God is not only our Father. God is also our Mother. God is in truth, our Single Parent. And we learn right away in Genesis 1:27 that both male and female are made equally in God’s image: “So God created humankind in his image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” That means the one God functions as both our Mother and Father. Through Isaiah, God says:
“Sing for joy, O heavens, and exult, O earth; break forth, O mountains, into singing! For the LORD has comforted his people, and will have compassion on his suffering ones. But Zion said, ‘The LORD has forsaken me, my Lord has forgotten me.’ Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you. See, I have inscribed you on the palms of my hands; your walls are continually before me . . . As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem” (Isa 49:13-16; 66:13).
It is most significant that the word for “compassion” in Hebrew literally means “womb love.” Rare is the mother who would reject the child of her womb. And the fact that we children issue from Her, is the basis for Mother God’s compassion and unconditional, unending love.
In short, that means you can also pray to God as your loving Mother. In Psalm 131, we get a wonderful image of God holding us like a mother holds her beloved child.
“O LORD, my heart is not lifted up, my eyes are not raised too high; I do not occupy myself with things too great and too marvelous for me. But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me. O Israel, hope in the LORD from this time on and forevermore” (Ps 131:1-3 NRSV).
Reminiscent of Psalm 131, Dorothy M. Stewart wrote a beautiful prayer to God as Mother:
“Settle my silly heart, good Lord,
Hold me still in your motherly embrace,
enfolded by your wings of peace and love,
and total acceptance. Soothe me,
love me into peace,
like a weaned child snuggled
in trust on her mother’s lap.
So hold me, Lord,
and let us enjoy this time together.
Speak to my heart if you will,
but most of all be present to me,
and me to you.”
I know that our experiences with our mothers can vary as much as our experiences with our fathers, positively or negatively. So the question for you is this: which would be easier and more comfortable and comforting to pray to, your heavenly Father or Mother? Though God is both and yet beyond both, focus right now on praying to God as your heavenly Mother. See where God leads you.
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