10 In Faith/ Motherhood

3 Ways to Serve Jesus as a SAHM

I grew up with missionaries as parents. Their job was to tell others about Jesus and to serve the church. As a family, we were always doing something related to service. Even when my parents stopped being missionaries, are lives were still full of service.

Now, as a parent, I often struggle with what types of things I can do to serve God as a stay at home mom. Because I have young kids and no family to help look after them, I always feel limited in what sorts of things I can do.

Over the years, I have wrestled with my responsibility as a Christian mom and how I can best serve God. Through that struggles, God has taught me 3 ways I can serve God as a stay at home mom.

 

How to Serve Jesus as SAHM

Love your Kids

 

When I had my first child, I had this idea that serving God meant going out and sharing the gospel or volunteering at my church or with an organization. Even though, these are ways we can serve God, I found them to be extremely impractical and not very doable with a small child.

As I struggled with what God wanted me to do, I read the following verse:

“For whoever gives you a cup of water to drink in My name, because you belong to Christ, assuredly, I say to you, he will by no means lose his reward.”
‭‭Mark‬ ‭9:41‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ 

This verse showed me that it’s not so much what I do, but why I am doing something. This verse says: whoever does……. in My name.. will not lose his reward.

As a mother, we do things for others all day long. We change diapers, feed children, play with them and snuggle them. If we do these things in His name then we are serving God.

Our attitude while we do something is key!

I was so worried about serving God that I was missing the point. I had an opportunity to love God in every moment of my day by loving my children and serving them in His name.

 

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Support your Husband

 

As a family, sometimes it’s not going to be me who can go to meetings or events or anything else– those things might land on my husband.

It’s easy to feel resentment and say: why does he get to go out and do…… while I stay home?

This sort of resentment can affect your marriage and your love of service.

For a couple of years, my husband was out every Wednesday night to serve God in a way he felt called. He would go straight from work to service and would not come home until very late.

These nights were hard on me but thought me something important.

If I made it hard for my husband to serve or did not “hold the fort” while He was away, then he would not be able to serve God either.

Sometimes serving God means you do what you can to support others while they serve.

As a mom, that might mean you stay home more nights so your husband can go to committee meetings or other service opportunities. By making it easy for our husbands to serve, we are supporting them in their obedience to God.

Serve Where You Are

 

I love finding different ways to serve. But, I find the easiest way to serve is to incorporate it into things I am already doing.

Every Tuesday I go to a moms and tots program at my church. Last year, the lady who was setting things up had to step down because she could not come anymore. Since I still wanted a place to go on Tuesdays, I volunteered to set up. I now drop my oldest child at the buss stop and then go to church. There, I set up the chairs and make the coffee and turn on the lights.

Tuesdays were already part of my schedule. So, I did not have to add another activity or move things around. An opportunity came up and I took it.

So, if you’re wondering what you can do to serve God, start looking at what you’re already doing and see if there is a need you can fill.

Setting up chairs and making coffee is not that much work, but doing it creates a place moms can come with their kids and fellowship with other adults. It’s been a blessing to me and I know it is to others.

 

God wants us to serve Him out of joy and love for Him, not because we feel guilty or want to impress others.

The first place to start is looking is our attitude.

You are already doing many good things, but if we shift our attitude and do those things for God, then our lives can be full of service.

 

How do you serve God as a stay at home mom?

 

anne

 

 

 

 

Anne Markey is the blogger behind One Determined Life where she writes about marriage, parenting, faith and life. She is a wife of 10 years, a mother of 3 kids and a follower of Christ.

You can follow Anne on Pinterest or Facebook.

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10 Comments

  • Reply
    Kristen
    May 26, 2017 at 8:51 am

    Love your suggestions! #3 is my favourite and the one I have to take advantage of in this age and stage of my life.

  • Reply
    Marya
    May 26, 2017 at 4:56 pm

    The best way to serve Him is to do whatever we’re doing with all our hearts. Admittedly, I struggle with this most days!

  • Reply
    Danielle @ A Sprinkle of Joy
    May 28, 2017 at 7:17 am

    These are great tips! Supporting your husband reminds me of a book I heard about “How not to hate your husband after kids”. While I don’t think touches on the God aspect of supporting your husband, I’m sure it does address how to help your husband (and maybe how he can help you, since as the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup”. Many of the moms in my moms club said it was a game changer. I hope to read it soon.

  • Reply
    Edie
    June 5, 2017 at 6:55 am

    I am a new SAHM and this was so encouraging! Thanks for sharing!

    • Reply
      terryn
      June 5, 2017 at 7:58 am

      Aww, congratulations! I’m so glad you found it helpful. Enjoy that little one!

  • Reply
    Ashley
    January 29, 2020 at 2:07 pm

    This answer the many questions I had. I even teared up because this is a relief for me. Thank you.

  • Reply
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    Angie
    October 19, 2020 at 12:43 am

    Hello I really enjoyed reading this article and Want to know how I can share this on Instagram, there’s no direct link on the page

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    Te Rihimana Winikerei
    May 22, 2021 at 12:06 am

    Thank you for this. I have been struggling lately and this was exactly what I needed to read ??

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