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Humble Moms: How the Work of Christ Sustains the Work of Motherhood
What does a weary mom need? What will help her not only keep going in her life and work of motherhood, but enjoy it?
While being a mom is one of the most rewarding jobs, it is also one of the hardest. For all its joys, motherhood can leave us weary as we pour ourselves out for our children and wonder where we’ll get the strength to serve another day. If we’re honest, we can become exhausted by the constant call to tend to our family. We can even sometimes resent the posture of servanthood it requires. We may get the actions of motherhood right, but many times, our hearts are off.
As mom and author Kristen Wetherell experienced these things first-hand in the work of mothering, she wondered, “How do I go about the weighty and wonderful calling of motherhood not simply as a servant, but with a servant’s heart–-a humble heart?”
Instead of offering a parenting plan or a pep talk or a list of things you need to do to be a better mom, Humble Moms offers you exactly what Kristen needed in seasons of struggle: biblical meditations on Jesus, who reveals to us what servant-heartedness looks like as the walking and talking embodiment of humility. As you journey along with Kristen through the book of John, soaking in the entire life and work of Christ (his incarnation, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and return), you’ll find that your life and work as a mom is sustained in the process.
In our exhaustion as moms, Kristen points us to the true Sustainer of our souls, the loving Servant who has tended to us in both hand and heart, and the only One powerful enough to grow us into women who reflect his humility in our daily work of motherhood.
While being a mom is one of the most rewarding jobs, it is also one of the hardest. For all its joys, motherhood can leave us weary as we pour ourselves out for our children and wonder where we’ll get the strength to serve another day. If we’re honest, we can become exhausted by the constant call to tend to our family. We can even sometimes resent the posture of servanthood it requires. We may get the actions of motherhood right, but many times, our hearts are off.
As mom and author Kristen Wetherell experienced these things first-hand in the work of mothering, she wondered, “How do I go about the weighty and wonderful calling of motherhood not simply as a servant, but with a servant’s heart–-a humble heart?”
Instead of offering a parenting plan or a pep talk or a list of things you need to do to be a better mom, Humble Moms offers you exactly what Kristen needed in seasons of struggle: biblical meditations on Jesus, who reveals to us what servant-heartedness looks like as the walking and talking embodiment of humility. As you journey along with Kristen through the book of John, soaking in the entire life and work of Christ (his incarnation, life, ministry, death, resurrection, ascension, and return), you’ll find that your life and work as a mom is sustained in the process.
In our exhaustion as moms, Kristen points us to the true Sustainer of our souls, the loving Servant who has tended to us in both hand and heart, and the only One powerful enough to grow us into women who reflect his humility in our daily work of motherhood.
192 pages, Hardcover
First published April 1, 2022
61 people are currently reading
947 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 58 reviews
April 20, 2024
One of my new favorite books of ever.
I’ve read and been blessed by many biblical books on the calling and ministry of motherhood over the past few years of being a mom, but this book was special. I was so greatly encouraged by the focus of this book on Christ’s humility and His humble service and how that impacts the role of mom.
I loved the author’s honesty, her biblical reminders, and prayers at the end of each chapter. If you are a mom, I think you will feel seen and encouraged by this book as it redirects your gaze to Jesus.
A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
“As we wipe soiled bottoms for the millionth time—As we play the same imaginary game on repeat—As we try to understand the sadness behind our child’s tears—As we empty our supposed “rights” as mothers, laying aside our glory—We are not only serving our kids, we are serving the One who has first given up everything he deserved to serve us.”
So good. Consider this one highly, highly recommended!
I’ve read and been blessed by many biblical books on the calling and ministry of motherhood over the past few years of being a mom, but this book was special. I was so greatly encouraged by the focus of this book on Christ’s humility and His humble service and how that impacts the role of mom.
I loved the author’s honesty, her biblical reminders, and prayers at the end of each chapter. If you are a mom, I think you will feel seen and encouraged by this book as it redirects your gaze to Jesus.
A few of my favorite quotes from the book:
“As we wipe soiled bottoms for the millionth time—As we play the same imaginary game on repeat—As we try to understand the sadness behind our child’s tears—As we empty our supposed “rights” as mothers, laying aside our glory—We are not only serving our kids, we are serving the One who has first given up everything he deserved to serve us.”
So good. Consider this one highly, highly recommended!
November 19, 2024
I walked through this one alongside a friend this semester. I enjoyed it so much. Kristen makes things accessible to digest and understand in the little years and walks you through Jesus’ life of humility in a sweet way. The discussion questions made it very easy to have great conversation and encourage one another in our walks as moms.
August 26, 2024
So many good thoughts❤️ took me way longer than I wanted it to because I kept losing my train of thought lol. All the biblical terminology kept going over my head.😂
May 18, 2022
This new one, by Kristen Wetherell is titled, Humble Moms: How the Work of Christ Sustains the Work of Motherhood. It's a book written to draw you to Jesus; to lead your heart to a greater understanding of his own humility and how he serves his people.
She walks us through the highlights of the gospel of John to teach us about Jesus' humility in his incarnation, through the service of his ministry, through his surrender to death and his active involvement as he's seated at his throne in heaven.
This model of Christ's humility really challenged me - likely because I know how pride besets me. She writes "each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself" and, "he has not asked us to do something he has not already done. Jesus has gone before us in humility and service."
It really gets you thinking, doesn't it?
Whether it's the stage of littles, teenagers or adults, mothering our children will always require humility on our part, because it's the call of Christ on our lives, whether we are parents or not. For, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of me. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:6-8).
So why is it important to consider Jesus' humble heart?
She answers in this way, because "our hearts motivate our hands, and it is a heart-posture of humility before Jesus that makes a mom truly great."
As we go through out day today considering the service of the Lord Jesus for us in the gospel, may our hearts be humbled before him and those around us, that he would be glorified in all we say and do.
You'll also find discussion questions at the end of the book for deeper study and conversation to enjoy with a moms group or friends! No extra work required.
Quick Stats
# of pages: 183
Level of difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 4 stars!
*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
She walks us through the highlights of the gospel of John to teach us about Jesus' humility in his incarnation, through the service of his ministry, through his surrender to death and his active involvement as he's seated at his throne in heaven.
This model of Christ's humility really challenged me - likely because I know how pride besets me. She writes "each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself" and, "he has not asked us to do something he has not already done. Jesus has gone before us in humility and service."
It really gets you thinking, doesn't it?
Whether it's the stage of littles, teenagers or adults, mothering our children will always require humility on our part, because it's the call of Christ on our lives, whether we are parents or not. For, "though he was in the form of God, did not count equality with God a thing to be grasped, but emptied himself, by taking the form of a servant, being born in the likeness of me. And being found in human form, he humbled himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross" (Phil 2:6-8).
So why is it important to consider Jesus' humble heart?
She answers in this way, because "our hearts motivate our hands, and it is a heart-posture of humility before Jesus that makes a mom truly great."
As we go through out day today considering the service of the Lord Jesus for us in the gospel, may our hearts be humbled before him and those around us, that he would be glorified in all we say and do.
You'll also find discussion questions at the end of the book for deeper study and conversation to enjoy with a moms group or friends! No extra work required.
Quick Stats
# of pages: 183
Level of difficulty: Easy
My Rating: 4 stars!
*A big thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for the ARC and the opportunity to post an honest review.
June 30, 2025
Highly recommend this book if you’re feeling exhausted and maybe even a bit resentful in all your self-sacrificing motherhood duties..
I found this one really helpful in getting my focus back on Jesus and His purpose for me as a mother, and being reminded of the future and hope I have in Him.
The book explains Jesus’ humility throughout His ministry, how He serves and sustains us today, and how he helps us do the same with our children. I was really encouraged by it!
“When you're tired of serving your kids; when you feel like giving up; when you're discouraged and weary; when everything feels out of your control; when you're sleep-deprived and can't take another step; when your heart feels flat and cold; when you're not sure how to face another mess, another conflict, or another day of motherhood, remember: You will see Jesus. You will be honored by the Father. And it will have been worth it all.
We may not know what the outcome of our mothering work will be, but we know the outcome Jesus has worked for us. We know where we are headed. For the joy set before us— the joy of endlessly loving and serving him—we follow the One who has first served us (Heb. 12:1-2), who lost his life so we will keep ours for eternity.
With eyes fixed on our humble Jesus, we will endure with faithfulness.”
I found this one really helpful in getting my focus back on Jesus and His purpose for me as a mother, and being reminded of the future and hope I have in Him.
The book explains Jesus’ humility throughout His ministry, how He serves and sustains us today, and how he helps us do the same with our children. I was really encouraged by it!
“When you're tired of serving your kids; when you feel like giving up; when you're discouraged and weary; when everything feels out of your control; when you're sleep-deprived and can't take another step; when your heart feels flat and cold; when you're not sure how to face another mess, another conflict, or another day of motherhood, remember: You will see Jesus. You will be honored by the Father. And it will have been worth it all.
We may not know what the outcome of our mothering work will be, but we know the outcome Jesus has worked for us. We know where we are headed. For the joy set before us— the joy of endlessly loving and serving him—we follow the One who has first served us (Heb. 12:1-2), who lost his life so we will keep ours for eternity.
With eyes fixed on our humble Jesus, we will endure with faithfulness.”
November 18, 2022
So so encouraging, and wonderful reminders in this new season of motherhood!
March 6, 2025
"We may not know what the outcome of our mothering work will be, but we know the outcome Jesus has worked for us. We know where we are headed. For the joy set before us the joy of endlessly loving and serving him. We follow the one who has first served us."
A short and encouraging reminder about the work of Christ and my purpose as a human and subsequently as a mother 💛
A short and encouraging reminder about the work of Christ and my purpose as a human and subsequently as a mother 💛
May 26, 2025
It’s taken me a few months to see what a blessing motherhood is. Every day is a challenge, yet it is filled with so much joy in the small person I’ve created. This book helped me to connect the work of motherhood with the humble servanthood of Jesus when he walked on earth. Mamas are so blessed and it’s an honor to live like Jesus in the way that we care for our kids.
February 15, 2023
Humble Moms is the latest book by mother and author, Kristen Wetherell. This book draws on who Jesus is and what He’s done for moms who have trusted in Him alone for salvation. Kristen uses the book of John to help readers understand that Jesus served them when He died and rose again and that He is serving them even now.
I’ve read a few Christian books on motherhood and Humble Moms is one of my favorites. In the early years of motherhood, moms are constantly serving their children and are rarely served by them. In this way, we do have a sweet opportunity to model who Jesus is to our children but motherhood and all it encompasses can quickly become wearying.
I was greatly encouraged to be reminded that Jesus is with me and serves me even now even on the hardest days. This book really helped me train myself to take my eyes off the exhausting circumstances that often accompany motherhood and redirect my gaze to Christ.
Kristen begins the book with the acknowledgment, “We are busy serving, meeting our children’s needs while setting aside our own, and pouring ourselves out for these little ones. We’re using our hands to change diapers, nurse babies, read books, build towers, teach lessons, make lunches, and tend boo-boos. But if we’re honest we would admit that, while we love our kids, we don’t always like our situation. We struggle to enjoy it. It feels exhausting.
All day long, we work with a servant’s hands—but not always with a servant’s heart. Many of us desperately want our motives to align with our actions. We want our hands to follow our hearts. We don’t just want to keep our kids alive, but to raise them with gladness and thankfulness. Instead of a dormant or a resentful heart, we genuinely want a humble one. A heart like Christ. But how?” (pg. 4).
The rest of the book helps readers answer that question. Toward the end of the book, Christian moms are encouraged by the truth that Jesus is at work sustaining them and conforming them to His image. Chapter 9 was a particular favorite of mine as Kristen encouraged moms that their time with Jesus doesn’t need to look a certain way to be successful.
On page 119 she wrote, “You don’t necessarily need to wake up at the crack of dawn to meet with Jesus. There are no rules here, only priorities and a great promise: ‘So faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Rom. 10:17). Thank the Lord he has given us an unchanging, enduring Word to flee to that will tell us exactly who God is and who we are. It is to be pursued with all our hearts. Why? Not just to increase our faith, but for our joy.”
I was refreshed, encouraged, and even changed my Humble Moms and I’m pleased to give it my highest recommendation.
I received Humble Moms compliments of B&H Books in exchange for my honest review.
I’ve read a few Christian books on motherhood and Humble Moms is one of my favorites. In the early years of motherhood, moms are constantly serving their children and are rarely served by them. In this way, we do have a sweet opportunity to model who Jesus is to our children but motherhood and all it encompasses can quickly become wearying.
I was greatly encouraged to be reminded that Jesus is with me and serves me even now even on the hardest days. This book really helped me train myself to take my eyes off the exhausting circumstances that often accompany motherhood and redirect my gaze to Christ.
Kristen begins the book with the acknowledgment, “We are busy serving, meeting our children’s needs while setting aside our own, and pouring ourselves out for these little ones. We’re using our hands to change diapers, nurse babies, read books, build towers, teach lessons, make lunches, and tend boo-boos. But if we’re honest we would admit that, while we love our kids, we don’t always like our situation. We struggle to enjoy it. It feels exhausting.
All day long, we work with a servant’s hands—but not always with a servant’s heart. Many of us desperately want our motives to align with our actions. We want our hands to follow our hearts. We don’t just want to keep our kids alive, but to raise them with gladness and thankfulness. Instead of a dormant or a resentful heart, we genuinely want a humble one. A heart like Christ. But how?” (pg. 4).
The rest of the book helps readers answer that question. Toward the end of the book, Christian moms are encouraged by the truth that Jesus is at work sustaining them and conforming them to His image. Chapter 9 was a particular favorite of mine as Kristen encouraged moms that their time with Jesus doesn’t need to look a certain way to be successful.
On page 119 she wrote, “You don’t necessarily need to wake up at the crack of dawn to meet with Jesus. There are no rules here, only priorities and a great promise: ‘So faith comes through hearing, and hearing through the word of Christ’ (Rom. 10:17). Thank the Lord he has given us an unchanging, enduring Word to flee to that will tell us exactly who God is and who we are. It is to be pursued with all our hearts. Why? Not just to increase our faith, but for our joy.”
I was refreshed, encouraged, and even changed my Humble Moms and I’m pleased to give it my highest recommendation.
I received Humble Moms compliments of B&H Books in exchange for my honest review.
April 29, 2025
I loved this devotional! It’s based off John’s gospel and it was really rich in scripture and encouraging. It reminds us to follow the example of our Savior in motherhood. Jesus was a humble servant and that is what he calls us to be through motherhood. As we care for and serve our kids, we are also serving our Savior. It encourages us to have an unconditional love that stoops low in humble service to one another. Jesus takes a posture of humility and love with us. He changes us into something glorious as we follow his example.
Some great quotes/reminders from the book:
“When we behold our Savior we find that his heart starts to change our own.”
“For he alone has the power to transform and sustain us every moment and in every type of work including motherhood.”
“At the end of the day, friend, it’s not you that keeps the world spinning. It’s Christ.”
“He is before all things and in him all things hold together. That’s his work- holding all things together- so let his work sustain yours today. After all, he made and upholds everything you are accountable for, long before you ever laid eyes on any of them.”
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have eternal life. John 8:12
“In all his goodness, he left his rightful glory and came to earth. He did this so our hearts might be fundamentally and forever changed, so we might go from darkness to light and life and so that we might know the joy of becoming humble servants in Christ.”
“Each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself. And this is our privilege because it was his.”
“Jesus invites me to cast myself upon him- his goodness, help and ability to change me, believe in him, receive the gift of new life, eternally beating heart, that above all delights to serve him.”
Some great quotes/reminders from the book:
“When we behold our Savior we find that his heart starts to change our own.”
“For he alone has the power to transform and sustain us every moment and in every type of work including motherhood.”
“At the end of the day, friend, it’s not you that keeps the world spinning. It’s Christ.”
“He is before all things and in him all things hold together. That’s his work- holding all things together- so let his work sustain yours today. After all, he made and upholds everything you are accountable for, long before you ever laid eyes on any of them.”
I am the light of the world. Whoever follows me will not walk in darkness but will have eternal life. John 8:12
“In all his goodness, he left his rightful glory and came to earth. He did this so our hearts might be fundamentally and forever changed, so we might go from darkness to light and life and so that we might know the joy of becoming humble servants in Christ.”
“Each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself. And this is our privilege because it was his.”
“Jesus invites me to cast myself upon him- his goodness, help and ability to change me, believe in him, receive the gift of new life, eternally beating heart, that above all delights to serve him.”
November 20, 2025
I read this with a small group of ladies. This book goes loosely through the book of John, looking at ways Jesus' humility towards us should form the way we approach motherhood.
While this wasn't a difficult read (the writing is very easy to follow and doesn't get too technically theological), I don't think I got as much out of it as I had hoped. I'm not blaming the author...I just don't think this one "hit me" in this stage of life. Had I read this when all my kids were still at home and I was deep in the trenches of diapers and sleep deprivation, this would have been an incredibly encouraging and challenging book.
While this wasn't a difficult read (the writing is very easy to follow and doesn't get too technically theological), I don't think I got as much out of it as I had hoped. I'm not blaming the author...I just don't think this one "hit me" in this stage of life. Had I read this when all my kids were still at home and I was deep in the trenches of diapers and sleep deprivation, this would have been an incredibly encouraging and challenging book.
September 28, 2025
The best book I have ever read on motherhood! Everything pointed back to Jesus and was full of scripture! She walked through mainly the book of John with applicable lessons from Jesus’ servant led life. This book didn’t pile on shame for feeling frustrated with serving in motherhood, but instead it encouraged us to look to Jesus for help, sustenance, and strength to serve well.
May 6, 2022
This is the most comforting and encouraging parenting book I have ever read. It challenged me in all the best ways, and it left me feeling full of hope. Kristen takes the reader through the book of John, and she gently shows how to look to Christ for strength and help in motherhood. We can be humble, patient, loving moms because we have a humble, patient, and loving Shepherd.
Humble Moms has been comforting to me in my current season of motherhood. I'm a chronically ill mom, and this book was just what I needed. It did not make me feel like I was failing as a mom for not doing what that I can't physically do. Instead of giving a long to-do list for moms to accomplish, Kristen simply and consistently points moms to Christ. And in gazing upon Him, we find strength and courage and hope. This book will encourage and equip Christian moms everywhere to live for Jesus in their calling as mothers.
Humble Moms has been comforting to me in my current season of motherhood. I'm a chronically ill mom, and this book was just what I needed. It did not make me feel like I was failing as a mom for not doing what that I can't physically do. Instead of giving a long to-do list for moms to accomplish, Kristen simply and consistently points moms to Christ. And in gazing upon Him, we find strength and courage and hope. This book will encourage and equip Christian moms everywhere to live for Jesus in their calling as mothers.
April 14, 2025
Wow, what a timely, deeply encouraging reminder. I feel my shortcomings and sinful tendencies so deeply, and this book was the encouragement and exhortation I didn’t know I needed. I highly recommend to all moms!
April 24, 2025
Beautiful insights from Scripture and the life of Jesus as the author connects them to motherhood, showing how moms can serve their families as Christ has served those who believe in Him. I could relate to so many things in this book and underlined many passages.
May 20, 2022
An easy, encouraging read focused on Christ. "With eyes fixed on our humble Jesus, we will endure with faithfulness"
June 26, 2022
What a gentle leading based on text from John, to what motherhood can (and should) look like. What it looks like to do motherhood through the lens of the gospel. This book was a pleasure to read.
August 31, 2024
4.5 ⭐ This is like "Gentle and Lowly" for moms. Going through John, Kristen shows us how the gospel should make us humble moms.
April 18, 2022
“We are moms who love our children and know the privilege of our high calling, but see its demands, along with our struggles and shortcomings, and know, without a doubt, how much we need encouragement and help along the way.”
“Greatness is not about puffing ourselves up, but laying ourselves down. It is not only about what we’re doing, but why and how we’re doing it. It is the humble posture of the heart.”
Kristen Wetherell gets me.
She understands how motherhood makes you weary. She understands all the struggles and the needs.
Motherhood is hard. So how do we do it?
How do we endure? How do we love our kids when we don’t like them?Where do we get the strength and joy to not just survive each day, but do it with less sinful behavior? (my words, not hers)
Kristen has written this relatable and convicting book to remind us in all seasons and contexts of motherhood that at the core, we have a heart and hand disconnect. We may display servants’ hands but not with servants’ hearts.
“My goal, then, is not to give you more things you must do or be, adding to your already-long-enough list of shoulds, nor will we grow in humility simply by focusing on our shortcomings and sins as we walk with Christ. The pages that follow are not about parenting; neither is this book a pep talk to bolster your self-confidence. It is not even directly about motherhood, although I’m praying your pursuit of motherhood is affected by it. Instead, this book is about a person whose heart we most need. It is about the truest definition and demonstration of humility. This book is a meditation on Christ—because what weary moms need is a long, lingering look at humility in the flesh, the beautiful and blessed Jesus, who reveals to us what servant-heartedness looks like.”
Kristen takes us through the book of John, from creation to Christ’s promised returning, to show us how Jesus created, sustains, satisfies, provides, leads, and loves us. How he has sacrificed for us, prays for us, and dwells with us.
Note on the formatting: At the end of each chapter there is a section of meditation and reflection and then a prayer. I really liked the prayers because it helped me know what to pray for myself. Then at the end of the book are more discussion questions for each chapter. It would make a good study for a group of women.
Why is motherhood so hard?
Because of sin.
We are sinners. Our kids are sinners.
Behavior modification won’t fix all of our problems. We all need our hearts changed.
A major theme in this book is that we need to stop trying to be our own Savior or our kids’ Savior. We could never be. We will never be good enough moms on our own. We will never be good enough moms to rescue our children from their sinful hearts.
Only Christ can do that.
“Motherhood means sacrifice—your last bites of ice cream, your pre-baby body, those eight-straight hours of glorious nighttime sleep, your financial freedom, the clean car, the clean house, the clean shirt. All sacrificed on the altar of motherhood. In many symbolic ways, we are laying down our lives for our kids, and if it came to it, we know we would die for them. But we can’t save them from sin… we will never be able to sacrifice enough to remedy their biggest problem. And we will never be able to sacrifice enough to solve ours; no depth of guilt over our sins and failings and no amount of striving to be good enough will do.”
That is the first thing we need to get right. To stop striving on our own. [ahem, read When Strivings Cease]
Everything we need we have in Christ and his Spirit who lives in us.
We are strengthened in motherhood because he gives us strength, endurance, patience, gentleness, love, joy, self-control, peace, kindness, and faithfulness.
I’m not sure if you can be a mom and NOT recognize your limitations.
“Jesus knows your limitations because he created them. Far from what we think and want to believe, our limitations are God-given. They are not mistakes, but are tailor-made by our Creator. True, some of our weaknesses are linked to sin and suffering… But many of our limitations are God-designed and intentionally given to us… So we will know, without a doubt, how much we need him, which is the best place we can be.”
To be a humble mom we must know that the source of all we need is not within ourselves but in Him who Sustains us.
And when we are in Christ, he is making us new. He is transforming our hearts. We are given new desires.
Here are some quotes that depict some of the things that make us feel like failures:
“… our culture tells us that worth must be proven, that self-actualization is our goal, and that an idealistic home and children are what make us valuable.”
“it’s hardest to serve our children when no one, or nothing, seems to be serving us in return, when our rights or authority (or even our very presence in the room!) seem disregarded, or when we are not getting what we want or think we deserve.”
“the problem doesn’t lie in the good things we’d like to enjoy or the rest we need; it is when we grasp at those gifts like they are more important than other human beings.”
“Even after an ideal day with our kids, we know how our heads hit the pillow wondering, Is this really all there is for me? This should have filled me up—why do I still feel so empty?”
“Give me social media so I will not be lonely. Give me praise so I will not be undervalued. Give me opportunities so I will not feel useless. Give me obedient children so I will not be inconvenienced. Give me another purchase online so I will not be without… Within our hearts, thirst and worship are connected. Whatever we thirst for, we will worship. And whatever we worship, that we will thirst for.”
But when we look at the person of Christ in the book of John we see his gentle and lowly heart for his children. [ahem… read Gentle and Lowly]
We see his heart in his incarnation that he would take on flesh and live among sinners. We see his heart in his ministry as he heals and restores the outcasts and broken-hearted, how he serves the poor, the afflicted, the women, the children. We see his heart in his sacrifice on the cross, bearing the weight of the world’s sin to give us life. We see his heart in his intercession for us at the right hand of God— he didn’t just do his ‘work’ and go back to heaven hoping that we don’t screw everything up; he is praying for us and carrying us to the end. We see his heart in his promised return when he will come back and make all things right and bring ultimate restoration.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
He has given us the example of service out of compassion. And as mothers we can look at the place God has put us, the eternal souls we care for, and know that what we do is a privilege and we exemplify Christ when we do it.
Jesus understands our toils, our sacrifices, our needs. He lived them.
And he has come to give us help in the form of His Spirit, as already talked about, but also His Word.
“In your doubts, do you need to remember the truth of who God is today? In your discouragements—in all the trials that make motherhood hard, that make you forget how loved you are, that bring you to suspect God of holding out on you—do you need to remember all the ways Jesus has served you?”
“We need Scripture so our faith does not wither, so we do not remake God in our own image, and so we become mothers who can discern truth from error.”
We can’t expect to be humble moms if we aren’t filling ourselves up with Scripture. The Bible tells us who God is, what he has done, and what he is doing. It reminds us of his promises. It is his living Word that strengthens our faith, is the source of our joy and our hope, and makes us more like Him.
This book is one that I’ll probably come back to whenever I’ve lost sight of my Shepherd. Whenever the struggles and sacrifices of motherhood become too much and I need to be reminded of who I am in Christ and what I have because of it. When I need to set my eyes on the hope that is to come and be faithful in what he has given me now.
I would recommend this book to all moms or moms-to-be. (Sidenote: she does a good job of including adoptive, foster, and waiting moms)
I can’t think of a better quote to end this review with. Be encouraged, moms, God is bigger than any struggle we have in motherhood, no matter how daily, and His heart is for YOU.
“A piece of dark chocolate may help for a brief moment, but what we’re desperate for—what our souls truly long for and need most—is life-giving, lasting, unshakable joy in a risen Savior who walked out of his grave. We need eternal, living hope, a reality check that lifts our eyes and hearts off our circumstances to the unseen kingdom of Christ, our good and gracious Shepherd-King, who is alive, and is with us by his Spirit, and is working out all his purposes—even the hard ones in our homes—for his own honor and for our Christlikeness, our joy, our humility.”
Extra Resources
Wetherell recommends the ‘Dwell’ app for an audio Bible
- Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund (I love this book! She quoted it a lot in Humble Moms)
- Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
- Parenting by Paul Tripp (this puts our parenting struggles in the framework of sin and the Spirit’s work)
- Gospel-Centered Motherhood by Stefanie Boyles
- Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle (emphasizes the importance of motherhood)
- Becoming a Woman Whose God is Enough by Cynthia Heald
- When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simons
More Quotes
“Each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself. And this is our privilege because it was his.”
“As we wipe soiled bottoms for the millionth time—As we play the same imaginary game on repeat—As we try to understand the sadness behind our child’s tears—As we empty our supposed “rights” as mothers, laying aside our glory—We are not only serving our kids, we are serving the One who has first given up everything he deserved to serve us.”
“Instead of being high and-mighty moms who wag our fingers at our kids, confused and frustrated that they keep getting it wrong, we will be moms on our knees, humble and prayerful, as we plead for Jesus to do what only he can do.”
“No bad day of motherhood, no angry meltdown toward your kids, no attempts to escape from your circumstances, no wayward worship or mishandled thirst will shut off the fountain of rich mercy and grace that is in Jesus.”
“You could anxiously fret. You could fear the future. You could over-analyze your every decision. You could numb out with entertainment, food and drink, work, or social media. You could strive with all your might to be a “great mom.” Or you could rest in the refuge of your Good Shepherd.”
“When you’re tired of serving your kids; when you feel like giving up; when you’re discouraged and weary; when everything feels out of your control; when you’re sleep-deprived and can’t take another step; when your heart feels flat and cold; when you’re not sure how to face another mess, another conflict, or another day of motherhood, remember: You will see Jesus. You will be honored by the Father. And it will have been worth it all. We may not know what the outcome of our mothering work will be, but we know the outcome Jesus has worked for us. We know where we are headed. For the joy set before us—the joy of endlessly loving and serving him—we follow the One who has first served us (Heb. 12:1–2), who lost his life so we will keep ours for eternity. With eyes fixed on our humble Jesus, we will endure with faithfulness.”
**Received an ARC via NetGalley**
“Greatness is not about puffing ourselves up, but laying ourselves down. It is not only about what we’re doing, but why and how we’re doing it. It is the humble posture of the heart.”
Kristen Wetherell gets me.
She understands how motherhood makes you weary. She understands all the struggles and the needs.
Motherhood is hard. So how do we do it?
How do we endure? How do we love our kids when we don’t like them?Where do we get the strength and joy to not just survive each day, but do it with less sinful behavior? (my words, not hers)
Kristen has written this relatable and convicting book to remind us in all seasons and contexts of motherhood that at the core, we have a heart and hand disconnect. We may display servants’ hands but not with servants’ hearts.
“My goal, then, is not to give you more things you must do or be, adding to your already-long-enough list of shoulds, nor will we grow in humility simply by focusing on our shortcomings and sins as we walk with Christ. The pages that follow are not about parenting; neither is this book a pep talk to bolster your self-confidence. It is not even directly about motherhood, although I’m praying your pursuit of motherhood is affected by it. Instead, this book is about a person whose heart we most need. It is about the truest definition and demonstration of humility. This book is a meditation on Christ—because what weary moms need is a long, lingering look at humility in the flesh, the beautiful and blessed Jesus, who reveals to us what servant-heartedness looks like.”
Kristen takes us through the book of John, from creation to Christ’s promised returning, to show us how Jesus created, sustains, satisfies, provides, leads, and loves us. How he has sacrificed for us, prays for us, and dwells with us.
Note on the formatting: At the end of each chapter there is a section of meditation and reflection and then a prayer. I really liked the prayers because it helped me know what to pray for myself. Then at the end of the book are more discussion questions for each chapter. It would make a good study for a group of women.
Why is motherhood so hard?
Because of sin.
We are sinners. Our kids are sinners.
Behavior modification won’t fix all of our problems. We all need our hearts changed.
A major theme in this book is that we need to stop trying to be our own Savior or our kids’ Savior. We could never be. We will never be good enough moms on our own. We will never be good enough moms to rescue our children from their sinful hearts.
Only Christ can do that.
“Motherhood means sacrifice—your last bites of ice cream, your pre-baby body, those eight-straight hours of glorious nighttime sleep, your financial freedom, the clean car, the clean house, the clean shirt. All sacrificed on the altar of motherhood. In many symbolic ways, we are laying down our lives for our kids, and if it came to it, we know we would die for them. But we can’t save them from sin… we will never be able to sacrifice enough to remedy their biggest problem. And we will never be able to sacrifice enough to solve ours; no depth of guilt over our sins and failings and no amount of striving to be good enough will do.”
That is the first thing we need to get right. To stop striving on our own. [ahem, read When Strivings Cease]
Everything we need we have in Christ and his Spirit who lives in us.
We are strengthened in motherhood because he gives us strength, endurance, patience, gentleness, love, joy, self-control, peace, kindness, and faithfulness.
I’m not sure if you can be a mom and NOT recognize your limitations.
“Jesus knows your limitations because he created them. Far from what we think and want to believe, our limitations are God-given. They are not mistakes, but are tailor-made by our Creator. True, some of our weaknesses are linked to sin and suffering… But many of our limitations are God-designed and intentionally given to us… So we will know, without a doubt, how much we need him, which is the best place we can be.”
To be a humble mom we must know that the source of all we need is not within ourselves but in Him who Sustains us.
And when we are in Christ, he is making us new. He is transforming our hearts. We are given new desires.
Here are some quotes that depict some of the things that make us feel like failures:
“… our culture tells us that worth must be proven, that self-actualization is our goal, and that an idealistic home and children are what make us valuable.”
“it’s hardest to serve our children when no one, or nothing, seems to be serving us in return, when our rights or authority (or even our very presence in the room!) seem disregarded, or when we are not getting what we want or think we deserve.”
“the problem doesn’t lie in the good things we’d like to enjoy or the rest we need; it is when we grasp at those gifts like they are more important than other human beings.”
“Even after an ideal day with our kids, we know how our heads hit the pillow wondering, Is this really all there is for me? This should have filled me up—why do I still feel so empty?”
“Give me social media so I will not be lonely. Give me praise so I will not be undervalued. Give me opportunities so I will not feel useless. Give me obedient children so I will not be inconvenienced. Give me another purchase online so I will not be without… Within our hearts, thirst and worship are connected. Whatever we thirst for, we will worship. And whatever we worship, that we will thirst for.”
But when we look at the person of Christ in the book of John we see his gentle and lowly heart for his children. [ahem… read Gentle and Lowly]
We see his heart in his incarnation that he would take on flesh and live among sinners. We see his heart in his ministry as he heals and restores the outcasts and broken-hearted, how he serves the poor, the afflicted, the women, the children. We see his heart in his sacrifice on the cross, bearing the weight of the world’s sin to give us life. We see his heart in his intercession for us at the right hand of God— he didn’t just do his ‘work’ and go back to heaven hoping that we don’t screw everything up; he is praying for us and carrying us to the end. We see his heart in his promised return when he will come back and make all things right and bring ultimate restoration.
“For even the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” Matthew 20:28
He has given us the example of service out of compassion. And as mothers we can look at the place God has put us, the eternal souls we care for, and know that what we do is a privilege and we exemplify Christ when we do it.
Jesus understands our toils, our sacrifices, our needs. He lived them.
And he has come to give us help in the form of His Spirit, as already talked about, but also His Word.
“In your doubts, do you need to remember the truth of who God is today? In your discouragements—in all the trials that make motherhood hard, that make you forget how loved you are, that bring you to suspect God of holding out on you—do you need to remember all the ways Jesus has served you?”
“We need Scripture so our faith does not wither, so we do not remake God in our own image, and so we become mothers who can discern truth from error.”
We can’t expect to be humble moms if we aren’t filling ourselves up with Scripture. The Bible tells us who God is, what he has done, and what he is doing. It reminds us of his promises. It is his living Word that strengthens our faith, is the source of our joy and our hope, and makes us more like Him.
This book is one that I’ll probably come back to whenever I’ve lost sight of my Shepherd. Whenever the struggles and sacrifices of motherhood become too much and I need to be reminded of who I am in Christ and what I have because of it. When I need to set my eyes on the hope that is to come and be faithful in what he has given me now.
I would recommend this book to all moms or moms-to-be. (Sidenote: she does a good job of including adoptive, foster, and waiting moms)
I can’t think of a better quote to end this review with. Be encouraged, moms, God is bigger than any struggle we have in motherhood, no matter how daily, and His heart is for YOU.
“A piece of dark chocolate may help for a brief moment, but what we’re desperate for—what our souls truly long for and need most—is life-giving, lasting, unshakable joy in a risen Savior who walked out of his grave. We need eternal, living hope, a reality check that lifts our eyes and hearts off our circumstances to the unseen kingdom of Christ, our good and gracious Shepherd-King, who is alive, and is with us by his Spirit, and is working out all his purposes—even the hard ones in our homes—for his own honor and for our Christlikeness, our joy, our humility.”
Extra Resources
Wetherell recommends the ‘Dwell’ app for an audio Bible
- Gentle and Lowly by Dane Ortlund (I love this book! She quoted it a lot in Humble Moms)
- Loving the Little Years: Motherhood in the Trenches by Rachel Jankovic
- Parenting by Paul Tripp (this puts our parenting struggles in the framework of sin and the Spirit’s work)
- Gospel-Centered Motherhood by Stefanie Boyles
- Eve in Exile by Rebekah Merkle (emphasizes the importance of motherhood)
- Becoming a Woman Whose God is Enough by Cynthia Heald
- When Strivings Cease by Ruth Chou Simons
More Quotes
“Each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself. And this is our privilege because it was his.”
“As we wipe soiled bottoms for the millionth time—As we play the same imaginary game on repeat—As we try to understand the sadness behind our child’s tears—As we empty our supposed “rights” as mothers, laying aside our glory—We are not only serving our kids, we are serving the One who has first given up everything he deserved to serve us.”
“Instead of being high and-mighty moms who wag our fingers at our kids, confused and frustrated that they keep getting it wrong, we will be moms on our knees, humble and prayerful, as we plead for Jesus to do what only he can do.”
“No bad day of motherhood, no angry meltdown toward your kids, no attempts to escape from your circumstances, no wayward worship or mishandled thirst will shut off the fountain of rich mercy and grace that is in Jesus.”
“You could anxiously fret. You could fear the future. You could over-analyze your every decision. You could numb out with entertainment, food and drink, work, or social media. You could strive with all your might to be a “great mom.” Or you could rest in the refuge of your Good Shepherd.”
“When you’re tired of serving your kids; when you feel like giving up; when you’re discouraged and weary; when everything feels out of your control; when you’re sleep-deprived and can’t take another step; when your heart feels flat and cold; when you’re not sure how to face another mess, another conflict, or another day of motherhood, remember: You will see Jesus. You will be honored by the Father. And it will have been worth it all. We may not know what the outcome of our mothering work will be, but we know the outcome Jesus has worked for us. We know where we are headed. For the joy set before us—the joy of endlessly loving and serving him—we follow the One who has first served us (Heb. 12:1–2), who lost his life so we will keep ours for eternity. With eyes fixed on our humble Jesus, we will endure with faithfulness.”
**Received an ARC via NetGalley**
May 19, 2025
After completing the book of John in BSF this year, this book was a beautiful look at John through a new lense. The perspective of motherhood and it was a beautiful reminder of Jesus and his love for us and humbling to see motherhood from a more positive lense.
May 10, 2023
Reflection recap:
*our weariness often seems to come from a disconnection between hands and heart.
* In coming to us, Jesus did not grasp at all the things he rightfully possessed, all he truly deserved as God.
* Each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself.
And this is our privilege because it was his.
* Just like behavior modification won't change our kids' hearts--the seat of their affections and source of their actions- it won't change our hearts either.
* Dane Ortlund says, "Christ was sent not to mend wounded people or wake sleepy people or advise confused people or inspire bored people or spur on lazy people or educate ignorant people, but to raise dead people."
* Remember why Jesus came? To change our hearts. To reorient our worship. To quench our thirst and satisty our longing souls with himself.
* For every thirst we have, he promises to satisfy us with himself… When you thirst for affection today, drink deeply of his perfect love.
* From the moment the pregnancy test reads positive and a little life inhabits our womb, we embody one of the most intimate forms of hospitality, and our limitations loom large.
* Jesus knows your limitations because he created them.
*…many of our limitations are God-designed and intentionally given to us. Why? So we will know, without a doubt, how much we need him, which is the best place we can be. Consider some of your limitations and how these expose your need for the Limitless One…
your weaknesses and limitations are exactly the kind of raw material he loves to work with.
*when you are in a place of need, even a place of outright misery, Jesus's heart fills with compassion for you because he too knew that place of weakness when he walked the earth.
* We wonder along with the disciples, What are my limited resources for so many needs? The true question is, How might God want me to see and depend on and experience his limitless grace in this moment of need?
* It's easy to think that God is being gracious to us when he gives us what we want (#blessed). But what about when God gives us what we don't want, even when it's what our hearts most need- even when it's hard so we will learn to hunger for him and desire his agenda above all else? This is the humble kindness of God--this is grace not to give us what we want, but to give us what he knows we most need. And whatever he gives comes from the heart of a loving, servant-hearted God with a perfect agenda for us.
*if he gave his life to give us himself for eternity, can we not depend on him to give us what we need for today?
* When we realize that our greatest problem isn't the tantrums and conflicts and tiredness and messes and dirt and grime before us, but the lack of love in our hearts and in our kids' hearts, our response to Jesus's great, unending, cleansing love becomes like Mary's "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ" (John 11:27) and like Peter's "Lord, not my feet onlv but also my hands and my head!" (John 13:9).
*…may your heart cling to his love that always supplies what you lack.
* The Bible on your nightstand or coffee table or bookshelf is no ordinary book, but a precious gift from him. We grow in trusting him as he reveals himself to us there, speaking straight to our hearts about who he is and all he has accomplished to serve and love his people into resurrection life.
His speaking to us does at least three things: strengthens our faith, increases our joy, and makes our hearts like his.
* He laid down his life so you could entrust him with vours.
* Jesus gives you his Word to make vour heart like his.
* But what is Jesus's goal for you? That you will be with him and see his glory. …Eternal joy in his glorious presence is what he wants most for you.
* The Spirit makes Jesus beautiful to us, and makes us beautiful like him.
* Jesus reveals himself to you through his Word by his Spirit who makes us hearers, doers, and proclaimers of the Word in our homes.
*our weariness often seems to come from a disconnection between hands and heart.
* In coming to us, Jesus did not grasp at all the things he rightfully possessed, all he truly deserved as God.
* Each day presents us with opportunities to lower ourselves as Christ lowered himself.
And this is our privilege because it was his.
* Just like behavior modification won't change our kids' hearts--the seat of their affections and source of their actions- it won't change our hearts either.
* Dane Ortlund says, "Christ was sent not to mend wounded people or wake sleepy people or advise confused people or inspire bored people or spur on lazy people or educate ignorant people, but to raise dead people."
* Remember why Jesus came? To change our hearts. To reorient our worship. To quench our thirst and satisty our longing souls with himself.
* For every thirst we have, he promises to satisfy us with himself… When you thirst for affection today, drink deeply of his perfect love.
* From the moment the pregnancy test reads positive and a little life inhabits our womb, we embody one of the most intimate forms of hospitality, and our limitations loom large.
* Jesus knows your limitations because he created them.
*…many of our limitations are God-designed and intentionally given to us. Why? So we will know, without a doubt, how much we need him, which is the best place we can be. Consider some of your limitations and how these expose your need for the Limitless One…
your weaknesses and limitations are exactly the kind of raw material he loves to work with.
*when you are in a place of need, even a place of outright misery, Jesus's heart fills with compassion for you because he too knew that place of weakness when he walked the earth.
* We wonder along with the disciples, What are my limited resources for so many needs? The true question is, How might God want me to see and depend on and experience his limitless grace in this moment of need?
* It's easy to think that God is being gracious to us when he gives us what we want (#blessed). But what about when God gives us what we don't want, even when it's what our hearts most need- even when it's hard so we will learn to hunger for him and desire his agenda above all else? This is the humble kindness of God--this is grace not to give us what we want, but to give us what he knows we most need. And whatever he gives comes from the heart of a loving, servant-hearted God with a perfect agenda for us.
*if he gave his life to give us himself for eternity, can we not depend on him to give us what we need for today?
* When we realize that our greatest problem isn't the tantrums and conflicts and tiredness and messes and dirt and grime before us, but the lack of love in our hearts and in our kids' hearts, our response to Jesus's great, unending, cleansing love becomes like Mary's "Yes, Lord; I believe that you are the Christ" (John 11:27) and like Peter's "Lord, not my feet onlv but also my hands and my head!" (John 13:9).
*…may your heart cling to his love that always supplies what you lack.
* The Bible on your nightstand or coffee table or bookshelf is no ordinary book, but a precious gift from him. We grow in trusting him as he reveals himself to us there, speaking straight to our hearts about who he is and all he has accomplished to serve and love his people into resurrection life.
His speaking to us does at least three things: strengthens our faith, increases our joy, and makes our hearts like his.
* He laid down his life so you could entrust him with vours.
* Jesus gives you his Word to make vour heart like his.
* But what is Jesus's goal for you? That you will be with him and see his glory. …Eternal joy in his glorious presence is what he wants most for you.
* The Spirit makes Jesus beautiful to us, and makes us beautiful like him.
* Jesus reveals himself to you through his Word by his Spirit who makes us hearers, doers, and proclaimers of the Word in our homes.
March 13, 2023
This is one of those top 10 books for me. I have a few instant favorites— ones that have been on my list but read at the exact moment that God is working in my heart on something so the meaning of the words on the page magnify in my heart. Ones that I start texting friends screenshots of and recommending when I’m only two chapters in. Most importantly, that—on whatever the topic is— take my gaze off of me and circumstances and place them fully on Jesus.
Books like Jen Wilkin’s “None Like Him” and Hannah Anderson’s “Humble Roots”. Now I add Kristen Wetherell’s “Humble Moms” to the list. Books that, instead of making me want to rush through and read more of them, make me excited to dive deeper into God’s Word. A book that makes me love Jesus more. A book that, instead of heaping shame or guilt or a list of to-do’s to get myself right, points me to God’s love, mercy and grace— to who he is and how beautiful it truly is to need to/be able to depend upon him. I don’t need to do this in my own strength; I wasn’t made to!
Honestly, although this book has the word “mom” in the title, it has further reaching applications. While motherhood/fatherhood is certainly one of the most lay-down-your -life-for-another relationships out there, any relationship/area where you are called to serve could be benefited by this book.
In one particular chapter, she discusses feeling inconvenienced by interruptions and discusses Jesus interrupting his time in Heaven for us. Talk about convicting. Then couple that with the story of the woman at the well. I was reminded how Jesus never rushed these encounters. I truly long for maturity and eternal changes in my boys— so being frustrated at having to referee another fight or work through a tantrum, stopping the behavior and simply making them say the words I want to hear without slowing down and listening and teaching and shepherding their hearts to Jesus and sanctification— I don’t want to be satisfied with that. Jesus isn’t satisfied with that in me. After reading this book, I’ve been reminded how much Jesus loves me and wants me to draw near to him, and also a renewed view of the privilege and vision of motherhood. If you long for that reminder too, grab this book!
Books like Jen Wilkin’s “None Like Him” and Hannah Anderson’s “Humble Roots”. Now I add Kristen Wetherell’s “Humble Moms” to the list. Books that, instead of making me want to rush through and read more of them, make me excited to dive deeper into God’s Word. A book that makes me love Jesus more. A book that, instead of heaping shame or guilt or a list of to-do’s to get myself right, points me to God’s love, mercy and grace— to who he is and how beautiful it truly is to need to/be able to depend upon him. I don’t need to do this in my own strength; I wasn’t made to!
Honestly, although this book has the word “mom” in the title, it has further reaching applications. While motherhood/fatherhood is certainly one of the most lay-down-your -life-for-another relationships out there, any relationship/area where you are called to serve could be benefited by this book.
In one particular chapter, she discusses feeling inconvenienced by interruptions and discusses Jesus interrupting his time in Heaven for us. Talk about convicting. Then couple that with the story of the woman at the well. I was reminded how Jesus never rushed these encounters. I truly long for maturity and eternal changes in my boys— so being frustrated at having to referee another fight or work through a tantrum, stopping the behavior and simply making them say the words I want to hear without slowing down and listening and teaching and shepherding their hearts to Jesus and sanctification— I don’t want to be satisfied with that. Jesus isn’t satisfied with that in me. After reading this book, I’ve been reminded how much Jesus loves me and wants me to draw near to him, and also a renewed view of the privilege and vision of motherhood. If you long for that reminder too, grab this book!
January 18, 2026
The title of this devotional instantly appealed to me. Humble Moms. Yes, motherhood is humbling work. I wanted to go deeper into what this meant and how I could serve my family more wholeheartedly.
The featured quote on the back cover says, "Do you ever feel a disconnect as a mother—like you're doing all the 'mom things' you're supposed to do as you stoop to serve your kids with your hands, but your heart isn't in it?" I think every mom can relate to this. Did the book help me engage my heart? Yes and no.
This book is solidly grounded in scripture, but there was something missing...and I really thought hard about what it was. It was actually nagging at me quite a bit because I enjoyed reading through the scriptures (all selected from the gospel of John) and I understood the themes that Wetherell was bringing out, BUT...I felt rather disconnected from the writing. I felt like it was too general, too broad. She selected scriptures from John that illustrate what Christ did for us, and then explained that if Jesus did it for us, we can do it for our families. That makes sense. The chapter headings are He Made You, He Came to You, He Changes You, He Satisfies You, He Provides for You, etc. I like the intense focus on Jesus as the ultimate example.
BUT...I felt like I needed a clearer link between these scriptures and what they mean for moms. I wish she would've told a few more stories to show how these concepts play out in real life. I think I needed to see the concepts lived out by real moms in real scenarios where they were struggling and how they used these scriptures to overcome those struggles. I craved more specificity. Honestly, I often had that sensation of "memory loss reading," where you read a few pages, and you understand the words on the page, but you can't recall much of anything that you read. And I think more specificity could help with that, but it could also be ME. LOL.
I'd love to pass this along to another mom friend, and I'd feel totally comfortable doing so, even though it didn't quite land for me in the way I expected.
The featured quote on the back cover says, "Do you ever feel a disconnect as a mother—like you're doing all the 'mom things' you're supposed to do as you stoop to serve your kids with your hands, but your heart isn't in it?" I think every mom can relate to this. Did the book help me engage my heart? Yes and no.
This book is solidly grounded in scripture, but there was something missing...and I really thought hard about what it was. It was actually nagging at me quite a bit because I enjoyed reading through the scriptures (all selected from the gospel of John) and I understood the themes that Wetherell was bringing out, BUT...I felt rather disconnected from the writing. I felt like it was too general, too broad. She selected scriptures from John that illustrate what Christ did for us, and then explained that if Jesus did it for us, we can do it for our families. That makes sense. The chapter headings are He Made You, He Came to You, He Changes You, He Satisfies You, He Provides for You, etc. I like the intense focus on Jesus as the ultimate example.
BUT...I felt like I needed a clearer link between these scriptures and what they mean for moms. I wish she would've told a few more stories to show how these concepts play out in real life. I think I needed to see the concepts lived out by real moms in real scenarios where they were struggling and how they used these scriptures to overcome those struggles. I craved more specificity. Honestly, I often had that sensation of "memory loss reading," where you read a few pages, and you understand the words on the page, but you can't recall much of anything that you read. And I think more specificity could help with that, but it could also be ME. LOL.
I'd love to pass this along to another mom friend, and I'd feel totally comfortable doing so, even though it didn't quite land for me in the way I expected.
April 11, 2022
Humble Moms: How the Work of Christ Sustains the Work of Motherhood by Kristen Wetherell
This book is about Jesus. Yes, it speaks into our motherhood, but the point and the meat of it is Jesus.
We look into the life of Jesus from the Gospel of John and see how Jesus' humility can help us as moms. We learn more about who Jesus is and how we can be more like him. As people made in his image, we can strive to be like him.
If you're a sinner, you struggle to serve your family and want to serve them. You struggle to like your children even though you love them more than anything. But Jesus shows us how humility can make us serve with joy even when we don't want to. If we have His Spirit living in us, we have the power to say no to sin and yes to humility.
If you want to know if this book is for you, the very first page of the introduction answers who this book is for. But in a nutshell, it is for every mom who is a sinner and wants to be like Jesus.
"We are moms who love our children and know the privilege of our high calling, but see its demands, along with our struggles and shortcomings, and know, without a doubt, how much we need encouragement and help along the way."
This book is incredible. If I had the time and no responsibilities, I would have devoured it in about a day.
The chapters are short and to the point. There are reflection questions and words to meditate on at the end of each chapter as well as a prayer. At the end of the book, there are discussion questions you could answer yourself or with a friend/group.
This book is about Jesus. Yes, it speaks into our motherhood, but the point and the meat of it is Jesus.
We look into the life of Jesus from the Gospel of John and see how Jesus' humility can help us as moms. We learn more about who Jesus is and how we can be more like him. As people made in his image, we can strive to be like him.
If you're a sinner, you struggle to serve your family and want to serve them. You struggle to like your children even though you love them more than anything. But Jesus shows us how humility can make us serve with joy even when we don't want to. If we have His Spirit living in us, we have the power to say no to sin and yes to humility.
If you want to know if this book is for you, the very first page of the introduction answers who this book is for. But in a nutshell, it is for every mom who is a sinner and wants to be like Jesus.
"We are moms who love our children and know the privilege of our high calling, but see its demands, along with our struggles and shortcomings, and know, without a doubt, how much we need encouragement and help along the way."
This book is incredible. If I had the time and no responsibilities, I would have devoured it in about a day.
The chapters are short and to the point. There are reflection questions and words to meditate on at the end of each chapter as well as a prayer. At the end of the book, there are discussion questions you could answer yourself or with a friend/group.
February 2, 2023
This review is long overdue.
Being a mom is a thankless job, and requires everything. As mother's, we must sacrifice our time, desires, friendships, and we have a general feeling like our abilities are never enough and not done well. I personally get overwhelmed easily and lash out by yelling.
In her book, Kristen Wetherell reminds us that we have a Savior who also came not to be served but to serve. He knows what we are going through because he also went through it. He didn't Lord it over humanity that He was God, but lowered himself to become a servant and meet all of our needs.
Jesus is there as an example, he is there a resource for help, he changes our hearts, and he meets our needs even now when we reach out to Him for his help.
I know I've read other books with similar messages, but it's always helpful to be reminded over and over of these truths.
Thank you to B&H Publishing book for sending an ARC through netgalley in exchange for an honest review
Being a mom is a thankless job, and requires everything. As mother's, we must sacrifice our time, desires, friendships, and we have a general feeling like our abilities are never enough and not done well. I personally get overwhelmed easily and lash out by yelling.
In her book, Kristen Wetherell reminds us that we have a Savior who also came not to be served but to serve. He knows what we are going through because he also went through it. He didn't Lord it over humanity that He was God, but lowered himself to become a servant and meet all of our needs.
Jesus is there as an example, he is there a resource for help, he changes our hearts, and he meets our needs even now when we reach out to Him for his help.
I know I've read other books with similar messages, but it's always helpful to be reminded over and over of these truths.
Thank you to B&H Publishing book for sending an ARC through netgalley in exchange for an honest review
April 18, 2022
Thanks to B&H for the free book.
What a balm to the soul this book was. I wanted to spend unlimited time with it and also finish in one sitting. Y'all Wetherell speaks with so much grace, honesty, and transparency on what it means to be a humble mom and how we all mess it up. She writes about how easy it is to get off course, but then gently nudges her reader back to the Gospel truth. She reflects on Jesus' nature and how we can use that to inspire our motherhood. I also loved her references to Gentle and Lowly because that book is one of my absolute favorites, and I am going to reread it next while this motherhood message is fresh and I am able to go back and forth. This book is for all moms, and you won't find any condemnation or shame here - only relatability and directions back to Jesus.
What a balm to the soul this book was. I wanted to spend unlimited time with it and also finish in one sitting. Y'all Wetherell speaks with so much grace, honesty, and transparency on what it means to be a humble mom and how we all mess it up. She writes about how easy it is to get off course, but then gently nudges her reader back to the Gospel truth. She reflects on Jesus' nature and how we can use that to inspire our motherhood. I also loved her references to Gentle and Lowly because that book is one of my absolute favorites, and I am going to reread it next while this motherhood message is fresh and I am able to go back and forth. This book is for all moms, and you won't find any condemnation or shame here - only relatability and directions back to Jesus.
February 15, 2025
One significant issue with the book is the author’s integration of Trinitarian doctrine, which at times interferes with the clarity and impact of her message. Rather than allowing the central theme to stand on its own, she repeatedly introduces theological concepts that seem unnecessary and, in some cases, distracting.
One particular concern is her assertion that Jesus prays for us. While intercession is often attributed to Christ, Scripture makes it clear that Jesus' role is as our mediator, not someone who actively prays on our behalf in the way the author suggests. This misunderstanding leads to a theological inconsistency that could mislead readers seeking biblical accuracy.
Those looking for a resource unburdened by Trinitarian presuppositions may need to look elsewhere.
One particular concern is her assertion that Jesus prays for us. While intercession is often attributed to Christ, Scripture makes it clear that Jesus' role is as our mediator, not someone who actively prays on our behalf in the way the author suggests. This misunderstanding leads to a theological inconsistency that could mislead readers seeking biblical accuracy.
Those looking for a resource unburdened by Trinitarian presuppositions may need to look elsewhere.
October 24, 2025
If you're a mom and in need of encouragement, l'd recommend this book because the author takes a close look at Jesus and His humble example of sacrificial service through the book John. Reading as devotionals through specific passages in John, we are reminded that we can be tempted to find our fulfillment in our role as mothers and/or in our children, but, ultimately, this will fail us. Kristen reminds us to look to Christ and the example He gives us as He lived a life of humility and to look to Him as our source of hope and endurance. Jesus has not asked us to do anything He has not already done Himself and He is our perfect example of what it means to serve with a humble heart for the glory of the Father.
May 29, 2022
As a mom with a toddler, I need all the humility I can get. I did enjoy this devotional, and I appreciated the broad spectrum of motherhood represented within. I found that it was broken up into manageable chunks, which, as a mom, is very helpful in giving me time to take in the reflections and digest the content.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, and all opinions are my own.
Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the ARC, and all opinions are my own.
January 11, 2023
Humble Moms by Kristen Wetherell is a such a wonderful, encouraging book for all mothers. It is centered around the Word of God and what Christ has done for us -- which is what all books should be centered on, really. In her book, Kristen leads the reader through the Gospel of John and applies what is learned there to motherhood and the everyday life. All in all, this was such an encouraging book and I loved it.
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