You Have Purpose

By Melanie Anthony       Author of "Daily Bread for the Starving Stepmom"

Excerpt from the book (coming soon!!):
Are you feeling discouraged this morning?  Or maybe you're thinking to yourself, "what have I gotten myself into with this stepmother thing?"  Maybe your stepchildren are rebelling, being unloving or distant.  Or maybe you are having a difficult time with the "blending" of your biological children and your stepchildren.   Any maybe, your relationship with your husband is strained due to the pressures of raising your children.

The biological mother is giving you a run for your money, making it difficult to even breathe.  Your anxiety is high and your emotions are all over the place. The harder you try to fix things or be the Godly mother and wife you were called to be the worse off things get. Do you ever have one of those days, weeks or months?  Or possibly one of those "seasons" where you wonder if there will ever be a breakthrough or just a glimmer of hope?  Surely it can't be this way all of the time, right?

I have some hopeful news for all of you sweet step-hood sisters out there. It won't always be like this.  Let me put a little perspective on this as I have walked through this myself.  I have come to a realization that there is a reason and a higher purpose for my role as a stepmother.  One that you don't always see,  get recognized or appreciated for.  At least not now anyway.  I have come to realize it's not all about me and that's hard to understand when you're the one being hated or disrespected and the very core of who you are is being challenged. 

Through all of this I am certain of one thing. Without Jesus and my relationship with Him there would be no hope or purpose in my life and my role as a mother and a stepmother.   God knows what He is doing . I can promise you that.  He has known from the beginning of time that you would be a stepmom and that it would be one of the hardest things you would ever do.  He also knows that your stepchildren need you as much as you need them. Have you ever thought of that?  God is so sovereign that He knew from the beginning of time that our world would be broken, so he designed the perfect man, Jesus, and depicted his very life from a "Broken" family.  Joseph was actually a stepfather to Jesus.  So therefore, Jesus was a part of a blended family.  Quite a concept, huh?  God was thinking of you and me even two thousand years ago.  Wow, that's humbling. 

So remember this as you go throughout your day.  What you do has purpose.  Be patient as you walk this season out.  God will never leave you, He promises that!  Seek Him first daily. That doesn't mean you have to spend hours upon hours in the Word.  What that means is, include Him in your thoughts throughout the day and be attentive to His Spirit. My sweet step-hood sister,  you are valuable in your role as a stepmother and are needed in more ways than you could possibly imagine.  God purposefully put you in your stepchildren's lives. Remember it's not about you, God's got you!  Reach out to friends if you're struggling and cry out to the Almighty for he hears you and will comfort you.  Take it one day at a time, hand in hand with the One who knows what He is doing. God is looking at your heart and persistency in seeking Him, not your perfection.
 
Prayer:
Father, help me to realize just how important and vital my role as a stepmother is in this blended family that you've blessed me with.   I pray that you would help me to accept this role as stepmother and learn to grow in grace and strength.  I also pray that my relationship with my stepchildren will have value and purpose as well and that there would be a legacy of love deposited in all those involved in this family.  Thank you Jesus, Amen.
 
Scripture: 
Galatians 6:9
"Let us not lose heart in doing good, for in due time we will reap if we do not grow weary.  So then, while we have opportunity, let us do good to all people, and especially to those who are of the household of the faith."