How To Develop Unwavering Faith as a Single Mother

Developing unwavering faith as a single mother is easier said than done. During life’s testing seasons, we have all asked, “Why me?”

You work hard and try your best to be what most may consider a “good person,” but you still can’t seem to escape life’s unfortunate circumstances. Imagine what you may have felt when you were first faced with single motherhood. Did you question what you did wrong? At one point or another, many women have asked the same question. Unfortunately, some women feel they have fallen from God’s grace due to their circumstances.

When facing daily personal and external struggles, any additional obstacle may appear as an insurmountable roadblock. Whether it is or not will fully depend on your perception and attitude. During these times, it is paramount not to internalize stressors. More importantly, you must recognize that you are not alone in dealing with them. God and his promises are always with you. During these challenging periods, your faith can provide heightened strength and wisdom to see you through.

Who are God’s Promises For?

God’s promises are for everyone. As for the rest of us, trusting God and leaning solely on his word as a single mother can be challenging. Because single mothers are forced to depend on themselves, you may be led to think it has been solely your strength to get you through difficult life transitions.

Just as we question when we are going through a tough season, we don’t question the good moments. This entitlement is usually because we feel like our efforts created a positive outcome and tend to blame external factors for the opposite. As a single mother, handing your burdens to God may seem like a gamble, but Believe me, it was God all along. He wants to do more for you, but first, we must trust God’s promises for all of us.

God’s promise does not only show up when we are experiencing blissful moments. It is also evident when we are experiencing “trouble.” God wants us to trust him and not only believe that HE exists but also have faith that HE will hold to his promise for you as his child. God ultimately has a plan for you. It is up to us to find the message in that plan.

God And A Single Mother

The Bible is full of stories, but most don’t realize that there was one of a single mother, Hagar. Hagar was a slave to Sarah, Abraham’s wife. While dealing with infertility, Sarah requested her husband to lay with Hagar to bear a child. Once Hagar became pregnant, Hagar became arrogant. Sarah, jealous of this, began mistreating her. Fearful of Sarah’s discontent, Hagar fled to to escape. There, an angel came to her and showed her a glimpse of her blessing from God if she followed him and trusted in his word. Because Hagar believed in God’s promise for her, Hagar then named God “El Roi,” aka  “He who sees me.” God promised to bless her with a “great nation” from her unborn child and that her child would not be a slave like herself. Because of her unwavering faith, God fulfilled this promise to Hagar, a single mother.

Genesis 16: 13- She gave this name to the Lord who spoke to her: “You are Beer Lahai Roi, the God who sees me,” for she said, “I have now seen the One who sees me.”

Just because Hagar was a single mother, he did not overlook her or see her unworthy as many single mothers may feel. Especially in this age of social media and group rhetoric, single mothers may feel overlooked, but God sees you and has a specific plan for you and your children. God sees your hurting heart and any burden you may be dealing with. Bring your burdens to him with the unwavering faith that he can turn your situation around.

Unwavering Faith vs. Belief

You may hear belief and faith mentioned synonymously when developing your faith in God. I like to think that believing in God is simply knowing God exists. Imagine an old chair sitting in front of you. You may believe it can hold you up, but once you go to take a seat, you hesitate. You may shake it a little to ensure it can hold your weight. This doubt is what creates the difference between faith and belief.

Unwavering faith, on the other hand, is a level of belief where you trust that God will do what he promised for you and others. Going back to the chair, faith will allow you to take a seat without testing its strength beforehand. Faith creates a sense of peace in all situations because you are rooted in his word. Whereas belief may allow room for doubt, faith is a firm choice.

As a single mother, sometimes your faith falls weak, and that is okay. Here are some scriptures I refer to when times are hard and my faith wavers.

7 of God’s promises For the Single Mother struggling with Unwavering Faith

• Matthew 11:28 – Come to me, all of you who are tired from carrying heavy loads, and I will give you rest.
• Deuteronomy 31:8 – The LORD himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.
• Isaiah 40:31 – But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.
• Philippians 4:6-7 – Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.
• Romans 8:28 – And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.
• Mark 11:24 – Therefore I tell you, whatever you ask for in prayer, believe that you have received it, and it will be yours.
• Isaiah 40:29 He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak.

How To Develop Unwavering Faith As A Single Mother

Trusting that God will come through for you during dark times may be one of the hardest promises to accept. When you find it difficult to have faith in him, use this time to correct your heart posture. Correcting your heart posture will align your heart with God’s promise. Try my 3-step process below to align with God’s promises.

Read God’s word daily. It will reinforce your belief and understanding of why we face trials. This will ultimately benefit us in our walk with God. Allowing us to find peace and growth in them when they arise.

Pray for heart posture. Pray to God for the ability to trust that He will do what is best for you. This is not the time to pray for a specific outcome. Having faith is relinquishing control and totally placing it in God’s hands.

Rest in his word – Trust that what is best for you will happen because you have done the work, and now God can do his job.

I would love to hear about when you had to lean on God’s word and how you aligned yourself to do so! Share your experience in the comments below.