not compare ourselves to others but these verses remind me what really matters. God doesn’t care about my outward appearance, but who I am on the inside.
So, while I’m down on myself about my looks and trying to navigate this new season of life, all I need to do is look into the eyes of my little girl and remember how truly blessed I am. When I start focusing on all the blessings God has given me, it’s nearly impossible to be down about lack of sleep, body image, or the small everyday struggles that sometimes seem so big. God knows my thoughts and when those negative words and feelings start to stick in my mind, He is right there with me reminding me that I am His child, that He loves me, and that’s what really matters.
brittany minard
Brittany is a Christian radio personality in Lynchburg, Virginia. She and her husband welcome their sweet baby girl, Stella, to their family this summer, and since then, Brittany has loved soaking up the highs and lows of motherhood. Watching Stella learn to smile has been Brittany's greatest source of joy lately - a whole new feeling of joy she's never experienced before!
Blog photos by Cate Autumn Photography. Headshot provided by Brittany Minard.