Embracing Sacrifice in Faith, Marriage, and Motherhood: A Personal Journey
As a Christian, a wife, and a mother, each of these roles has taught me the profound and often difficult lesson of sacrifice. It’s something I knew I would face, but I never imagined just how heavy the weight would feel on my mental and emotional health. The truth is, walking in faith isn’t always easy, but it’s in the struggles where we experience the most profound growth.
Sacrificing my will: The Battle Between Flesh and Spirit
In my journey of faith, one of the hardest concepts to embrace has been the idea of “death to self.” The battle between my flesh and my spirit is a constant struggle, and yet, it’s through this struggle that I’ve learned to let go of what doesn’t align with God's purpose for my life. While I’m far from perfect, I lean on God’s grace and favor, trusting that His plan for me is greater than any path I might choose on my own.
Over time, I’ve had to make difficult decisions to walk away from habits, environments, and relationships that didn’t nurture my relationship with Christ. It hasn’t been easy, but it’s been necessary. I’ve learned to be slow to anger and even slower to speak, focusing on loving others. My life has become less about seeking to be served and more about serving others, making time and energy to build a heart within me and a community around me that loves others and honors Christ.
Perhaps the hardest part has been letting go of my own ambitions, dreams, and plans that don’t align with God’s will. Trusting that His plan for my life is better than anything I could imagine is no small feat. In the process of surrendering these dreams, I’ve often found myself grappling with doubt, regret, and the painful “what ifs” that seem to linger.
Yet, I love God deeply for all He’s done for me, and I’ve come to understand that all He asks is for me to deny my flesh and take up my cross. And let me tell you, that cross can feel *incredibly* heavy. It carries my weaknesses, my failed ambitions, and my unmet dreams. But in accepting it, I find peace in knowing I do not carry it alone. God walks with me, and His promise of eternal life far outweighs any fleeting desire of the flesh.
Sacrificing my desires
Every day, my flesh dies a little more. But from the ashes of disappointment, regret, and letting go of my former self, has emerged a much better version of me. I’ve realized that many of the things I once clung to—ambitions and desires—would have never truly fulfilled the deeper, more hungry parts of me. Those things that could have become idols in my life instead withered away, and in their place, I’ve found the strength to walk closer to Christ.
It’s through this sacrifice that I’ve grown, and though it hasn’t always been easy, I’ve come to realize it’s a sacrifice that leads to greater peace, purpose, and fulfillment than anything I could have imagined before.
Marriage: Self-Sacrifice
Then there’s marriage—a beautiful but incredibly challenging aspect of my life. At 21, I entered this covenant, blissfully unaware of the emotional, mental, and spiritual baggage I was carrying. I was immature in many ways, but I was deeply in love. Marriage, as it turns out, is a daily lesson in self-sacrifice.
From the beginning, it’s been a commitment to put my husband’s needs before my own, just as he does for me. Throw children into the mix, and the layers of sacrifice only deepen. I’ve felt every ounce of that weight. Even more so, I had to sacrifice the choice of not doing the work to grow. I had to!
Perhaps the most significant sacrifice has been learning how to love sacrificially. There have been times when my patience has been tested, and many moments when I’ve had to lay down my own desires for the sake of our relationship. Yet, in doing so, I’ve found that marriage has become a mirror, reflecting back to me the areas where I need to grow. My husband, through the work of the Holy Spirit, has been a tool of transformation in my life. He sees my weaknesses, my pain, and my growth areas, and he prays for me and supports me through the journey.
It hasn’t always been easy—there’s been anger, frustration, and moments where we felt like we were stuck in a cycles. But marriage, through all the challenges, has also offered me the greatest opportunities for growth and healing. Together, we’ve faced difficulties, confronted past trauma, and worked on building healthy communication. Together, we overcome adversities, even those self inflicted and grown into better versions of ourselves. So many of the most difficult sacrifices made, did not feel good at the time, but the fruits of today were grown from the seeds of our sacrifice.
Parenting: The Ultimate Sacrifice
Add children into the equation, and the weight of sacrifice increases exponentially. The physical, emotional, and mental toll of motherhood is unlike any other challenge. I’ve sacrificed my time, my body, my career, and my personal goals in ways I never could have imagined. But with each sacrifice, I’ve discovered deeper reservoirs of love, patience, and resilience.
Being a mother has taught me about the beauty of selfless giving, about the importance of modeling faith, love, and grace to my children. And while I’ve had moments of doubt, wondering if I’m doing enough or sacrificing too much, I can honestly say that there has never been a time I regret the sacrifices I’ve made for my marriage and my family.
Embracing Grace and Taking It One Day at a Time
In the midst of the chaos, I remind myself daily that it’s okay to lean on grace, to ask for help, and to take life one day at a time. There are days when the weight of sacrifice feels too heavy, and I have to surrender it all over again to God. There are moments when I feel I've sacrificed too much, moments I feel there's nothing left. But through faith, community, and the love of my family, I’m learning to navigate this journey with greater joy, peace, and purpose.
At the end of the day, we are all walking this path together—navigating the beautiful chaos of life, love, and faith. Sacrifice has changed me, molded me, transformed and strengthened me.
And though the sacrifices may be difficult, they lead us to a deeper understanding of who God has created us to be and the incredible life He has planned for us
Key Takeaways:
- Embrace the process of sacrifice: While challenging, sacrificing personal desires and ambitions can lead to growth and greater fulfillment in your walk with Christ.
- Trust in God's greater plan: Let go of dreams that don’t align with His will, and trust that His plans for your life are far greater than anything you could imagine.
- Marriage and motherhood teach selflessness: Both require daily sacrifices, but they also provide opportunities for growth, healing, and love.
- Lean on grace: It’s okay to ask for help, to make mistakes, and to trust that God is walking with you through every step of the journey.
In the end, it’s through sacrifice that we find the true freedom and peace that only God can provide.
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