Hey Moms, stop believing these lies
Shay Shaw
When I first became a mom, I didn’t realize Satan sold me several lies, so I bought them all.
I didn’t know there was another way to look at my new life as a mother other than through the lens of self-doubt and fear of the unknown. I believed every new mom was experiencing the same thoughts, so there was nothing really wrong with what I believed about motherhood. Except there was something wrong: They were lies.
The worst part about believing a lie is not knowing it’s a lie. There are three lies you may have believed, but I want to share the truth I learned so that, after seeing them exposed, you will no longer believe them and they will no longer have a hold on your life.
Lie #1: My life will never be the same.
Of course, it won’t be! When my son was born I remember thinking to myself, “I’ll never be able to shower whenever I want to, to make spontaneous decisions again, to do what I want whenever I want to,” and more.
I struggled with this for so long, but over time God opened my eyes. Why did I want things to be the same? In reality, all I was doing was robbing myself of the joy of motherhood by fixating on the past. I failed to realize I was in a new season, and with this new season came new triumphs and challenges (Ecclesiastes 3:1).
I didn’t need to fret over my life not being the same as it used to be. I had to realize my life as a new mom could be whatever I wanted it to be. The only thing holding me back from allowing this new season to be the greatest season of my life was me. Life as a new mom doesn’t have to be the same; it can be better!
Life as a new mom doesn’t have to be the same; it can be better!
Lie #2: Asking for help makes me a bad mom.
As a single mom living far from family, I struggled with this lie the most. I believed my son was my responsibility and mine alone — therefore, I needed to do it all by myself. I felt as though asking for help showed I was inadequate to take care of my son, which meant I was a bad mom.
Believing this lie kept me from reaching out to others for help when I desperately needed it. I found myself overwhelmed, anxious, and doubting I could be the mom God wanted me to be. I allowed my pride to hold me prisoner and drain me physically, spiritually, and emotionally.
The truth is that I couldn’t do it by myself. I was making life harder when it didn’t have to be. When I finally reached out for help, I was blown away by how God had strategically arranged His plans for provision (Deuteronomy 31:8). He was just waiting for me to realize I need Him and ask for help (Philippians 4:19)!
Lie #3: I feel so alone; no one understands what I‘m going through.
Feelings are fickle. They change like the seasons and are not always good indicators of truth. The moment you place your faith in Jesus, the Holy Spirit lives in your heart forever (John 14:16). This debunks the lie of being alone.
Secondly, there are people who understand exactly what you’re going through. The question is, do you talk to them about it? Or, even better question, do you have godly friends you can talk to?
Becoming a new mom was when I realized how badly I needed community. I needed women I could relate to and who could relate to me. Being in a group of young moms, I am reminded daily that I am not alone. They hold me accountable, they pray for me, and they are there for me through the good and the bad. I can talk to them about things only a mother would understand. Even if they aren’t going through the exact same situation, they know me and understand where I am coming from. It’s much easier to dismiss the enemy's lies when I have women in my corner who will help me follow Jesus step by step (Ecclesiastes 4:12).
If any of these lies have been holding you captive, let God's promises unlock the prison these lies create. Being a mother is one of the greatest gifts in the world. The best way you can steward this gift is to break free and walk in truth. Embrace your new life, ask for help whenever you need it, and know that you are never alone.