God Is Still Good: Gospel Hope and Comfort for the Unexpected Sorrows of Motherhood

“While being a mom is a desirable and godly calling, it’s one that exposes a heart to the wounding arrows of pain and grief,” contends Faris (He Will Be Enough), a pastor’s wife and mother of five, in this tender outing. She reflects on how her becoming a mother gave rise to complicated emotions and offers gospel-inspired wisdom to comfort other mothers grappling with the difficulties of child-rearing. She recounts how she felt worried after she learned that she had gotten pregnant earlier into her marriage than she had expected and relates the exhaustion and distress she faced as her son struggled to breastfeed, a far cry from the “serene and relaxed” motherhood she had imagined. Encouraging women to seek comfort in God, Faris unpacks Romans 8 and suggests that even during hard times God is at work “to fit us for heaven and for fruitful lives on earth.” This aims to commiserate more than advise, and the benefits of that approach shine through in such compassionate affirmations as “Even though hardship is a given in this life, it doesn’t have to be the end of your story or mine because it’s not the end of God’s.” Christian mothers will find this a salve. (Jan.)