Anchored in Him: A Mom's Guide to Enduring FaithSample

Welcome, amazing moms, to "Anchored in Him: A Mom's Guide to Enduring Faith"! Motherhood is a beautiful, demanding, and often unpredictable journey. We experience immense joy, but also face daily challenges, unexpected curveballs, and sometimes, deep pain. In this five-day devotional plan, we'll explore how to find unwavering strength and comfort in God, no matter what life throws our way. Each day, we'll dive into a powerful truth that will help you stay anchored in His love, renew your spirit, and discover the enduring faith that is available to you. Get ready to be encouraged, equipped, and reminded that you are never alone in this incredible adventure.

With love,

Vivian Barraza

Day 1: Your Beautiful Identity in Christ

Psalm 139:13-14 (NIV) says, "You formed my inmost being; you formed me in my mother's womb. I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made! Marvelous are your works, and I know them well!"

As a child, I compared myself to my cousins ​​because of our skin color. They were dark-skinned, with beautiful tans, and I was… very fair. I remember being at the beach, looking at them as we played, and sincerely wishing I had their skin tone. That insecurity stayed with me for years; even as a teenager, I used tanning beds. When I finally achieved the shade I longed for, I thought, "I finally look like I always dreamed!"

But God, in His grace, showed me that there was something more profound: I hadn't accepted how He created me.

Now, as the mother of a nine-year-old daughter, that lesson has served as a guide. She has more tanned skin than I do, and sometimes she asks me, "Mommy, why isn't my skin tone like yours?" We have beautiful conversations about what it means to be created by God, unique, intentional, and loved. I confidently told her something I struggled to believe for many years: "You are beautiful, just as God made you." And I see it in her eyes: how she believes it to be true.

Dear Mom, maybe you have struggled with comparisons or accepting who you are. But the truth is this: you were created in God's image. There is no mistake about you. Your energy, your laugh, your skin tone, your personality, everything has a purpose.

Teach your children today to love who they are. And it starts with you. Don't let the world label what God has already called good. You, mama, are a reflection of the Creator's heart. Believe that. Walk in that. And help your children do the same.

Let’s pray: Lord, thank You for creating us with such intentionality and love. Forgive us for the times we have doubted our worth or compared ourselves to others. Help us to fully embrace the truth that we are beautifully made in Your image. May this truth transform our hearts and empower us to speak life and identity into our homes, raising children who know and believe they are exactly who You created them to be. In Jesus' name, Amen.