I often hear mothers say, “I wish that this [being a stay-at-home mom] was the case for me, but we can't afford for me to stay home.” Why are these words such a common reply? I think it is because we feel we must take things into our own hands to make it work. We don’t think that God is able! That’s the bottom line.
That’s rather challenging, isn’t it? Especially when we read the words in Psalm 78:19-22: “Yea, they spake against God; they said, Can God furnish a table in the wilderness? . . . Can he give bread also? Can he provide flesh for his people? . . . Therefore the Lord heard this, and was wroth… because they believed not in God, and trusted not in his salvation.”
When we don’t believe that God can provide, we are really confessing that we don’t trust Him and that He is not sufficient for our needs. And yet, isn’t He God? The God of the universe. The God who owns the cattle on a thousand hills. The God who has promised to provide for the fruit of the womb.
I know it can be scary when you wonder where the next meal is coming from. And we all go through seasons, just as Paul did (Philippians 4:11-13). There were times when he abounded and times when he was abased. We’ve faced the same thing many times. I remember one time when we had no money coming in and I thought that I would help the situation! Help, Nancy Campbell didn’t trust God! Shame!
I could never imagine my getting a full-time job out of the home, but I thought I’d do a few cleaning jobs to bring in a little extra (my children were mostly grown by this time). I was dutifully doing this when a woman of God challenged me. She said I was blaspheming God’s Word and not being an example to the younger women. At first, I was indignant. “Who does she think she is?” I thought. “She doesn’t know our situation.”
But then the Holy Spirit used her words to speak into my heart. I realized she was right! I confessed my sin and unbelief and immediately stopped these little jobs that took me out of the home. The amazing thing is that it didn’t change a thing! I noticed no difference when I was trying to bring in extra money than when I trusted God! God could do better than what I could do!
Why is it we think we can do a better job than God? God doesn’t require sacrifice, but obedience. When we obey Him and trust Him, we experience His faithfulness. That doesn’t mean we will always be abounding, but we will never starve!
To the dear mothers who are still working and yet long to be home, I want to encourage you. Please, take a step of faith and obedience. You will wait for the rest of your life for the circumstances to be right before you can come home! Your circumstances will never be perfect. You will never think you have enough money without your wage. You need to take a step of faith. You must act in obedience. Give your notice and then you will see what God can do.
While you try to do it in your own strength, God steps back and lets you do it your way. He can only show you His faithfulness and His provision when you let Him take over! Try it and see! I would love to hear the hundreds of testimonies from those who have seen God’s provision as they have taken this step of faith.
Instead of “we can’t afford for me to stay home, “my husband always said, “I can’t afford for my wife to leave the home. Too much is at stake!”
When the mother is out of the home, the enemy and destroyer of souls has a chance to influence our children. We as mothers are watch dogs of our children and our homes. A watch dog is of no worth if he is not at home. We can’t leave our post. Our children, the nation, and future generations are dependent on us!
Be blessed today,
Nancy Campbell