Looking across the sanctuary she observes husbands and wives seated together with their children in tow. Sure, there are some single mothers scattered here and there, but for some reason she never seems to connect with them.
When her husband left, she resolved to keep going to church - mostly to give her children a sense of belonging and security. But if she were honest, she’d have to admit that she has to force herself to church, because it would be easier to stay at home.
Maybe you are that momma. Are you feeling alone as a single mom? Do you wonder if the effort it takes to have your kids in church is even worth it? I’m here to tell you, it is worth the trouble momma. And, you are not alone. Many single mothers have felt the sting of isolation in church. But the ones who have resolved to engage in their Christian community will be the first to tell you it is worth it. These women have chosen not to be wounded by the insensitivity of some who would judge them or leave them out of social family invitations. Rather, they’ve walked courageously with heads held high, trusting the Lord to guide their path toward a community of believers who will help them guide their children toward Christ. Easy? No. Worth it? Absolutely.
Down through the ages, God has used single moms to raise godly children. Acts 16:1 tells us Timothy’s mother, Eunice, had been married to a Greek man. We are not told whether Timothy’s father had been a Christian. The original Greek text of Acts 16:1 suggests Timothy’s Gentile father may have been dead by the time Eunice met the apostle Paul. Eunice may have been a widow, raising her son with the help of her mother. And God provided Paul as young Timothy’s father in the faith. The apostle impacted Eunice’s young son in a way she never could.
When it came time for Paul to hand the baton of ministry to the next generation, he gave it to his beloved Timothy. Wouldn’t you love for the Lord to send a godly “father in the faith” to prepare your son to minister to his generation? Have you asked the Lord? Will you ask Him now?
Whether you are married or a single mom, the more you expose your son to men who glorify the Lord, the more opportunities your son will have to develop his own identity through their godly influence.
Can you imagine the privilege of having the apostle Paul mentor your son? Not only did Paul disciple young Timothy, but he considered him a true son in the faith.
To encourage Timothy, Paul wrote two letters to the young man who won the honor of being Paul’s most cherished protege.*
When Paul faced his imminent death, the elder apostle expressed his great desire to see Timothy again once more before he died. How Timothy’s heart must have ached when he opened the precious letter from his father in the faith! How the tears must have streamed down Timothy’s face as he read Paul’s statement, “Greatly desiring to see you, being mindful of your tears” (2 Timothy 1:4).
With a sense of urgency, Paul penned a letter passing the mantle of his ministry to Timothy. All through the epistle of 2 Timothy, Paul delivered exhortations to Timothy to preach the gospel diligently, and to guard the sound doctrine he had received from the apostle. But before he laid out those instructions, Paul took time to celebrate the heritage of Timothy’s faith that came from two wonderful women:
“[I am] filled with joy, when I call to remembrance the genuine faith that is in you, which dwelt first in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice, and I am persuaded is in you also” (2 Timothy 1:4-5).
Paul’s statement acknowledged the contributions Timothy’s godly grandmother and mother made in preparing him to believe the gospel of Jesus Christ.
How incredible is that? The very mantel of Paul’s ministry was entrusted to a young man who had been equipped for his calling through the loving training of his single mother––and godly grandmother.
And God wants to use you to implant His truth in the heart of your children to make them ready to respond when He calls them to Christ.
You are in good company, single mom. When it might otherwise seem easier to pull away, may God grant you His courage and wisdom to press in to Christ and to His people.
*Excerpt from Rhonda’s book: Moms Raising Sons to Be Men (Harvest House Publishers)
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Meet the Author
Rhonda Stoppe’s messages weave Christian comedy and transparent stories together with sound biblical doctrine. As an author of 6 books and popular speaker, for more than 30 years, Rhonda has helped women build no regrets lives. Rhonda is a pastor’s wife, mother, grandmother, mom coach and marriage mentor. Rhonda is a favorite podcast guest and has appeared numerous times on Focus on the Family, and Dr. James Dobsons’ FamilyTalk.
The Life of a Single Mom is a national, faith-based, nonprofit that exists to see that no single mom walks alone. To date, the organization has worked with hundreds of churches to start a single mom’s support group in cities throughout the U.S. and beyond, as well as having served hundreds of thousands of single mothers with a variety of programs. Offering a large array of books, curriculum, training materials, online instructional videos, podcasts, newsletters, life skills education, and more, TLSM is one of the largest single mom organizations in the U.S. The robust selection of single mom programs focus on empowering single moms to grow spiritually, emotionally, financially, and parentally through Single Mom University, Single Moms Across America, the National TLSM Single Moms Conference, boot camps, and a variety of other programs. For more information, visit www.thelifeofasinglemom.com.
