Episode 117: Finding Your Ministry in the Season of Motherhood—with Jessica Hurlbut
Years ago, when our oldest son was just a toddler, I (Joanna) was deep in the trenches as a stay-at-home mom. I had become engrossed in motherhood, and my world had shrunk to diaper changes and late-night wakings. I could not imagine serving God in any kind of ministry beyond our front door.
While motherhood is absolutely a priceless gift from God, it’s important to remember that before we are mothers, we are daughters of the King. Even through the challenges of parenting, He is still inviting us to live out our full calling. Sometimes, what we initially think of as limitations on our lives turn out to be the very things that qualify us for what God is calling us to do next.
Helping us explore the challenges and callings of motherhood is Jessica Hurlbut. She’s a wife, author, speaker, pastor, and the mom to five kids. She’s also the host of The Full Spectrum Parent, a podcast serving parents of autistic children.
In this episode, Jessica shares:
- How God can shift our perspective in this season of life
- Lessons she has learned through her children’s autism diagnoses
- Encouragement to see beyond our current limitations
- And much more!
We hope you enjoy this conversation!
Links:
- [BOOK] Unlimited Motherhood: Overcome 12 Limits That Overwhelm and Conflict Our Hearts
- Jessica’s podcast: Full Spectrum Parent
- Connect with Jessica on her website, Facebook, or Instagram
Our Takeaways:
1) Motherhood gives us a new perspective. There are few professions that teach us what it truly means to put the needs of another person before our own. Being a parent is one of them. It is through motherhood that we learn what self-sacrifice really looks like. Through experiencing this, we can gain a more complete understanding of what Christ has done for us through salvation and sanctification.
2) Motherhood is synonymous with ministry. Too often, we feel as though motherhood disqualifies us from having a ministry outside the home. We are either too overwhelmed, too tired, or too busy to invest our time and energy anywhere else. While there are some real limits that come along with motherhood, it can also cause us to cross paths with others that we would not have otherwise. Consider all the new spaces you have a reason to frequent now that you are a parent—doctors’ offices, parks, playgrounds, libraries, and more. It may just be that motherhood is opening the door to new ministry opportunities for you—and equipping you with the skills you need to walk into those doors.
3) Learn to lean on the Lord. During one’s season of motherhood, it becomes even more important to find time to listen to the voice of God. Quiet times may look different than how they did prior to parenting. Even if you can only take a few short moments of silence before our Heavenly Father, it’s important to connect with Him as you navigate all the joys, challenges, and questions that come hand in hand with being a mother.
Meet Our Guest
Jessica Hurlbut is a pastor, author, speaker, podcast host, and mom to five. She spent nine years in the trenches of full-time ministry until her daughter was diagnosed with level three autism. Four years later, Jessica’s son was also diagnosed with severe autism. This season Jessica refers to as her hidden years, where God did a great and humbling work in her life. In her latest book, Unlimited Motherhood, Jessica shares what it’s like to feel overwhelmed and limited by the demands on our lives as moms while also challenging us to something more.
