Hope for Broken MothersThe LORD is near to the brokenhearted and

saves those who are crushed in spirit.

Psalm 34:18

Part 1: The Search for Identity

1. Our identity determines our behavior.

Proverbs 4:23 (NIV)" Above all else, guard your heart for everything you do flows from it."

2. Because we belong to Christ we have a God that wants to help us grow and overcome our weaknesses.

Hebrews 4:16 (NIV) Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.

Part 2: Broken Mothers in the Bible

1. The converted mother: RahabJoshua 2, 6:12-25; Hebrew 11:31

Joshua 6:24-2524 And they burned the city with fire, and all within it; only the silver and gold, and the vessels of bronze and of iron, they put into the treasury of the house of the LORD. 25 But Rahab the harlot, and her father's household, and all who belonged to her, Joshua saved alive; and she dwelt in Israel to this day, because she hid the messengers whom Joshua sent to spy out Jericho.

Hebrews 11:31 (NLT)It was by faith that Rahab the prostitute was not destroyed with the people in her city who refused to obey God. For she had given a friendly welcome to the spies.

Hope Message: Because she trusted God, generational curses were broken.

Application: Pray for the strength and the wisdom to overcome generational curses.

2. The unloved mother: LeahGenesis 29:15-35

Genesis 29: 31 (NIV)31 When the Lord saw that Leah was not loved, he enabled her to conceive, but Rachel remained childless.

Genesis 29: 33-35 (NIV)34 She conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now this time my husband will become attached to me, because I have borne him three sons.” Therefore his name was called Levi.[c] 35 And she conceived again and bore a son, and said, “Now I will praise the Lord.” Therefore she called his name Judah.[d] Then she stopped bearing.

Hope Message: God sees our suffering and intervenes.

Application: Pray to understand God's purpose for your suffering.

Bonus Application: Pray to ask God to turn your focus off what you are not getting, and on to how He is still blessing you in the midst of your suffering.

3. Mother’s of broken children: MaryJohn 19: 25-27

John 19:25-27 (NIV)25 Near the cross of Jesus stood his mother, his mother’s sister, Mary the wife of Clopas, and Mary Magdalene. 26 When Jesus saw his mother there, and the disciple whom he loved standing nearby, he said to her, “Woman,[a] here is your son,” 27 and to the disciple, “Here is your mother.” From that time on, this

disciple took her into his home.

Hope Message: God provides comforters in the midst of suffering.

Application: Pray for comforters.