Prayer, Trust, and Promises: Becoming the Mother God Designed You to Be

Motherhood's journey is rarely smooth sailing. Through the powerful biblical story of Hannah, Pastor Purity Muthoni reminds us that even godly mothers face problems—and shows us exactly how to navigate them with grace and faith.

Drawing from 1 Samuel, Pastor Purity dismantles the dangerous myth that godly living shields us from difficulties. Instead, she reveals how Hannah's painful struggle with infertility and the mockery of Peninnah became the crucible that forged her extraordinary faith. For every mother who has faced her own "Peninnah"—whether infertility, difficult relationships, challenging children, or other heartaches—this message offers profound hope.

Pastor Purity unpacks five transformative characteristics of godly motherhood: facing problems with courage, praying through pain, trusting God's provision (even when it looks different than expected), keeping promises despite the cost, and praising God in all circumstances. Her warm, pastoral guidance reassures mothers they don't have to face their challenges alone.

This Mother's Day message speaks to women in every stage of motherhood, offering biblical wisdom that transcends cultural expectations. Whether you're struggling with overwhelm, wondering if your prayers are making a difference, or simply seeking to raise children who will serve the Lord, Pastor Purity's words will uplift your spirit and renew your vision for godly motherhood.

Ready to transform your motherhood journey through the power of prayer and God's promises? Listen now and discover how your greatest challenges can become pathways to deeper faith and unexpected blessings.

Thank you for joining us in this episode of In the Field Audio Bible, where we explore the richness of God’s Word, one chapter at a time. We hope today’s reading brought insight, comfort, or inspiration to your journey of faith.

We’d love to hear your thoughts and questions! Feel free to send us a text to let us know how In the Field Audio Bible is impacting your faith journey. Until next time, may God’s Word guide and bless you.

Episode Transcript

Pastor Purity Muthoni (00:09):
Praise the Lord.
Praise the Lord.
My name is Pastor PurityMuthoni.
I'm born again.
I love the Lord for sustainingmy salvation.
I'm a mother, widow, blessedwith two children, and I thank

(00:32):
God because of that.
I'm pastoring a church calledthe Pool of Healing Ministry,
where we are located in Nairobi,Kenya.
Happy Mother's Day to all mumsout there.
I wish you all the best and Ilove you.

(00:57):
My sermon today.
I just want to speak aboutbeing a godly mum, and it will
come from the book of 1 Samuel 1.
The whole verse, but I'm notgoing to read all of it.
I will be reading where I amusing, and I just want to start

(01:32):
by saying being a mom today is atough job.
It is hard, it causes sleeplessnights and it brings more than
your share of trouble into yourlife, considering the often
thankless job of raising kids.
But God has designed moms witha caring heart and so.

(01:54):
But even so, even though Ibelieve God has designed moms to
have a heart and love for theirkids, it is still hard to be a
mom sometimes, and even harderto be a mom that glorifies the
Lord.
But this morning, I honor allthe moms here.
Today we are going to look at awoman who is a model of

(02:18):
motherhood and learn from her inhow moms can be godly moms.
And that's why I am sayingturning with me in, first is
someone.
Verse one, two a, and when youread that the story, you will

(02:40):
see erkanah had two wives,Hannah and Peninnah.
And the Bible says Peninnah hadchildren but Hannah had none.
And every year when Elkanahwent to worship and offer
sacrifices to the Lord Almightyat Shiloh, where Hophni and

(03:05):
Phinehas, the two sons of Eli,were priests of the Lord, this
time Elkanah offered a sacrifice.
He would give one share of themeat to Peninnah and one share

(03:26):
to each of her children and eventhough he loved Hannah very
much, he would give only theshare because the Lord had kept
her from having the children.
But what I want us to see hereis a godly mom will face

(03:51):
problems and that's why you seein the Bible it is very
encouraging Anna could not getchildren, but Peninnah had
children.
I think too often people arethinking, and the moms in

(04:11):
particular, that if problems inmy life, I must have been living
in a godly way and I must be abad mom.
But this is a lie straight fromthe Satan.

Because John 16 (04:25):
33, it says I have told you these things so
that in me you may have peace Inthis world.
You will have trouble, but takeheart, I have overcome the
world.
And also, Paul says in 2Timothy 3:12, in fact, everyone

(04:48):
who wants to live a godly lifein Christ Jesus will be
persecuted.
Through the Bible we see peoplewho are striving to live for God
, who are facing problems.
If you look at Joseph, he facedproblems.
Moses, Joshua, Esther, and herewe see Hannah also.

(05:09):
Hannah face faces a problembecause we see that Hannah has
been the Rikana and two wivesand Hannah could not get
children, but Peninnah could getchildren.
And when you read all the storyof Peninnah and Hannah, you
will see when Hannah faced a lotof problems because even

(05:33):
Peninnah could mock Hannah, hewas provoking her in order to
irritate her.
That was the Bible says.
He provoked Hannah.
When you read verse 6 and verse7, you will see Peninnah
provoking Hannah until Hannahcould not eat food.

(05:59):
He was crying until he couldnot even be able to eat until,
uh, Ellie could ask Hannah if heis not important to him than
the the sons.
I am here to encourage manywomen.
There are so many women who arepassing through fire, through

(06:23):
problems, through situations,being pushed by Peninnah,
because, Peninnah, they arethere to push you, Peninnah,
they are there to provoke you.
I can see Peninnah tellingHannah change for me my baby
diapers, irritating Peninnahuntil Hannah could have gotten

(06:47):
the depression.
Because I know, even some of uswomen, we are passing through
fire, we are passing throughproblems, problems from our
children, problems from ourhusbands.
But I am here to tell you pusheverything through prayer,
because because to be a godlymom or a godly person does not

(07:12):
mean that you are not going toto have problems.
You are going to have problem,but you need to know that you
and you, we don't have to facethem alone.
And just because you faceproblems does not mean that you
are not loved by the Lord.
But what do we do in thosemoments?

(07:32):
We should take our problemsthrough prayer.
Like Hannah, Hannah went througha lot.
She was Hannah wept, weptmuch, and they prayed to the
d,lor the bitterness of our soul, but the bible says and they

(07:52):
vowed.
So when you are in a problem,don't learn away, don't fight
anybody.
Take your problems to Godthrough prayer.
Number two, ungodly mom prays.
That's why I'm talking aboutprayer.
Hannah was pouring out her soulto the Lord.

If you read in 1 Samuel 1 (08:12):
9- 16, you will see she had some
real problems that were causingher pain and her ghost.
But instead of giving up, shelooked up.
She looked up to God in prayer,hallelujah.

(08:34):
Difficult circumstances in ourlife teach us to persevere and
they help us to mature and relyon God.

In James 1 (08:42):
2- 4 it says "Consider it pure joy, my
brothers, wherever you facestruggles of many kinds, because
you know that the testing ofyour faith develops perseverance
, and perseverance must finishits work so that you may be
mature and complete, not lackinganything.

(09:05):
So the grace of God issufficient to you, my people,
for my power is made perfect.
In weaknesses, in everyweakness that we have, let us go
to God through prayer.

(09:27):
That is where Hannah is andthat's what Hannah did.
Go to God with your problem,pray that through whatever you
are experiencing, that God willgrow you, and pray for God to
change things.
He can make a way, he can andhe does.

(09:47):
Hannah did not turn away fromGod in a problem, but she turned
to God with a problem.
Be a godly mom and express whatyou are feeling to God in
prayer.
Be an example to your children.
Being in a relationship withGod does not mean putting on a
show that everything is okaywhen it is not okay.

(10:11):
Being in a relationship withGod means being real in
expressing how you are trulyfeeling to God and asking for
his help In dealing with it.
That is what Hannah did.
That is what you should do.
We need to be praying Ineverything.

(10:31):
Let us continue in the CL.
Another thing, number three.
A godly mom trusts in God'sprovision.
Now, yes, god did bless Hannahand provide a child for her.
And yes, God does change ourcircumstances, sometimes a part

(10:53):
of his provision, but sometimeshe does not change our
circumstances.
But he still provides for uscircumstances, but he still
provided for us.
Remember what we just readregarding power done in his
flesh second collision 12 9 mygrace is sufficient for you, for
my power is made perfect inweaknesses.

(11:15):
God did not take away thecircumstances of pa, but he
provided for him through hisgrace.
Now look at verse 18 in 1Samuel, verse 1.
Before she came pregnant,before she even could have been
pregnant, God provided peace forHannah.

(11:37):
She went away and ate somethingand her face was no longer
downcast.
If you read in verse 18.
As we trust in Jesus forsalvation and grow in that

(11:57):
relationship and pour out ourhearts to the Lord, the Lord,
God, cares and provides for usthrough the peace that only he
can provide.
And that's why the Bible saysin Philippians 4: 6-7, do not be

(12:19):
anxious about anything, but ineverything, by prayer and
petition with thanksgiving.
But in everything, by prayerand petition with thanksgiving,
present your request to God, andthe peace of God, which
transits all understanding, willguard your heart and your mind
in Christ Jesus.
God's provision does notnecessarily change our

(12:50):
circumstances, although wecertainly can ask that, but
God's provision does change us.
We still may not understandanything, but we don't need to.
Instead, we know everythingthat we need to know that God
cares for us and he is workingout His will in our life.
And that is the best place tobe the peace of God, which
transcends all understanding,that ungrateful God that we have

(13:13):
, who provided for us soabundantly.
And that's why the Bible saysin Paolo Paul, philippians 4,
11-.
Says in Paolo Paul, Philippians4: 11- 13 Paul learned this I
have learned to be contented,whatever the circumstances.

(13:34):
I know what it is to be in needand I know what it is what it
is to have plenty.
I have learned the secret ofbeing contented in any and every
situation, whether well-fed orhungry, whether living in a
plant or in want, I can doeverything through him, who

(14:00):
gives me strength?
Now, beyond that, we recognizethat God has desire to bless us
all well.
God, all the time.
We can trust Him to provideexactly what is best.
Let us continue reading and seewhat we can learn in fasting

(14:20):
somewhere.
Another thing a godly mom keepspromises.
Remember, back in verse 11, shemade a vow saying that if she
had a son, she would give him tothe Lord for all the days of

(14:41):
his life.
Hannah kept her promise and shemade to the Lord.
Now, imagine for a moment youhave been unable to have any
child for your whole life.
Now you have your first childand you give him over to the
Lord completely for his service.
That must have been extremelyhard for her.

(15:03):
Yes, she knew that the Lordwanted him.
We glorify the Lord, even whenthe Lord, when he keeps our word
, even when it hurts, you needto keep your promise.
When you promise to dosomething to your husband.
Do it when you promise.
Do something to your children,do it.
Do it.

Psalm 15 (15:22):
1-4.
Lord, who may dwell in yoursanctuary?
Who may live on your holy hill?
Who keeps his oath even when ithurts?
The goal of every mother hereshould be to raise your children
to trust in the Lord and servehim, even if it requires

(15:45):
sacrifice for you.
Now it does not necessarilyhave to be in what we call
full-time Christian ministry,but whatever we do, we need to
be serving the Lord, whether itis at our workplace, in our
neighborhoods or in our homes.
We need to be teaching our kidsto serve and walk in the ways

(16:07):
of the Lord.
This is the ultimate goal ofparenting.
Hannah did the thing that wouldbe best for her son in the long
run, even though it was painfulfor her in the short land.
Godly moms are women of theirword.

(16:29):
Yes, godly man, godly womandoes not change his word.
He continues with the worduntil he finishes what he
ungrates.
Finally, when we are livinggodly lives, even as we are
experiencing problems, we prayand we have received the Lord's

(16:52):
provision and kept our promises.
We find that.
And godly moms praises the Lord, and that's why, when you read

in 1 Samuel 2 (17:02):
1-2, you will see .
Then Hannah prayed and said myheart rejoices in the Lord.
In the Lord, my horn is liftedhigh, my mouth boasts over my
enemies, for I delight in yourdeliverance.
There is no one, there is noone holy like the Lord.

(17:23):
There is no one besides you.
There is no one besides you.
There is no lock like our God.
Hannah praises the Lord becauseshe knew that in God had
blessed her and that someone asblessed as was blessed of the
Lord, she knew it was completelyin God's hand, the hand of the

(17:44):
one completely in God's hand,the hands of the one that she
could completely trust, that hadthrown her clothes, that had
her in distress, that providedfor her and that has blessed her
.
This was the God she couldtrust with the most valuable

(18:07):
earthly possessions, even when ason, even a son.
This is also the God you cantrust.
This is the God who wants todraw you close and listen to you
in the distress and give youpeace and bless you.
Moms, no matter whatcircumstances you are facing

(18:30):
today, you don't have to face italone.
I will repeat it again nomatter the circumstances,
mothers, that you are passingthrough today, you don't have to
face it alone through today.
You don't have to face it alonebeing a mom.
It is a tough job and he hasdesigned you to be able to

(18:52):
accomplish it with the help of aloving God.
But my question is for you ishave you been seeking His help
and His provision?
To seek His help and hisprovision, to seek his, his help
and provision, you need to be arelationship with him.
Are you in a relationship withthe one who can provide what you

(19:15):
need?
You need Jesus Christ.
You need him to pray to, toprovide for you, to place, but
mostly to have salvation for you, if you like.
Uh, that's why I started sayinguh, we need to be a prayer of
women, like the way Hannah was,and the and the true prayer.

(19:41):
Through prayer, all things thatHannah was passing through,
they all, they all come outvictoriously.
She become out as a winner.
She got her son Samuel and shedid all the things that that she
was supposed to do.

(20:01):
And that's why I am closing bysaying and godly mom, praises
the Lord when you are blessedwith that asphalt.
Praise the Lord when you areblessed with the food.
Praise the Lord when you arenot struggling.
Praise the Lord when you lookat your children and they are

(20:21):
well.
Praise the Lord Even for thosechildren that are dank.
May you praise the Lord,hallelujah, and I know God will
bless you and give you victoryIn whatever you do.
So I am ending by saying I ampraying for you, mamas.
Moms, wherever they are, youare blessed and I am again

(20:45):
saying happy Mother's Day.
May the Lord bless you.
May the Lord shower theblessings upon you like the way
he showered to Hannah.
May the Lord fight all yourbattles like the way he fighted
to Hannah.
May the Lord give you provision.
May the Lord give you energyeven to pray.

(21:08):
May the Lord bless you.

(21:28):
May the Lord give you victory.
Moms, I love you.
May the Lord give you victoryand may the Lord bless you.
In the mighty name of Jesus, Ipray and I believe, and
everybody say Amen.