“I feel useless.”

I’ve said these words sincerely twice in my life. Once when I was recuperating from major surgery, and the other when I was mothering young children. In both instances my busy life underwent a drastic change, and I was no longer able to “do” as I had always done.

I no longer have young children running around in my house 24/7, but my daughter does. And my neighbor does. And the young women in my circles do.

As I prayed for them today, God reminded me of a devotion that came out of my “useless” years. I share it today in hope that God, not I, will use it to encourage these young women who are shepherding our world’s children.

If you are one of those mighty warriors, I pray you’ll feel God’s smile. If you’re not in this season of life right now, would you take time to pray for someone you know who is? Then forward this devotion on to them so they’ll be encouraged, too.

Pleasing the Warrior King

 He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.

Isaiah 40:11

The early chapters of the book of Isaiah describe a scene that would make the most epic 3-D film look like a kindergartener’s cartoon. Isaiah describes smoke, thunderous noise, and angelic multitudes crying out in praise before almighty God in His temple. A glimpse of God in His throne room fills Isaiah with awe and fear. “Woe to me!” he cries. “I am ruined!” (Isaiah 6:5).

Other Scriptures reinforce this image of God, picturing Him as the conquering King, righteous Judge, mighty Warrior, and powerful Sovereign. They describe how the oceans churn or quiet at God’s command. One word from God speaks the world into existence. Another has the power to send it up in smoke. With a flick of His mighty arm, thunderbolts fly from heaven. An angry glance from His all-seeing eyes causes the earth to swallow those who disobey His commands.

“See,” Isaiah 40:10 reads, “the Sovereign Lord comes with power, and he rules with a mighty arm.”

No doubt about it, God is strong. And God is active.

I’ve always admired these attributes of God (even though I find them more than slightly terrifying), because I like strength and activity. I’m a doer, not a sitter. These character traits fit well with my assumption that God expects me to be like Him and work hard on His behalf.

But then I had children.

And my busy, do-lots-of-stuff-for-God life came to a screeching halt. Forget teaching a class, working on the bus ministry, or helping with every function the church sponsored. I could barely get myself and my baby dressed and out the door to attend worship on Sundays. Then my baby had colic (to which I wouldn’t subject any nursery worker in the world). After colic, she had separation anxiety. She was three years old before she’d go into a toddler class so I could attend adult Sunday School again. Six months later, her sister was born, and I was again barely making it to church on Sundays.

My days of do-it-all ministry had come to an end. As far as the kingdom was concerned, I was useless. A taker instead of a giver. A dead weight on the gospel ship. My heart sank to think how disappointed God must be with me.

Then I read Isaiah 40:11:

“He tends his flock like a shepherd. He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.”

Suddenly, I understood that the mighty Warrior is also a tender shepherd. The conquering King stoops down to lift the fragile and the frail. The righteous Judge carries His children, not as a burden on His back, but as a treasure near His heart. The powerful Sovereign gently leads those who are emotionally tender and physically sapped. Boy, did that describe me in those early childrearing years.

Through Isaiah’s beautiful picture of God, I learned I didn’t have to be productive for God to love me. I didn’t have to perform to earn His favor. I was free to accept what I saw as my season of “inactivity,” knowing God had not only ordained it, but had a good plan for it. In His tenderness, He would carry me through my season of mothering if I would rest in Him and allow Him to lead me.

Isaiah’s picture of God gently leading those with young gave me permission to be frail and vulnerable, knowing that He wouldn’t drive me with His rod, but lead me with His shepherd’s crook.

My children are grown now, and I’m “busy” for the Lord again. As I look back on those childrearing years, I see that they were not fruitless. Once I realized that different seasons of life bring new and different opportunities to minister, I was free to embrace each season instead of chafe at it. I learned to look for ways to be Jesus’s hands and feet wherever I was, knowing that each day was ripe with potential.

And I never again worried that I wasn’t productive enough to satisfy Him.

Uncommon Thought

We can rest in the fact that the great I Am is not frustrated by our frailties or impatient with our humanity. Instead, He leads us like a shepherd all the way through our earthly journey.

Unusual Faith

Think a moment about your perception of God. Do you see Him as a stern taskmaster, demanding and hard to please? Or do you see Him as a shepherd, gentle and understanding toward your frailties? Do you feel as though you never measure up? That you can’t do enough to please Him, especially if you’re in a season of life that feels unproductive?

Spend time meditating on Isaiah 40:11. Imagine yourself as the lamb the prophet writes about. Picture yourself in the arms of the Savior, carried close to His heart. Ask God to lead you into a greater understanding of His love and care for you. Then follow where He leads you, trusting that He will use you for His glory, no matter your season of life.

For More, Read Isaiah 40:9–13.

*This devotion is an excerpt from Refresh Your Faith, Uncommon Devotions from Every Book of the Bible and is used with permission from Our Daily Bread Publishing.

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Did you enjoy this devotion? I’d be honored if you’d share it with a young mother who needs encouragement. If you’d like to read more uncommon devotions from every book of the Bible, please check out my book, Refresh Your Faith. (See below for more details.)

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Refresh Your Faith contains 66 culturally relevant, story-driven devotions, one from each book of the Bible. Each real-life story spotlights an unusual verse or Bible passage that you may have overlooked in your usual Bible reading. Lori Hatcher challenges you with additional features like an uncommon thought to ponder; an unusual faith action step; and an unfamiliar passage suggestion for additional Bible reading.

When the fabulous has become familiar and your quiet times are more like nap times, it’s time to step out of spiritual boredom and ignite the spark that will keep you growing. No matter where you are on your faith journey, Lori’s conversational and engaging style will challenge you to think about things you’ve never thought about before.

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