Embracing God's Story: The Vocation of Motherhood
Summary
Motherhood is a profound vocation, woven into the very fabric of God’s story for humanity. From the very beginning, God created us to work, to tend, to nurture, and to rest—reflecting His own creative nature. Our daily work, whether in the home, in our careers, or in our relationships, is not random or insignificant; it is part of the good work God has prepared for us as new creations in Christ. On this Mother’s Day, we reflect on the unique calling of mothers and those who nurture, recognizing that our identity and purpose are not defined by the stories others tell about us, but by the story God speaks over us.
The world is quick to assign labels and stories to us, often based on our circumstances, our successes, or our failures. Like the tiny teddies with their different personalities and names, we are each given stories by those around us—sometimes before we even realize it. Yet, the invitation is to live in God’s story, to let His voice be the one that shapes our identity and our vocation.
We see this powerfully in the lives of Hannah and Mary. Hannah, who endured years of disappointment and longing, was seen by others as barren and sorrowful. But in God’s story, she became a woman of faith and purpose, rejoicing in God’s provision. Mary, a young woman facing social rejection and confusion, chose to magnify the Lord and rejoice in His faithfulness, even when her circumstances seemed overwhelming. Both women allowed God’s story to define them, and in doing so, they shaped the faith of their households and generations to come.
Jesus Himself experienced the tension between the stories spoken over Him by others and the story God had written for Him. He was misunderstood, rejected, and falsely accused, yet He remained rooted in the truth of who He was and the mission God had given Him. This is the invitation for all who nurture and lead—whether mothers, fathers, friends, or mentors—to speak God’s story over those in our care, to remind them of who they are in Christ, and to live out our vocation with grace.
Grace is the foundation of our calling. We are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, not by our own merit but as a gift of His love. Whatever grace we need—kindness, patience, self-control, joy, or simply the assurance of being loved—we can receive it from God, who knows us perfectly and calls us to walk confidently in His story.
Key Takeaways
- Our vocation is not limited to our job titles or roles, but is the sum of our daily work and relationships, all of which are opportunities to reflect God’s creative and redemptive work in the world. Embracing this perspective transforms even the most ordinary tasks into sacred acts of service and worship. [51:15]
- The stories others tell about us—whether affirming or diminishing—do not define our true identity. Like Hannah and Mary, we are invited to listen to God’s voice above all, allowing His story to shape our sense of self and our purpose. This requires intentional reflection and a willingness to let go of false narratives. [55:09]
- The prayers and songs of faith spoken by those who nurture—mothers, fathers, mentors—become the spiritual foundation for the next generation. What we speak over our households matters deeply; our words can either reinforce the world’s stories or anchor our loved ones in God’s truth and grace. [01:01:40]
- Jesus models for us how to remain rooted in God’s story, even when faced with misunderstanding, rejection, or temptation. His steadfastness reminds us that our vocation is not about seeking our own desires, but about aligning ourselves with God’s will and trusting in His sufficiency. [01:03:48]
- Grace is both the starting point and the sustaining power for our vocation. We are not called to strive in our own strength, but to receive the unmerited favor of God, who equips us for every good work He has prepared. Whatever grace we lack—be it love, patience, or assurance of our identity—God freely gives, enabling us to walk confidently in His story. [01:13:33]
Youtube Chapters
[00:00] - Welcome
[51:15] - Understanding Vocation: Work and Rest
[52:53] - The Tiny Teddies Analogy
[54:24] - Stories We Receive and Believe
[55:09] - Living in God’s Story
[56:26] - Hannah’s Story: Disappointment and Faith
[57:40] - Hannah’s Prayer and God’s Provision
[58:47] - God’s Story for Hannah
[59:52] - Mary’s Story: Social Rejection and Faith
[01:01:40] - The Magnificat: Mary’s Song
[01:02:58] - Jesus and Competing Stories
[01:03:48] - Jesus’ Faithfulness to God’s Story
[01:04:47] - The Vocation of Motherhood
[01:06:05] - Prayers that Remind Us Who God Is
[01:12:02] - Grace for Our Calling
[01:12:37] - Created for Good Works
[01:13:33] - Receiving the Grace We Need
[01:14:20] - Living Confidently in God’s Story
Study Guide
Bible Study Discussion Guide: Living in God’s Story – The Vocation of Motherhood
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### Bible Reading
1. 1 Samuel 1:9-20; 2:1-2, 7-8
(Hannah’s prayer and God’s provision)
2. Luke 1:46-55
(Mary’s song, the Magnificat)
3. Ephesians 2:8-10
(“For by grace you have been saved…created in Christ Jesus for good works”)
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### Observation Questions
1. In Hannah’s story (1 Samuel 1:9-20), what were some of the ways others described or misunderstood her? How did Hannah respond to her situation? [56:26]
2. When Mary sings her song in Luke 1:46-55, what are the main things she praises God for? What does this reveal about her understanding of God’s character? [59:52]
3. According to Ephesians 2:8-10, what is the source of our salvation and purpose? How does this passage describe the relationship between grace and good works? [01:12:02]
4. The sermon mentioned that Jesus also had stories spoken over Him by others. What were some of these stories, and how did Jesus remain rooted in God’s story for Him? [01:03:48]
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### Interpretation Questions
1. The world gave Hannah and Mary certain labels and stories, but God gave them a different identity and purpose. What does this suggest about where we should look for our sense of self and calling? [55:09]
2. Both Hannah and Mary responded to difficult circumstances with prayers and songs of faith. What role do these kinds of prayers and declarations play in shaping our own faith and the faith of those around us? [01:01:40]
3. Ephesians 2:8-10 says we are God’s workmanship, created for good works. How does understanding ourselves as “God’s workmanship” change the way we view our daily work and relationships? [01:12:37]
4. The sermon talked about the “stories” others speak over us versus the story God speaks over us. Why is it sometimes hard to let go of the world’s stories, and what helps us to listen to God’s voice instead? [55:09]
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### Application Questions
1. The sermon described how mothers, fathers, and mentors can speak God’s story over their households. What are some specific words or prayers you could begin speaking over your family or friends this week? [01:01:40]
2. Think about a label or story that others have spoken over you that doesn’t line up with God’s truth. What would it look like to intentionally let go of that story and embrace what God says about you? [55:09]
3. Hannah and Mary both faced disappointment, rejection, or misunderstanding, yet they chose to rejoice in God’s faithfulness. Is there a situation in your life right now where you need to shift your focus from your circumstances to God’s story? What would that look like? [59:52]
4. The sermon mentioned that even Jesus was misunderstood and rejected, but He stayed rooted in God’s will. When you face misunderstanding or rejection, how do you usually respond? What could help you stay grounded in God’s story for you? [01:03:48]
5. Ephesians 2:10 says we are created for good works God prepared for us. What is one “ordinary” task in your week that you could approach as a sacred act of service or worship? [51:15]
6. The sermon asked, “What is the grace you need from God today?” (patience, kindness, self-control, assurance, etc.). Take a moment to identify one area where you need God’s grace. How can you ask for and receive that grace this week? [01:13:33]
7. The analogy of the tiny teddies showed how we all get stories and labels from others. How can you be more intentional about listening to God’s story for you, and helping others do the same? [54:24]
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Closing Prayer Suggestion:
Invite group members to quietly name the grace they need from God right now, and pray for one another to receive and walk in God’s story this week.
Devotional
Day 1: Work as Part of God’s Design for Humanity
From the very beginning, God created humanity with a purpose to work, reflecting His own creative nature. Work is not just a means to an end or a burden to bear, but a vocation woven into the fabric of who we are as people made in God’s image. Whether in the garden, in our homes, or in our daily tasks, our work is a way to participate in God’s ongoing story of creation and care for the world. As we embrace both work and rest, we align ourselves with God’s rhythm and intention for our lives. [51:15]
Genesis 2:15 (ESV)
The Lord God took the man and put him in the garden of Eden to work it and keep it.
Reflection: How can you approach your daily work—whether at home, in your job, or in your relationships—as a way of participating in God’s creative and caring purposes today?
Day 2: God’s Story Overcomes the Stories Others Tell
So often, the world and those around us try to define our identity and worth by their own stories and expectations. Yet, God invites us to live in His story—a story of hope, faith, and purpose that transcends disappointment and labels. Like Hannah, who endured years of grief and misunderstanding, we are called to trust in God’s provision and to let His voice be the one that shapes our identity and future. When we listen to God’s story over our lives, we find strength and joy even in the midst of hardship. [57:40]
1 Samuel 2:1-2 (ESV)
And Hannah prayed and said, “My heart exults in the Lord; my horn is exalted in the Lord. My mouth derides my enemies, because I rejoice in your salvation. There is none holy like the Lord: for there is none besides you; there is no rock like our God.”
Reflection: What is one negative or limiting story you’ve believed about yourself, and how can you invite God to speak His truth over that area today?
Day 3: Rejoicing in God’s Faithfulness Amidst Uncertainty
Mary’s life was marked by confusion, social rejection, and uncertainty, yet she chose to magnify the Lord and rejoice in His faithfulness. Her prayer, echoing Hannah’s, reminds us that God sees us in our humble state and does great things for those who trust Him. Even when circumstances are unclear or difficult, we can choose to glorify God and trust that He is working out His purposes in and through us. [01:01:40]
Luke 1:46-49 (ESV)
And Mary said, “My soul magnifies the Lord, and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name.”
Reflection: In what area of your life do you feel uncertain or overlooked, and how can you choose to rejoice in God’s faithfulness there today?
Day 4: Speaking God’s Story Over Others
The words we speak over our children, family, and community have the power to shape their understanding of themselves and of God. Just as Mary’s faith and words became the foundation for Jesus’ early life, we are invited to speak truth, life, and faith over those entrusted to us. Whether you are a parent, mentor, or friend, your encouragement and prayers can help others live into God’s story for them, especially in times of struggle or doubt. [01:04:47]
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 (ESV)
And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise.
Reflection: Who is one person in your life you can intentionally speak God’s truth and encouragement over today, and what specific words will you share?
Day 5: Grace and Identity as God’s New Creation
Our confidence and vocation flow from knowing we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. This identity is not earned by our own efforts but is a gift of grace—God’s unmerited favor poured out on us. When we rest in this truth, we are empowered to walk in the good works God has prepared for us, secure in His love and sufficiency. Whatever your calling or season, God’s grace is enough for you today. [01:12:37]
Ephesians 2:8-10 (ESV)
For by grace you have been saved through faith. And this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God, not a result of works, so that no one may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, that we should walk in them.
Reflection: What is one area where you need to receive God’s grace and remember your identity as His beloved creation today?
Quotes
When we know we are God's, we can say yes to all he calls us to. When we know God's story of sufficiency and love and mercy over us, when we know we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works, which God prepared beforehand, we can walk in our vocation, whether that's motherhood or anything else that fills our days. [01:14:20] (27 seconds)
Ephesians chapter 2, verses 8 and 9 says this. For by grace you have been saved through faith. This is not your own doing. It is a gift. A gift of God. Not a result of work so that anyone may boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus for good works. [01:12:29] (25 seconds)
Grace, this unmerited favor. A gift from God. Not a result of work that we've done, but made for good work. This is part of being a new creation. We have good work to do, and not random work. Work that God had created and prepared for us to do, knowing us so perfectly. [01:12:59] (24 seconds)
Since the day you were born, your mother, father, maybe the teachers at school, your friends, everybody without you even being told, gives you a story. They tell you who you are and they will tell your story. Before long, you believe these stories. They become who you are and unknowingly you say, this is my story. This is who I am. But what if we lived in God's story of who we are? What if the one we listened to about our identity and who we are was God? [00:55:43] (43 seconds)
But God's story, the story Mary spoke over him as a baby and as a child, was the story he remained in. And he didn't seek whatever he wanted. He stuck with what God wanted. And this is the prayer that Jesus prayed. Our Father in heaven, hallowed be your name. Your kingdom come, your will be done on earth as it is in heaven. [01:04:07] (32 seconds)
Who God is, what he has done for us, and how I live in response. This is the work of motherhood. This is the work of following Jesus. For our days and activities, whatever that is, to be overlaid with who God is, and what he's done for us, and to live in response. [01:11:51] (22 seconds)
The vocation of motherhood reflects this beautifully, doesn't it? Whether you're a biological mother, a foster mom, a step mom, a grandmother, an auntie, a sparrant, a fabulous friend. We get to speak God's stories over our little people. We get to speak truth and life and faith over them. [01:04:47] (23 seconds)
Hannah's story was of disappointment and of grief. But God's story for Hannah was of faith and purpose and seeing God as her beautiful answer. She saw God's provision and her heart rejoiced because he was her rescuer. Such different stories. [00:59:13] (21 seconds)
Mary's story was one of confusion, social rejection, fear and relationship turmoil. But God's story for Mary, knowing that God was mindful of her. Her soul glorified the Lord and her spirit rejoiced. Mary exclaimed that God was mighty one and had done great things for her. What different stories. [01:01:14] (26 seconds)
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