ALLYSON BRUCE | GUEST

This past May, as I walked into my graduation ceremony at Westminster Theological Seminary (WTS) we sang, “How Firm a Foundation.”  This hymn beautifully captures my journey through the Masters of Arts in Counseling program. This foundation wasn’t laid in ease or in ideal conditions; it was built in the midst of motherhood. When I began seminary, I was a mom with soon to be four children under the age of five. I didn’t enter with spare time or energy, but with a desire to know God  deeply, believing it would shape my mothering.  

A Foundation in the Word

The first stanza of the hymn declares, “How firm a foundation, ye saints of the Lord, is laid for your faith in His excellent Word.” Through lectures, small groups, papers, and exams at Westminster, God laid a foundation rooted in His Word—shaping how I see people and view joy and sorrow through the lens of the gospel. I learned  to see Christ in all of Scripture, in both the Old and New Testament. For example, we all face pain and suffering. I turn to Psalm 77 and remember the Israelites’ wilderness journey and their longing for the promised land.  In that struggle I see God providing daily bread (Ex. 16), faithfully sustaining them. In John 10, I see Jesus healing and providing for His people, where He ultimately laid down His life for His sheep. We are still in the in-between period, waiting for the promised land, but He will provide. He is faithful. He is enough. As my kids face trials and difficulties, I am so thankful that this is the framework I meet them with—one of eternal hope in God’s faithfulness. 

The Lord Gives His Children Aid

Stanza two of “How Firm a Foundation” reflects my experience at WTS. In God’s goodness I graduated because He gave me aid; He strengthened me, helped me, and caused me to stand, all while holding me with His righteous, omnipotent hand. My husband and I often wrestled with whether it was the best time to attend seminary. My margin was small, but God provided the time, mental capacity, and help to finish.  

Despite all the difficulties of going to seminary as a mom, I have rarely felt more confident. Quitting, or postponing, never seemed like the right answer. I experienced first hand what Paul meant in his letter to the Thessalonians, “He who calls you is faithful; He will surely do it.” Sitting in the graduation ceremony, surrounded by my husband, children, parents, and friends, I wept as we sang: “Fear not, I am with thee, O be not dismayed, for I am thy God and will still give thee aid” overwhelmed by how God had upheld me. This learning did not stay in the classroom; it shaped my daily interactions with my children.

Training that Shapes Motherhood

Studying these truths while my children were toddlers was a gift to our family. Just as the hymn promises God’s presence in deep waters, I was able to practice what I was learning daily to the ordinary moments of motherhood. For example, Genesis 3 has become the common backbone of our conversations. “Why is your brother crying?” I would ask one of my children, only to be met with “I don’t know, he took my toy.” I met these moments by helping them name what was wrong, because naming sin allows us to stop hiding. We don’t have to blame others for what happened because we are so rooted in God’s love for us and His forgiveness of our sin we can boldly name what we did wrong without casting blame on others. I continue helping my children know that even in their sin, God loves them, He delights in them, and is eager to forgive their sin. Our foundation is Scripture. Teaching that to my kids is the greatest gift I could ever give them. 

“That soul, though all hell should endeavor to shake, I’ll never, no never, no never forsake” is how the hymn ends. God calls us into deep waters; we will walk through fiery trials—it’s not if, but when. Whatever your story may be, God is faithful. He will see you through. 

My time at WTS was a kind gift from a generous God, and I am so thankful for what I learned and how I can love those around me better —not because I waited for the “right” time, but because I said yes when He called.   

Photo by Kelly Sikkema on Unsplash