Devotionals

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“He will feed his flock like a shepherd. He will carry the lambs in his arms, holding them close to his heart. He will gently lead the mother sheep with their young.”
-Isaiah 40:11

My sweet little one was feeling under the weather last night. As I sat in the rocking chair snuggling her close to my chest, I recited this verse and remembered all the times God proved these words to be true. My daughter, Sydnee, spent her first days fighting for her life in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. Being hospitalized in a separate city, I could not even be there to hold her. What a comfort knowing that Jesus himself was carrying her in his arms, holding her close to his heart.

A separate time, when Sydnee was three months old, she was hospitalized in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit. She spent eight days sedated and on a ventilator, fighting for her life. After days of negative reports and seeing her continue to get worse instead of better, I felt I had been completely drained of any hope. I sat in our hospital room, watching all of the sick children get wheeled past our door in their hospital beds with their scared and grieving parents trailing behind, and I cried out to God asking Him for a word of hope. I opened my Bible to Isaiah 40:11, and as I clung to this promise my heart caught sight of a little glimpse of hope. A few good friends of mine came to visit that day and they helped me grab hold of my hope again. We talked about this verse and the picture it gave us of Jesus, carrying the little lamb in his arms while gently leading the mama sheep, assuring her that He had her baby. Clinging to His promise and picturing Sydnee as his little lamb is what gave me the strength and hope to persevere and remain strong for my little girl.

Being a mom is so hard, especially when our children are struggling or in pain. God knows how hard it is, and He knows the pain we feel as parents when we see our children suffer. He knows that better than anyone. I believe this is why in the second part of the verse, He promises to gently lead the mother sheep with their young. To all the mamas out there, may He gently lead you today in trust, confidence, strength, and perseverance. He’s got your baby in His arms. May you find rest in that.

Our Great God and Healer,
We come to you as women and as mothers who care deeply for the children you have entrusted to us. Father, our hearts are heavy with concern for our children and their well-being. May we not forget that you are carrying our children and you love them even more than we do. Father, help us to affirm our trust in you, in your unfailing love and goodness. Gently lead us as we work to trust you more. Lord, please bring healing and comfort to all the children and families who sit and fight in the NICU’s and PICU’s today. Rise up with healing in your wings, O Lord. Bring amazing peace and rest to all the mommy’s out there who stand fighting alongside their children. Thank you for your promises and your unfailing love. I love you, Lord. I pray in Jesus’ name, Amen.

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