ANNIE VANDERHEIDEN |GUEST

As moms, each of us nurture in unique ways, according to our unique bents and our children’s unique needs. We have different communication styles and different ways of showing affection. We come from different environments and cultural backgrounds. But even so, many moms share similar priorities: Looking deeply into our children’s eyes. Vigilantly pursuing their health and well-being. Reading or singing to them. Offering a wide array of experiences and stimuli to further their development. Talking to them in the car, during the bath, or around the table.

Over time, we become the experts on our children, the ones who can read their every cue and see solutions that remain invisible to others. While we make innumerable mistakes, we develop a sixth sense for what our little ones need, cultivated through hours and hours of looking, listening, and responding—nurturing.

But all that investment can feel very one-sided in the wearying days of motherhood. We’ll gladly (or at least willingly) give of ourselves to know and love our children, but it would be nice to feel like there’s someone doing the same for us.

While we might acknowledge all the examples of Christ’s nurturing care throughout Scripture (feeding, healing, offering rest, etc.), what does it mean for us today—two thousand years removed from the touch of His hand or the gaze of His eye? Is He still invested in our growth and flourishing as human beings? And how do we tangibly experience that right now?

When He ascended into heaven, Christ left not only a Helper within us to continue His nurturing work (John 14:16) but also a tangible helper without. In an 1860 sermon on Isaiah 49, Charles Spurgeon stated that “the church is a mother.” She is the warm body Jesus provides to wrap us up tightly and grow us in the faith.

Let’s consider a few aspects of nurturing that can be beautifully fulfilled in our lives through Christ’s church:

Teaching

Church is the place where we hear the Word of God regularly proclaimed, formally from the pulpit and more casually in Bible studies, small groups, and conversations. It’s where we assimilate the fervor of new believers and the faithfulness of old saints and come to a deeper application of the gospel to life. Colossians 3:16 connects the rich indwelling of “the word of Christ” with the teaching and admonishing of fellow believers, showing us that these things are meant to coincide.

The body of Christ is the loving “mom” that leans in to tell us what’s true.

Cultivating

Motherhood can feel like a growth-stunting season. Our interests, achievements, and delights—the things that make us feel alive and expansive—are buried (at least temporarily) beneath bodily limitations and monotonous daily tasks. We often feel like the furthest thing from an interesting, growing person.

But because she has more collective experience and wisdom than we do individually, the church helps us see who we can be and become in every season of life—even the hardest ones. She reminds us that we are still on the road of sanctification—still learning new skills and leaning into the lessons God gives. Fellow believers can often see the evidences of grace and growth in our lives that we may be too weak to perceive ourselves and inspire us to press on.

Protecting

Christ’s church also watches over our way with the eye of a caring mother, alert to dangers and desiring to keep her children secure. Hebrews 3:12–13 urges believers to “take care, brothers and sisters, lest there be in any of you an evil, unbelieving heart, leading you to fall away from the living God. But exhort one another every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ that none of you may be hardened by the deceitfulness of sin.”

When we are especially vulnerable—spiritually, emotionally, relationally, mentally, and physically—we need the church to help us stay alert to temptation and recognize the patterns of thought and behavior that might be inhibiting our growth and joy in Christ. We need older, wiser moms coming alongside us and saying, “Watch out—this will hurt you! Turn this way instead!”

Strengthening

In the marathon of motherhood, we will often feel depleted, pulled beyond our strength, and discouraged by our many failures and inadequacies. The church is the nurturing village that helps us shoulder the load. Here, we receive understanding and counsel from those who have walked through the seasons of life ahead of us. We hear the truths of God’s Word read to us over and over again. We find resources and people to assist us in creatively discipling our children. We receive smiles and hugs when we don’t feel like we can go on. We look deep into others’ eyes while they sing and pray over us. We experience practical love meeting our cries of pain. Our wins are celebrated and our joys multiplied. We learn how to be still and rest. We’re stimulated by challenging new concepts and diverse perspectives. All these things and more nurture us for the care and nurturing of our children.

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While instituted to lovingly meet these needs in us and more, Christ’s church also falls prey to the effects of sin and our fallen world—just like us. She isn’t a perfect “mom.” She doesn’t always show up when she should, speak the right word, or minister to us in truly healing, helpful ways. Sometimes we feel disconnected from or even deeply hurt by her.

Yet Christ has equipped His true church with His Spirit and given her a beautiful role to play in our “growing up.” He has loved and sacrificed himself for her—warts, wrinkles, and all—and promised to continue nurturing and beautifying her until glory (Eph. 5:25–27). Just like we are “in-process” moms, never perfectly nurturing our little ones but continuing to try and sometimes fail, so is Christ’s church still becoming the mother to us that she was always designed to be. In her imperfections, we can continue striving to show up, extend grace, and look for what she can teach us (Heb. 10:25).

Fellow mama, when we are weak and weary—our hearts crying out at all hours of the day and night—Jesus himself is here nurturing us. He is present in His Word, certainly, but also in His church, which gives hands and feet and voice to divine love. Christ’s Spirit indwells our brothers and sisters so that they will be attuned to our needs and minister care and comfort as a continuation of His ministry on earth and a preview of His heavenly ministry to come. So let’s humbly admit our need and cling to our God-given mother. Let’s let ourselves be loved.

Edited excerpt taken from Cradled: Christ’s Care for Postpartum Moms by Annie VanderHeiden, copyright 2026, P&R Publishing, Phillipsburg, NJ.

Photo by Bethany Beck on Unsplash