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What does Jesus teach us about marriage, children, and what it means to follow Him? In Matthew 19–20 and Mark 10, Jesus challenges the expectations of the religious leaders and even His own disciples. He points them back to God's original design for marriage, welcomes little children whom others considered unimportant, exposes the heart's attachment to earthly possessions, and teaches that true greatness is found in serving rather than being served.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries, Stephanie Hickox walks through Mark 10, which brings together many of the teachings found in Matthew 19 and 20. As we follow Jesus on His journey toward Jerusalem, we'll consider what His words reveal about biblical marriage, the value of children, salvation, humility, and the kind of servant-hearted leadership Christian parents are called to model.

If you're a Christian mom following a chronological Bible reading plan or looking for a Bible podcast that connects Scripture to everyday motherhood, this episode will encourage you to look beyond cultural expectations and keep your heart centered on Christ.

• God's original design for marriage: Why Jesus takes the Pharisees back to creation and reminds them that marriage is a covenant in which a husband and wife become one flesh.
• Jesus' teaching on divorce: What Scripture says about God's design for marriage, the hardness of the human heart, and the difference between God's ideal and the painful realities many families experience.
• When marriage involves abuse or danger: Why seeking godly counsel and prioritizing the safety of a mother and her children are essential when facing difficult family circumstances.
• Why Jesus welcomed little children: How Jesus turned the disciples' assumptions upside down by declaring that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child.
• The value of children in God's kingdom: Why children are never an interruption to Jesus and how this passage encourages us to consider their eternal souls.
• Comfort for mothers who have lost a child: How Jesus' welcome of little children offers encouragement to those grieving miscarriage or the death of a child.
• The rich young ruler and the condition of the heart: Why outward obedience and material success cannot earn salvation, and how even good things can become idols.
• Salvation is impossible apart from God: What Jesus means when He says that with man salvation is impossible, but with God all things are possible.
• What true greatness looks like: Why Jesus challenges the disciples' desire for positions of honor and teaches that greatness in His kingdom is found in serving others.
• Jesus came to serve and give His life: How the Son of Man's example of sacrificial service should shape the way we live and parent.
• Bartimaeus' persistent faith: What we can learn from the blind man who refused to be silenced when he cried out to Jesus for mercy.
• Living for God's glory rather than our own: Why following Jesus means surrendering our expectations and remembering that we were created for His glory.

When the Pharisees question Jesus about divorce, He doesn't begin with the cultural debates of the day. He takes them back to the beginning—to God's design in creation.

Jesus reminds them that God made male and female and that a husband and wife become one flesh. The word used for being joined together carries the idea of being joined or glued together. Marriage is not merely a human arrangement; it is a covenant relationship established by God.

Jesus explains that Moses permitted divorce because of the hardness of people's hearts, but that was not God's original design.

At Entrusted Ministries, we want to uphold God's ideal for marriage while recognizing that many families have experienced painful circumstances because of sin, betrayal, or situations beyond their control. If you are facing a difficult decision, especially where abuse or danger is involved, please seek godly counsel and prioritize the safety of yourself and your children.

God's Word gives us a beautiful picture of marriage, but it also reminds us that we live in a broken world where we need the wisdom, compassion, and help of the Lord.

Immediately following His teaching about marriage, Jesus welcomes the little children.

The disciples try to keep them away, but Jesus is indignant. He tells them not to hinder the children from coming to Him and explains that the kingdom of God belongs to those who receive it like a child.

What a beautiful reminder for Christian parents!

Our children are not interruptions to the work of Jesus. They matter deeply to Him. As moms, we have the privilege of introducing our children to the Savior, teaching them His Word, and helping them understand what it means to trust and follow Him.

Stephanie also reflects on the comfort this passage offers to mothers who have experienced miscarriage or the loss of a child. The parallel account in Luke uses the word infants, and the episode considers a commentary's understanding that God's grace extends to those too young or mentally unable to exercise faith. This is a tender and important topic for families who have experienced profound grief.

The rich young ruler appears sincere. He approaches Jesus asking what he must do to inherit eternal life and believes he has kept the commandments from his youth.

But Jesus sees what is happening beneath the surface. Mark tells us that Jesus loved him, yet He exposes the young man's attachment to his possessions. When Jesus tells him to sell what he has, give to the poor, and follow Him, the man walks away sorrowful.

This encounter reminds us that salvation cannot be earned through good behavior, religious activity, or material generosity. It is impossible for us to save ourselves. Only God can make a way.

For Christian moms, this passage also invites us to examine our own hearts. Are we holding tightly to possessions, comfort, financial security, or the things we believe will make our lives better? Even when we have little, we can be tempted to covet what we don't have.

Following Jesus means recognizing that He is worth more than anything this world can offer.

As Jesus approaches Jerusalem, He tells His disciples for the third time that He will suffer, die, and rise again. Yet James and John respond by asking for places of honor in His kingdom.

Jesus uses their request to teach an essential lesson about greatness.

The world values authority, position, and power over others. But Jesus tells His followers that it must not be that way among them. Whoever wants to be great must become a servant.

Then He points to His own example:

“For even the Son of Man came not to be served but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.” — Mark 10:45 (ESV)

This is an important reminder for mothers. Our goal is not to use our authority to control others or to seek recognition for what we do. We are called to follow the example of Jesus, serving faithfully and pointing our families toward Him.

We were created for His glory—not the other way around.

As Jesus leaves Jericho, a blind beggar named Bartimaeus hears that He is passing by. He begins crying out, “Jesus, Son of David, have mercy on me!”

The crowd tells him to be quiet, but he cries out even louder.

Jesus stops and calls him. When Jesus asks what he wants, Bartimaeus asks to recover his sight. Jesus heals him, and Bartimaeus follows Him on the way.

What a contrast to James and John, who had just asked Jesus for positions of honor! Bartimaeus recognizes his need and asks for mercy. His response to Jesus is to follow Him.

This account reminds us to approach Jesus with humility, recognizing our need for His mercy and grace.

Matthew 19–20 and Mark 10

Stephanie reads through Mark 10, which includes much of the same material found in Matthew 19 and 20.

Key passages and themes discussed:

• Genesis 1–2 — God's original design for marriage.
• Malachi 2 — God's desire for godly offspring and faithfulness in marriage.
• Mark 10:1–12 — Jesus' teaching about marriage and divorce.
• Mark 10:13–16 — Jesus welcomes and blesses the little children.
• Mark 10:17–31 — The rich young ruler and the impossibility of earning salvation.
• Mark 10:32–45 — Jesus foretells His death and teaches about servant leadership.
• Mark 10:46–52 — Jesus heals Bartimaeus.
• Luke's parallel account of Jesus welcoming infants — An additional perspective on the value of little children.

• Does my understanding of marriage reflect God's design, or have I allowed cultural expectations to shape my thinking?
• Am I helping my children recognize how much Jesus values them and how important it is to come to Him?
• Are there possessions, comforts, or earthly desires that compete with my devotion to Christ?
• Do I sometimes measure greatness...

What is your deepest fear as a mother? For many of us, it's the thought of losing a child, losing our husbands, or leaving our families too soon. The reality of death and the brokenness of this world can make it difficult to live without fear. But what if the answer isn't found in gaining more control over our circumstances, but in knowing the One who has power over death itself?

In John 11, Jesus makes one of the most extraordinary declarations in all of Scripture: “I am the resurrection and the life.” Then He demonstrates that truth by raising Lazarus from the dead. This is more than an incredible miracle. It is a sign revealing the identity of Jesus Christ—the Son of God, the author of life, and the victor over death.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries, Stephanie Hickox walks through John 11 and explores the raising of Lazarus, one of Jesus' greatest signs. We see both the deity and humanity of Christ: His undeniable authority over death and His willingness to enter into the grief of those He loves.

What does it mean when God seems to delay His answer to our prayers? Why did Jesus weep when He knew He was about to raise Lazarus? And how does the promise of eternal life change the way we approach motherhood, fear, grief, and the future of our families?

If you're a Christian mom looking for a Bible podcast that helps you understand Scripture and apply God's truth to everyday motherhood, this episode will encourage you to place your confidence in Jesus—even when life doesn't unfold as you hoped.

• Jesus is the Resurrection and the Life: What Jesus' declaration in John 11 reveals about His identity, His deity, and His power over death.
• The seven signs in John's Gospel: How Jesus' miracles reveal more than His ability to perform the extraordinary—they point to who He is.
• When God's timing feels like a delay: Why Jesus waited before going to Lazarus and how His delay flowed from His love and had a greater purpose.
• Jesus understands our grief: Why the shortest verse in the Bible, “Jesus wept,” reveals something profound about the heart of our Savior.
• The reality of death and the brokenness of this world: Why our grief is not something to dismiss or minimize, and how Jesus meets us in our deepest pain.
• When fear takes hold of motherhood: How the fear of losing someone we love can influence our decisions, our parenting, and our desire to control the future.
• Faith when God doesn't answer as we hoped: How we can trust God's goodness even when He does not intervene in the way or timing we desperately want.
• The hope of eternal life: Why the resurrection of Lazarus points us toward the greater victory Jesus would accomplish through His own resurrection.
• Praying persistently: How the parable of the persistent widow in Luke 18 encourages us to keep asking, seeking, and knocking as we bring our fears and requests to God.
• Praying for the eternal souls of our children and loved ones: Why we must not become so distracted by today's responsibilities that we neglect what matters for eternity.

When Mary comes to Jesus, she falls at His feet and expresses the pain of losing her brother. Jesus sees her weeping, along with the people who have come to grieve with her. He is deeply moved and troubled. Then we read those two remarkable words: Jesus wept.

Jesus knew He was about to raise Lazarus. He knew death would not have the final word in this moment. And yet He did not stand at a distance from the sorrow of those He loved.

As moms, we can sometimes picture God primarily as the One who fixes our problems and provides solutions. But John 11 reminds us that Jesus does more than offer a way out of our pain. He enters into it with us.

Death was never part of the good world God created us to enjoy. It is an enemy, and Jesus came to defeat it. Our Savior understands the devastation of grief, and He is not indifferent to our tears.

One of the most surprising details in John 11 is that Jesus intentionally waited two more days after hearing that Lazarus was ill.

John tells us:

“Now Jesus loved Martha and her sister and Lazarus. So when he heard that Lazarus was ill, he stayed two days longer in the place where he was.” — John 11:5–6 (ESV)

What a challenging truth for anyone who has pleaded with God to intervene. Sometimes we feel as though the situation could not be more desperate. We expect God to move at the last possible moment, and sometimes He doesn't move in the way we asked Him to.

But the delay in this story did not mean Jesus loved Lazarus and his sisters any less. His timing had a purpose that they could not yet see.

Sometimes what seems like a delay to us flows from His love.

This doesn't mean we will always understand God's purposes or receive the earthly outcome we desire. It means we can trust the character of the One who holds our future.

For many mothers, the thought of losing a child or a spouse is almost unbearable. And when we experience the death of someone we love, the reality of our own mortality can suddenly feel much closer.

Stephanie shares personally about the unexpected loss of her father, the grief she experienced as a new mother, and the fear that followed. She describes learning to battle fear with faith and choosing to worship the God who had saved her father, trusting in the hope of seeing him again.

Christian faith does not promise a life free from tragedy. Jesus promised that we would have trouble in this world. But He also offers something no earthly circumstance can take away: the hope of eternal life with Him.

As we raise our children, we cannot protect them from every hardship or control every outcome. We can, however, continually point them to the One who has conquered death.

The episode also turns to Luke 18 and Jesus' parable of the persistent widow. If even an unrighteous judge eventually responds to a woman who continues to ask, how much more can we trust our loving heavenly Father?

When fear begins to grip your heart, bring those fears to the Lord. Keep asking Him for peace. Keep seeking Him in His Word. Keep praying for your children, your spouse, and the people you love who have not yet surrendered their lives to Christ.

And as you go about the daily work of motherhood, remember that the eternal condition of the souls entrusted to your care matters more than the distractions and demands of today.

John 11 and Luke 17–18

Key passages and themes discussed:

• John 11:1–44 — Jesus raises Lazarus from the dead.
• John 11:25–26 — Jesus declares, “I am the resurrection and the life.”
• John 11:35 — Jesus weeps with those who are grieving.
• John 11:45–53 — The response of the religious leaders and the events that lead toward Jesus' death.
• John 20:30–31

Entrusted With a Child's Heart — Learn more about this biblical parenting study, including practical guidance for helping children walk in repentance and pursue reconciliation.

Find the related episode and Entrusted Ministries resources through the links provided in the episode's show notes.Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

Podcast Page

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

How do we respond when our children sin? Do we respond with disappointment, shame, and frustration—or do we reflect the heart of a Father who rejoices when the lost are found and sinners repent?

In Luke 15, Jesus tells three powerful parables: the lost sheep, the lost coin, and the prodigal son. Each story reveals the incredible joy of heaven when a sinner repents. But these familiar passages also challenge our own hearts, especially as parents. Are we more concerned with our children's outward behavior than the condition of their hearts? Can we extend the grace of the gospel when our children acknowledge their sin and come to us in humility?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores Luke chapters 14–16 and considers what these parables teach us about repentance, forgiveness, restoration, and biblical parenting. We'll look closely at the father's response to his wayward son, the older brother's self-righteousness, and the extraordinary love of God for those who recognize their need for a Savior.

If you're a Christian mom following a chronological Bible reading plan, seeking biblical parenting wisdom, or walking through the heartbreak of a prodigal child, this Bible study offers a powerful reminder: the gospel gives us a better way to respond to sin—with truth, humility, mercy, and a longing for restoration.

• The three parables of the lost: What the lost sheep, lost coin, and prodigal son reveal about God's heart for sinners.
• The joy of repentance: Why Jesus says there is rejoicing in heaven over one sinner who repents.
• The danger of self-righteousness: How the Pharisees' criticism of Jesus exposes the heart of the older brother in the prodigal son parable.
• The shocking rebellion of the younger son: Why asking for his inheritance was such an extraordinary insult to his father and what his journey into reckless living reveals about sin.
• The Father's response to repentance: Why the father's compassion, embrace, and celebration give us such a beautiful picture of God's mercy.
• Biblical parenting when children sin: How can we respond when our children come to us genuinely broken over their wrongdoing?
• The difference between repentance and outward behavior: Why we must be careful not to value children who simply appear obedient over children whose hearts are surrendered to God.
• Parenting a prodigal: Encouragement for mothers praying for children who have wandered from the Lord, including the importance of persistent prayer and hope.
• The older brother's warning: Why even those who have remained close to home can become distant from the Father's heart.
• The blessing of dwelling with God: How the Father's words to the older son remind us that the greatest treasure is already ours when we belong to Him.

One of the most important parenting applications in Luke 15 comes from the father's response when his younger son finally returns home.

The son recognizes his sin, acknowledges that he is unworthy, and comes back to his father in humility. But before he can even finish his confession, his father runs to him, embraces him, and welcomes him home.

What a picture of the Father's heart!

As Christian parents, we have an opportunity to reflect that same mercy when our children acknowledge their sin. This does not mean ignoring wrongdoing, minimizing the seriousness of sin, or abandoning the responsibility to train our children in righteousness. It means remembering the gospel as we respond.

When a child is genuinely repentant, our desire should be restoration—not humiliation. We can lovingly address the sin, provide appropriate correction, and help our children walk in righteousness while also celebrating the humility that brought them to confession.

Stephanie shares a personal experience of asking the Lord to help her respond with the grace of Jesus Christ when one of her own children was deeply broken over sin. It was a reminder that the gospel is not simply something we teach our children to believe; it is the truth we must believe and live out in our parenting.

Do we really believe in the forgiveness Jesus purchased for us? And are we willing to extend that same gospel-shaped grace to our children?

For mothers with a prodigal child, the story of the younger son offers a deeply meaningful picture of hope.

The father does not appear indifferent to his son's rebellion. Yet when the son returns, the father's response is marked by compassion and joy. He celebrates that his son, who was lost, has been found.

Stephanie also shares the testimony of Christopher Yuan and his mother's persistent prayers during a season when her son was far from the Lord. His story is a powerful reminder of the importance of prayer and the hope we can have in God's ability to redeem lives.

She also reflects on the experience of Betsy, Entrusted Ministries' founder, who has written about walking through the pain of having a prodigal child. Her testimony reminds us that even faithful parents cannot guarantee the choices their children will make. Adam and Eve sinned despite having a perfect Father.

If you're carrying the heartbreak, uncertainty, or shame that can accompany a child's wayward choices, remember that you are not alone. We can pray faithfully, trust the Lord with our children, and hold fast to the hope that He is able to bring the lost home.

It's easy to focus on the younger son and his reckless rebellion. But Jesus doesn't end the parable there.

The older brother is angry that his father has welcomed his brother home and celebrated his return. He points to his own years of service and obedience, seemingly unable to rejoice over his brother's restoration.

His response exposes another kind of lostness: the self-righteousness of someone who is physically near the father but does not share the father's heart.

This is an important warning for Christian moms. We can become so focused on raising children who follow the rules that we forget the goal is wholehearted devotion to Christ.

Outward compliance is not the same as a heart transformed by the gospel. We want our children to understand their sin, recognize their need for Jesus, and learn to love what He loves.

And we must examine our own hearts, too. Are we rejoicing in the grace we have received, or have we begun to believe that our faithfulness makes us more deserving of God's favor?

The Father's words remind us of the blessing of belonging to Him: "Son, you are always with me, and all that is mine is yours."

What a privilege it is to dwell with our Father!

Luke 14–16

The primary focus of this episode is Luke 15.

Additional Scripture themes include:

• Repentance and forgiveness.
• God's compassion for sinners.
• The difference between outward righteousness and inward transformation.
• The joy of restoration.
• The Father's love for His children.

• When my child confesses sin, do I respond in a way that reflects the Father's heart?
• Am I more concerned about outward obedience or genuine repentance and heart transformation?
• Do I make it safe for my children to acknowledge their sin and seek forgiveness?
• Have I become more like the older brother, taking pride in my own faithfulness while struggling to rejoice over someone else's restoration?
• If I have a prodigal child, am I continuing to pray and trust the Lord with their story?
• Am I living in the joy of knowing that I have been welcomed into the Father's presence through Jesus?

Heavenly Father, thank You for the incredible mercy You have shown us. Keep us from self-righteousness and help us rejoice in the grace we have received. Give us hearts that reflect Your compassion when our children acknowledge their sin. Help us to pursue their restoration, lovingly guide them toward righteousness, and never value outward behavior over genuine devotion to You. For the mothers who are praying for prodigal children, we ask that You would work mightily in their families. Draw those who have wandered back to Yourself, and give these moms faith to trust You while they wait. May our homes reflect the joy of Your mercy and the hope of the gospel. In Jesus' name, amen.

• Devoted: Great Men and Their Godly Moms by Tim Challies — Includes the testimony of Christopher Yuan and his mother's faithful prayers.
• Entrusted Ministries — Learn more about Entrusted Ministries' biblical parenting resources and Betsy's testimony about parenting a prodigal child at EntrustedMinistries.com.

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries helps Christian moms understand Scripture and apply biblical truth to everyday motherhood.

Whether you're looking for a Bible podcast for Christian moms, following a...

Again Episode on Finding Time for The Word

How can you put Jesus first when motherhood seems to demand everything from you? Between preparing meals, caring for children, managing a home, and meeting the needs of everyone around you, finding time to sit at the feet of Jesus can feel nearly impossible.

In Luke 10, Jesus encounters two sisters, Mary and Martha. Mary sits at His feet and listens to His teaching, while Martha is distracted by all the preparations required to serve Him. When Jesus gently corrects Martha, He reminds her that one thing is necessary—and Mary has chosen what will last.

But does putting Jesus first mean doing less? Is serving our families somehow less spiritual than spending time in God's Word? And how can Christian moms faithfully embrace the responsibilities of motherhood without allowing them to crowd out their relationship with Christ?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores Luke chapters 10, 12, and 13, considering what it means to honor Jesus in the middle of everyday responsibilities. Through the stories of the Good Samaritan and Mary and Martha, we'll discover that biblical hospitality, Christian service, and motherhood must all flow from a heart that is first devoted to Christ.

If you're a busy mom following a chronological Bible reading plan or looking for a Bible podcast that helps you connect Scripture to everyday motherhood, this episode will encourage you to seek the Lord first and serve your family from the overflow of His love.

• The radical message of the Good Samaritan: Why Jesus' choice of a Samaritan as the hero would have challenged His Jewish listeners and exposed the difference between outward religion and a heart transformed by God's love.
• What it really means to love your neighbor: Why compassion and mercy matter more than religious appearances or a checklist of spiritual activities.
• Mary and Martha's different approaches to serving Jesus: What Jesus' words reveal about anxiety, distraction, hospitality, and the importance of being with Him.
• Putting Jesus first in motherhood: How can moms prioritize their relationship with Christ when the needs of their families seem never-ending?
• Serving without resentment: Why our heart attitude matters more than whether others notice or appreciate our efforts.
• The difference between serving in our own strength and serving from God's overflow: How spending time with Jesus transforms the way we approach the work of motherhood.
• Making practical changes to prioritize God's Word: Simple adjustments to routines, meal preparation, and children's schedules that can help make room for Scripture.
• Remembering the eternal: Why we must be careful not to invest more attention in temporary physical concerns than in the eternal condition of our souls.
• Embracing the season of motherhood: How to recognize the blessings woven into the daily work of raising children, even when the responsibilities feel exhausting.

The story of Mary and Martha is often presented as a choice between two personalities: the task-oriented Martha and the relational Mary. But what if Jesus is addressing something much deeper than personality?

Martha wanted to honor Jesus through hospitality. She recognized the importance of welcoming Him into her home and serving Him well. Yet in the midst of all her preparations, she became anxious and distracted.

Mary chose to sit at Jesus' feet and listen.

For Christian moms, this passage raises an important question: Are we so occupied with the necessary work of caring for our families that we neglect the One who gives that work its meaning?

Motherhood involves real responsibilities. We are called to serve, sacrifice, work diligently, and care for the people God has entrusted to us. But our service should never replace our relationship with Christ.

The goal isn't to become less diligent or to abandon our responsibilities. It's to learn to serve from a heart that has first been with Jesus.

As Christian moms, we spend countless hours caring for our children's physical needs. We prepare meals, research solutions, organize schedules, and work to provide what they need to grow.

But are we giving equal attention to their souls—and to our own?

Biblical parenting requires us to keep eternal priorities in view. Our children need more than healthy bodies, successful schedules, and well-managed homes. They need to see parents who treasure Christ and understand that knowing Him is the most important thing in life.

That doesn't mean every mom will have the same routine or the same opportunities for uninterrupted Bible study. It may mean simplifying breakfast, establishing a quiet time for older children, or making a practical adjustment to create space for God's Word.

The important thing is to recognize that we cannot consistently serve our families with joy if we are neglecting our own dependence on the Lord.

We don't serve because we are less than. We serve because we know how great He is.

Jesus' teaching about the Good Samaritan and His conversation with Martha offer two important perspectives on Christian service.

The Good Samaritan demonstrates sacrificial love through practical action. Martha demonstrates how even good service can become a source of anxiety and distraction when our hearts lose their focus.

Colossians 3:23 reminds us to work heartily as for the Lord and not for men. This changes the motivation behind the ordinary work of motherhood.

We don't prepare meals, care for our children, serve our husbands, or extend hospitality because we need someone to notice. We do these things as an expression of devotion to Christ.

And when we're weary, we can ask Him for help. We serve in dependence on His strength, trusting that He sees us and is sufficient for what He has called us to do.

Luke 10, 12, and 13

Additional Scripture passages discussed:

• Colossians 3:23 — Working heartily as for the Lord.
• Proverbs 31 — The diligence and service of a godly woman.
• John 12:2 — Martha serving at another meal for Jesus.
• The account of Jesus feeding the five thousand — Remembering His ability to provide beyond what we can accomplish ourselves.

• Am I so busy serving my family that I am neglecting time with Jesus?
• Do I serve out of gratitude and love for Christ, or am I hoping others will notice my efforts?
• What practical changes could I make to create more consistent time in God's Word?
• Am I investing as much attention in my children's souls as I am in their physical needs?
• How can I help my children see that serving others is a privilege and an expression of love for God?

Heavenly Father, thank You for seeing us in the ordinary responsibilities of motherhood. Help us to follow Jesus' example by first seeking Your presence and then serving from the overflow of Your love. Give us wisdom to recognize what matters most, courage to make the adjustments we need, and grateful hearts for the privilege of caring for the families You have entrusted to us. May our homes reflect our devotion to You, and may our children see the joy of walking with Christ. In Jesus' name, amen.

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries helps Christian moms grow in their understanding of Scripture through a chronological Bible reading plan and practical encouragement for faith and family life.

Whether you're looking for a Bible podcast for women, a New Testament Bible reading plan, biblical parenting wisdom, or encouragement to grow in your own walk with Jesus, join Stephanie Hickox as she explores God's Word and considers how its truth transforms everyday motherhood.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place and continue growing in God's Word, one day at a time.

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Entrusted With a Child's Heart — Learn more about this biblical parenting study, including practical guidance for helping children walk in repentance and pursue reconciliation.

Find the related episode and Entrusted Ministries resources through the links provided in the episode's show notes.Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

Podcast Page

Commentaries Most Referenced:

What does it mean to know the voice of Jesus, trust His goodness, and rest in the assurance that He will hold us fast? In John 9–10, Jesus heals a man born blind, exposes the failures of religious leaders, and reveals Himself as the Door and the Good Shepherd who lays down His life for His sheep.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through John chapters 9 and 10 to explore the character of Jesus, the security believers have in Him, and the privilege Christian parents have of modeling the Good Shepherd’s loving authority for their children.

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan through the New Testament, we’ll see how Jesus fulfills God’s promises, why He alone is the way to the Father, and how His love transforms the way we understand authority, obedience, suffering, and faith.

If you’re a Christian mom who wants to grow in God’s Word and gain biblical parenting wisdom, this Bible study will encourage you to trust the Good Shepherd more deeply—and help your children learn to recognize and follow His voice.

• Jesus, the Light of the World: What the healing of the man born blind reveals about Jesus as the Messiah and the Creator who brings light into darkness.
• When suffering isn’t punishment: Why Jesus rejected the assumption that the man’s blindness was caused by his sin or his parents’ sin—and how God can display His glory in the midst of difficult circumstances.
• The danger of legalistic religion: How the Pharisees’ response to a miraculous healing reveals the difference between protecting religious traditions and reflecting God’s heart.
• Jesus is the Door: Why Jesus is not merely one way to God but the only way to the Father.
• Jesus, the Good Shepherd: What John 10 teaches us about Christ’s personal care, sacrificial love, and commitment to His sheep.
• The security of salvation: How Jesus’ promise that no one can snatch His sheep from His hand offers comfort to believers who wonder whether they can lose their salvation.
• God’s sovereignty and our response: How we can consider God’s choosing grace alongside our responsibility to respond to His call.
• Biblical parenting and loving authority: Why teaching children to listen and obey can help prepare them to recognize the goodness of God’s authority.
• Modeling the Good Shepherd: How Christian parents can use their authority to bless, protect, guide, and serve their children rather than burden them with rules.

One of the most meaningful connections between John 10 and Christian parenting is Jesus’ description of His sheep: they know His voice and follow Him.

As parents, we have the privilege of modeling what it looks like to live under the loving authority of Christ. When we teach our children to listen and obey, our goal is not simply outward compliance. We want them to grow in their understanding of God’s goodness and eventually embrace His authority for themselves.

Our parenting should reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd. He does not exploit His sheep or lead them for His own selfish gain. He knows them, protects them, guides them, and willingly lays down His life for them.

This gives Christian moms an important question to consider: Does our authority help our children see that God is good and that His commands are for their good?

Biblical parenting requires more than rules and consequences. It calls us to depend on Jesus as we seek to cultivate humble hearts, teach obedience, and point our children toward a Savior who is worthy of their trust.

We cannot accomplish this in our own strength. We need the Good Shepherd to shape our hearts so that our children see His goodness reflected in our lives.

When Jesus’ disciples encountered a man who had been blind from birth, they immediately asked whose sin had caused his condition. Jesus corrected their assumption, teaching them to see the situation in light of God’s work.

This passage reminds us not to automatically interpret hardship, suffering, or a child’s struggle as evidence of personal sin or divine punishment. Instead, we can bring our questions and pain to the Lord, trusting that He is able to work for His glory even in circumstances we do not understand.

For moms walking through difficult seasons with their children or families, this truth offers a needed reminder: our struggles do not place us beyond the reach of God’s goodness.

Perhaps one of the most comforting promises in John 10 is Jesus’ declaration that His sheep will never perish and that no one can snatch them out of His hand.

Our confidence is not ultimately in our ability to hold tightly to God. It rests in the power and faithfulness of Jesus, who laid down His life for His sheep and is able to keep them.

That assurance changes how we live and parent. We can pursue obedience without trying to earn God’s love. We can guide our children toward Christ while remembering that only He can transform their hearts. And we can face our weaknesses with humility, knowing how desperately we need our Shepherd.

As you listen, consider: Are you resting in the goodness of Jesus? Are you teaching your children to see His authority as loving and trustworthy? And does your life display gratitude for the Savior who gave Himself on your behalf?

John 9–10

Additional Scripture passages discussed:

• Exodus 3 — God reveals Himself as “I AM.”
• Ezekiel 34 — God rebukes unfaithful shepherds and promises to seek His sheep.
• Jeremiah 23 — God condemns shepherds who scatter and neglect His people.
• Revelation 3:20 — Jesus’ invitation to fellowship with Him.
• The Ten Commandments — The call to honor father and mother.

Heavenly Father, thank You for the goodness and love Your Son has shown us. Help us trust You more deeply and rest in the assurance that Jesus is able to keep His sheep. Teach us to reflect the heart of the Good Shepherd as we guide our children, using our authority to bless, protect, and point them toward You. May our homes display the joy of following Jesus, and may our lives reflect gratitude for the Savior who laid down His life for us. In Jesus’ name, amen.

Join Stephanie Hickox on The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms as we continue our chronological journey through Scripture. Whether you’re following a New Testament Bible reading plan, looking for a Bible podcast for Christian moms, or seeking biblical wisdom for parenting and family life, this podcast will help you dig into God’s Word and apply its truth to everyday life.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place from Entrusted Ministries and keep making room to dwell in God’s Word.

#ChristianMoms #BiblePodcast #BiblicalParenting #ChristianParenting #ChronologicalBibleReadingPlan #NewTestamentBibleReadingPlan #BibleStudyForWomen #BiblicalMotherhood #FaithAndFamily #John9 #John10 #GoodShepherd

Entrusted With a Child's Heart — Learn more about this biblical parenting study, including practical guidance for helping children walk in repentance and pursue reconciliation.

Find the related episode and Entrusted Ministries resources through the links provided in the episode's show notes.Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

Podcast Page

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

Are we raising children who know a list of Christian rules—or children who are learning to love Jesus and experience the joy of walking with Him? What happens when religious rules become more important than the heart behind them? And where can weary moms find the living water that truly satisfies?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries, Stephanie Hickox explores John 7–8 and Jesus' bold confrontation of religious legalism. As Jesus exposes the pride of the Pharisees, He offers something far greater than a checklist of religious duties: freedom from sin, truth that transforms us, and the living water that only He can provide.

For Christian moms following a chronological Bible reading plan, this Bible study offers an important reminder: we cannot cultivate a joyful, transformed faith in our children if we are not continually coming to Jesus ourselves.

Jesus declares, “If anyone thirsts, let him come to me and drink” (John 7:37, ESV). His invitation speaks directly to busy moms who feel overwhelmed by responsibilities, burdened by expectations, or caught in the exhausting cycle of trying to do everything right.

Join Stephanie as she considers what these chapters teach us about biblical parenting, the freedom of the gospel, and raising children who experience the goodness of God rather than simply learning to follow religious rules.

• Jesus, the source of living water: Explore Jesus' invitation in John 7:37–39 and discover why no amount of religious activity can satisfy our deepest spiritual thirst.
• The danger of religious legalism: Learn how the Pharisees' desire to honor God's commands became distorted by pride, revealing the difference between outward obedience and a heart transformed by God.
• Jesus, the Light of the World: Understand the significance of Jesus' declaration in John 8:12 and His promise that those who follow Him will have the light of life.
• The freedom found in God's truth: Discover what Jesus means when He says, “the truth will set you free” (John 8:31–32), and how abiding in His Word shapes a life of genuine discipleship.
• The difference between biblical convictions and personal preferences: Consider how Christian parents can establish wise boundaries without turning personal standards into spiritual requirements that Scripture does not impose.
• How to raise children who love Jesus, not just the rules: Learn why discipling your children involves more than correcting outward behavior and how your own relationship with Christ influences the faith you pass on.
• Finding joy in the middle of motherhood: Receive encouragement to return to Jesus when you're tired, overwhelmed, or tempted to measure your faithfulness by how much you've accomplished.
• Trusting the reliability of God's Word: Consider why careful attention to Scripture and its manuscript history matters as we study difficult passages and teach God's truth to our children.

As Christian moms, we want our children to honor God. We teach them to speak respectfully, make wise choices, avoid sin, and live differently from the world. These desires can come from a sincere love for the Lord.

But how do we distinguish biblical commands from personal convictions? And how can we establish appropriate guardrails without making our children believe that Christianity is simply a long list of things they can and cannot do?

In John 7–8, Jesus confronts religious leaders who were so focused on their interpretation of God's law that they failed to recognize the very One to whom the Scriptures pointed.

This challenges us to examine our own parenting. Are we so concerned with outward behavior that we overlook the heart? Are our children learning why we honor God, or are they simply learning how to comply with our expectations?

Biblical parenting does involve teaching, correction, and boundaries. But those things should serve a greater purpose: helping our children know God, understand His Word, and grow in love for Him.

Our children need to see that following Jesus isn't merely about avoiding the wrong things. It is about knowing the Savior who gives life, freedom, and lasting joy.

We want our children to drink deeply from the living water of Christ—not simply memorize a list of rules designed to keep them away from trouble.

Motherhood can leave us feeling as though there's always something more to do. We can become so consumed with managing responsibilities, maintaining routines, and training our children that our own joy in the Lord begins to fade.

Jesus' invitation in John 7 reminds us where lasting satisfaction is found.

We cannot give our children a vibrant faith simply by adding more Christian activities to the calendar or becoming more diligent about enforcing our rules. We need to abide in Christ ourselves.

As we experience His goodness and allow His Word to transform us, our children have the opportunity to see a faith that is genuine—not just something we talk about, but a relationship that shapes our everyday lives.

Whether you're homeschooling, managing a busy household, navigating parenting challenges, or simply longing to feel spiritually refreshed, this episode invites you to slow down and return to the source of your joy.

Continue your chronological New Testament Bible reading plan with these passages:

• John 7 — Jesus at the Feast of Booths, His teaching about doing the Father's will, and His invitation to receive living water.
• John 8:12–36 — Jesus declares Himself the Light of the World and teaches that abiding in His Word leads to truth and freedom.
• John 8:48–59 — Jesus' bold declaration of His eternal identity: “Before Abraham was, I am” (John 8:58, ESV).
• Isaiah 55:1–3 — God's invitation to come, receive what truly satisfies, and delight in His goodness.
• 1 Samuel 16:7 — A reminder that God looks beyond outward appearance and sees the heart.

Key verses to meditate on:

• John 7:37–38 — Jesus' invitation to the thirsty.
• John 8:12 — Jesus as the Light of the World.
• John 8:31–32 — Abiding in God's Word and knowing the truth.
• Isaiah 55:2 — The futility of laboring for what does not satisfy.

Many Bible translations mark the account of the woman caught in adultery with a note explaining that the earliest manuscripts do not include this passage in this location. This episode discusses why understanding the manuscript history of Scripture matters when studying the Bible carefully. The passage's textual history is complex, and Christians and Bible scholars have different conclusions about how best to handle it.

Stonebridge Bible Sermon on Why You Can Trust the Bible

Heavenly Father, thank You that fullness of joy is found in You. Help us abide in Your presence even in the busiest seasons of motherhood. Show us where we have become more focused on outward rules than inward transformation. Give us wisdom to teach our children Your truth while helping them understand the heart behind Your commands. May our children see the beauty of Jesus in the way we live, and may our homes be places where Your goodness, grace, and transforming presence are evident. Teach us to drink deeply from Your living water so that our love for You overflows into the lives of our children. In Jesus' name, amen.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries for ongoing biblical encouragement as you follow a chronological Bible reading plan, study the New Testament, and seek to raise children who love and follow Jesus.

If you're looking for a Bible podcast for Christian moms, practical Christian parenting wisdom, or a deeper understanding of biblical motherhood, join us as we discover how God's Word transforms our hearts and shapes the way we disciple our children.

You don't have to give your children a perfect mom or a perfect list of rules. Keep bringing them to the Savior who alone can satisfy their souls.

#ChristianMoms #BiblePodcast #BiblicalParenting #ChristianParenting #ChronologicalBibleReadingPlan

Entrusted With a Child's Heart — Learn more about this biblical parenting study, including practical guidance for helping children walk in repentance and pursue reconciliation.

Find the related episode and Entrusted Ministries resources through the links provided in the episode's show notes.Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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Commentaries Most Referenced:

How do we teach our children to resolve conflict, forgive others, and pursue reconciliation? What does Jesus really mean when He tells us to forgive seventy-seven times? And how can we keep trusting God when motherhood leaves us crying, “I believe; help my unbelief”?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries, Stephanie Hickox walks through Matthew 18 and Mark 9 to explore Jesus' love for children, His instructions for resolving conflict, the call to wholehearted forgiveness, and the powerful prayer of a father who desperately needs Jesus' help.

As Christian moms, we have countless opportunities to teach our children how to handle offenses, navigate sibling conflict, repent when they sin, and extend forgiveness. But biblical parenting isn't simply about getting our children to behave. It's about helping them understand God's heart and learn to walk in truth, repentance, humility, and grace.

Whether you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, looking for a Bible podcast for women, or seeking practical Christian parenting wisdom, this episode will encourage you to apply God's Word to the everyday challenges of family life.

• Jesus' deep love for children: Why Jesus placed a child among His disciples and issued a sobering warning against causing little ones to stumble.
• Biblical conflict resolution: How Matthew 18 gives us a practical, God-honoring process for addressing offenses directly, seeking wise help, and pursuing restoration rather than gossip or retaliation.
• What “where two or three are gathered” really means: Discover how this often-quoted passage fits into Jesus' teaching about church discipline, accountability, and restoring a wandering believer.
• How to handle sibling conflict biblically: Learn how to use everyday disagreements as opportunities to teach children humility, repentance, reconciliation, and peacemaking.
• Forgiveness versus reconciliation: Why forgiveness doesn't automatically mean restored trust or unrestricted access, and why difficult situations may call for wise counsel and appropriate protection.
• The parable of the unforgiving servant: Understand the enormous contrast between the debt the king forgave and the much smaller debt the servant refused to forgive—and what this reveals about God's mercy toward us.
• Breaking patterns of bitterness: Why our children need to see us practice forgiveness rather than allowing resentment and unforgiveness to shape our families.
• “I believe; help my unbelief”: Find encouragement in Mark 9 as a desperate father brings his struggling son to Jesus and honestly expresses both faith and doubt.
• Trusting God in the hard places of motherhood: Whether you're praying for a struggling learner, a difficult behavior pattern, a health concern, or another seemingly impossible situation, remember that Jesus is able even when His answer differs from your hopes.

Sibling disagreements, hurt feelings, and repeated offenses can make motherhood feel like a full-time conflict-resolution job. Thankfully, Jesus doesn't leave us without direction.

In Matthew 18, Jesus teaches His followers to address sin directly and pursue restoration rather than immediately turning to gossip or public criticism. This same heart can shape how we train our children to respond when a brother or sister hurts them.

Instead of simply demanding that children apologize or stop fighting, we can help them understand what happened in their hearts, take responsibility for their actions, seek forgiveness, and make things right wherever possible.

Jesus' parable of the lost sheep reminds us that the goal is not merely to expose wrongdoing. It is to seek the restoration of the one who has wandered. This gives us a beautiful framework for biblical parenting: we correct with truth, pursue repentance, and point our children toward the restoring grace of God.

And when it comes to forgiveness, we have an opportunity to model what we've received from Christ. We can forgive without pretending an offense never happened, and we can seek reconciliation while recognizing that rebuilding trust may take time. In situations involving ongoing harm or safety concerns, wise pastoral or professional counsel can help us discern faithful next steps.

Our goal is not simply to raise children who avoid conflict. It's to disciple children who know how to pursue peace, take responsibility, forgive from the heart, and depend on Jesus.

In Mark 9, a father brings his suffering son to Jesus after the disciples have been unable to help him. When Jesus speaks about belief, the father responds with one of the most honest prayers in Scripture:

“I believe; help my unbelief!” (Mark 9:24, ESV)

Don't we sometimes feel the same way as moms?

We believe God can work in our children's hearts, yet we grow weary when we don't see change. We pray for healing, wisdom, breakthrough, and growth, while wrestling with doubt about what the future holds.

This father's prayer reminds us that we can bring both our faith and our weakness to Jesus. We don't have to pretend our faith is perfect. We can ask the Lord to strengthen our trust while surrendering the outcome to His wisdom and goodness.

Follow along with this chronological New Testament Bible study as we explore:

• Matthew 18 — Humility, Jesus' love for children, the lost sheep, conflict resolution, forgiveness, and the parable of the unforgiving servant.
• Mark 9:14–29 — Jesus heals a suffering boy and responds to his father's heartfelt plea for help.

Key verses to remember:

• Matthew 18:5–6 — Receiving and protecting little ones.
• Matthew 18:15 — Addressing an offense directly.
• Matthew 18:21–35 — Forgiveness and the parable of the unforgiving servant.
• Mark 9:24 — “I believe; help my unbelief!”

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms — Continue studying Scripture and discover how God's Word speaks into the everyday joys and challenges of motherhood.

Again Podcast: “The Sandpaper Sound of Siblings” — Explore how sibling relationships can refine our character and become opportunities for spiritual growth.

Entrusted With a Child's Heart — Learn more about this biblical parenting study, including practical guidance for helping children walk in repentance and pursue reconciliation.

Find the related episode and Entrusted Ministries resources through the links provided in the episode's show notes.Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

Podcast Page

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

What does it really mean to follow Jesus? Does having enough faith guarantee that God will answer our prayers the way we want? And are we preparing our children for the true cost—and eternal worth—of following Christ?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries, Stephanie Hickox explores Matthew 16–17 and the life-changing question Jesus asked His disciples: “But who do you say that I am?” (Matthew 16:15).

Peter boldly declares that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of the living God. Yet just moments later, he struggles to accept that Jesus must suffer, die, and rise again. Through Peter's imperfect faith, the glory of the Transfiguration, and Jesus' teaching about faith and suffering, we discover what it means to trust God even when His plans differ from our expectations.

For Christian moms seeking a Bible podcast, a chronological Bible reading plan, or biblical wisdom for raising children who genuinely love and follow Jesus, this episode offers an important reminder: Biblical faith isn't about convincing God to give us the life we want. It's about trusting Him to accomplish His good purposes.

• Who is Jesus Christ? Understand the meaning of Christ as the promised Messiah and why Peter's confession that Jesus is the Son of the living God is central to the Christian faith.
• What does it mean to take up your cross? Explore Jesus' challenging call to deny ourselves, follow Him, and live with eternity in view rather than pursuing earthly comfort above all else.
• What can we learn from Peter's imperfect faith? See how Peter could recognize Jesus as the Messiah yet still struggle to understand God's plan—and find encouragement for your own journey of faith.
• What happened at the Transfiguration? Discover the significance of Jesus' glory being revealed to Peter, James, and John, and hear why this remarkable moment points us to the greatness of Christ.
• Does having enough faith guarantee a miracle? Read Jesus' teaching about faith like a mustard seed in context and learn why genuine faith trusts God's wisdom rather than demanding a particular outcome.
• Are we teaching our children the true gospel? Consider why Christian parents must be careful not to promise that following Jesus guarantees health, prosperity, or an easy life.
• How can we prepare our children for a life of faith? Learn to point your children toward the worthiness of Jesus and the eternal hope of being with Him, even when obedience involves sacrifice or suffering.

As Christian moms, we naturally want our children to experience God's goodness and blessing. But what happens when life is painful, prayers seem unanswered, or following Jesus costs them something?

If we teach our children that faith guarantees earthly success, we risk giving them expectations that Scripture never promises. Jesus Himself spoke openly about suffering, sacrifice, and the cost of discipleship.

Biblical parenting means helping our children understand the whole counsel of God's Word. We want them to know that God is powerful enough to do the impossible, yet wise enough to accomplish His purposes in ways we may not understand. True faith doesn't demand that God follow our plans. It rests in His goodness, even when His answers surprise or disappoint us.

Our goal isn't simply to raise children who expect life to go well because they follow Jesus. It's to disciple children who know who Jesus is, understand what He has called them to, and believe that He is worthy of their wholehearted devotion.

Follow along with this chronological New Testament Bible study as we explore:

• Matthew 16 — Peter confesses Jesus as the Christ; Jesus teaches about His coming suffering and calls His disciples to take up their crosses.
• Matthew 17 — The Transfiguration reveals Jesus' glory, Jesus heals a demon-possessed boy, and He again foretells His death and resurrection.
• Luke 9:28–36 — A parallel account of the Transfiguration, including the disciples' conversation about Jesus' coming death.

Key verse: “But who do you say that I am?” — Matthew 16:15

Heavenly Father, help us trust the goodness of Your plans even when life doesn't unfold as we expect. Refine our understanding of Your Word and teach us to walk by faith rather than by our own expectations. Draw our children to Jesus, the Christ, the Son of the living God. Help us prepare them to follow Him faithfully, knowing that He is worthy of every sacrifice and that eternity with Him will be worth it all. Amen.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries for biblical encouragement as you follow a chronological Bible reading plan, grow in your understanding of Scripture, and seek to raise children who love and follow Christ.

Whether you're looking for a New Testament Bible reading plan, a Bible podcast for Christian women, or practical Christian parenting wisdom, join us as we learn to treasure God's Word and faithfully disciple the children He has entrusted to us.

Because following Jesus isn't a promise of an easy life—it's an invitation to know the One who is eternally worthy.

#ChristianMoms #BiblePodcast #BiblicalParenting #ChronologicalBibleReadingPlan #ChristianParenting

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

Podcast Page

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

The Bread of Life & Parenting the Heart | John 6, Matthew 15 & Mark 7

Article Explaining Jesus' Discussing His Flesh and Blood

What does it mean to believe in Jesus when His words are difficult to understand? And how can we move beyond correcting our children's behavior to addressing the heart behind it? In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores powerful lessons from John 6, Matthew 15, and Mark 7 about faith, spiritual transformation, and biblical parenting.

After feeding the five thousand, Jesus declares that He is the Bread of Life. Many who had followed Him turn away when His teaching becomes difficult, but Peter responds with a beautiful confession of faith: “Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life” (John 6:68).

As we follow a chronological Bible reading plan through the Gospels, we discover that Jesus offers something far greater than temporary satisfaction. He offers eternal life. We also see how Jesus confronts the religious leaders who prioritize outward traditions over the condition of the heart.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• Jesus, the Bread of Life: Why Jesus offers more than temporary provision and how believing in Him changes everything.
• Faith when God's Word is difficult: What Peter's declaration teaches us about trusting Jesus even when we don't fully understand His ways.
• The difference between legalism and heart transformation: Why Jesus confronts outward religious behavior that hides a heart far from God.
• Biblical parenting that reaches the heart: Why correcting behavior alone isn't enough and how parents can help children recognize the thoughts, emotions, and beliefs influencing their choices.
• Parenting impulsive children with hope: Encouragement for moms raising children who speak before they think, act impulsively, or struggle to control their responses—and a reminder of how God can shape their strengths for His purposes.
• Our need for the Holy Spirit: Why lasting transformation cannot come from parental instruction alone, but requires God's work in our hearts and the hearts of our children.

As Christian moms, we can become so focused on outward behavior that we miss what is happening in our children's hearts. A child struggling with a math assignment, for example, may not need a lecture about laziness as much as patient help identifying the discouragement or lies they believe about themselves. Biblical parenting seeks to address the heart, teach God's truth, and trust the Holy Spirit to bring genuine transformation.

This episode offers practical Christian parenting wisdom rooted in Scripture, reminding us that God is not merely interested in what we say or do outwardly. He desires hearts transformed into the likeness of Christ.

Whether you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, looking for a Bible podcast for women, or seeking biblical encouragement for your motherhood journey, join us as we learn to treasure Jesus, trust His Word, and faithfully point our children's hearts toward Him.

John 6:14–71; Matthew 15:1–20; Mark 7:1–23; John 6:68; Psalm 19:14.

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart — Learn more about this biblical parenting study and how to move beyond behavior management to heart-focused discipleship.
• Got Questions — Additional resources explaining Jesus' teaching about the Bread of Life and the figurative language in John 6.

Find links to the resources mentioned in this episode in the show notes.

Lord, help us trust You when Your Word is difficult to understand. Transform our hearts so that our words bring You glory. Teach us to parent with wisdom, consistency, and grace, looking beyond outward behavior to the hearts of our children. Help us faithfully plant and water seeds of truth while trusting Your Holy Spirit to bring growth. Amen.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries for biblical encouragement as you read God's Word, grow in Christ, and seek to raise children who love and follow Him.

Because what God is doing in your heart matters just as much as what you're teaching your children.

#ChristianParenting #ChristianMoms #BiblePodcast #BiblicalParenting #ChronologicalBibleReadingPlan

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

Do you ever feel like you simply aren’t enough for your family? You want to be a faithful Christian mom, care well for your children, keep up with the demands of your household, and nurture your family’s faith—but at the end of the day, your to-do list is still unfinished, and you feel exhausted by everything you couldn’t accomplish.

What if your weakness is not an obstacle to the work God wants to do through you, but an opportunity to point your family to Jesus?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores the feeding of the 5,000 in Matthew 14, Mark 6, Luke 9, and John 6. This remarkable miracle reveals Jesus as the compassionate Good Shepherd who sees the needs of His people and provides abundantly. And tucked into this familiar Bible story is a powerful encouragement for Christian motherhood: Jesus invites us to bring Him what we have, even when it feels woefully insufficient, and trust Him with the results.

Through the example of the boy who offered his five barley loaves and two fish, we’re reminded that God does not ask us to become supermoms who can do everything on our own. He calls us to faithfulness, humility, and dependence on Christ.

If you’re overwhelmed by homeschooling, working, caring for your children, managing family finances, or navigating difficult circumstances, this Bible study will encourage you to surrender your limitations and let Jesus be glorified in your motherhood.

• What the feeding of the 5,000 teaches us about motherhood: Why your insufficiency can become an opportunity to demonstrate your need for Jesus to your children.
• The boy who offered his lunch to Jesus: How five loaves and two fish remind us to give God what we have instead of focusing on what we lack.
• Jesus, the Good Shepherd: How Christ’s compassion for the crowds echoes Psalm 23 and reveals the Father’s heart to provide for His people.
• God’s abundance in the middle of our limitations: Why the twelve baskets of leftovers matter and what they teach us about the generous provision of Jesus.
• Serving faithfully when you’re emotionally exhausted: What Jesus’ response to the crowds teaches us about compassion, service, and meeting the needs of those God places in our lives.
• Trusting God with your unfinished to-do list: How Christian moms can surrender their plans, expectations, and dreams for their families to the Lord.
• The connection between weakness and God’s glory: Why modeling dependence on Christ can teach our children more than trying to appear capable of doing everything ourselves.
• Finding contentment in Christ: How to live with gratitude for what God has provided rather than constantly measuring yourself against everything you wish you could do.
• Growing in biblical motherhood: How to be diligent yet humble, faithful yet surrendered, as you disciple your children and care for your family.

• Matthew 14 — The death of John the Baptist, the feeding of the 5,000, and Jesus walking on the water.
• Mark 6:30–44 — Jesus has compassion on the crowds and feeds them.
• Luke 9:10–17 — Jesus provides food for the multitude.
• John 6:1–14 — The boy’s five barley loaves and two fish.
• Psalm 23 — The Lord as our Shepherd who provides and satisfies.
• 2 Kings 4:42–44 — Elisha feeds a hundred men with twenty barley loaves.
• Psalm 116:15 — The preciousness of the death of God’s faithful people.
• Matthew 5:10 — The blessing promised to those persecuted for righteousness.

You don’t have to be a supermom to be a faithful mom.

God knows your limitations. He sees the unfinished tasks, the competing demands, the financial pressures, the health challenges, and the moments when you wonder how you can possibly give your family what they need.

The invitation of Jesus is simple: “Bring them here to me” (Matthew 14:18, ESV).

Bring Him your limited time, your tired body, your imperfect plans, your hopes for your children, and your desire to raise them to know and love Him. Be diligent in the work He has given you, but don’t carry the burden of believing that everything depends on you.

Your children need more than a mother who can do it all. They need to see a mother who knows where to turn when she cannot.

May your motherhood become a daily testimony that Jesus is sufficient, His provision is abundant, and His glory shines through our weakness.

Listen now for biblical encouragement to surrender your inadequacy, trust the Good Shepherd, and discover the freedom of depending on Jesus in the everyday work of Christian motherhood.

The Dwelling Place is a Bible podcast from Entrusted Ministries, created to help busy Christian moms grow in God’s Word and apply biblical truth to motherhood, parenting, and family life.

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

What do you do when your child is sick, your prayers seem unanswered, or a difficult season lasts far longer than you ever expected? As Christian moms, we long to protect our families, find answers, and see the people we love made well. But how can we walk in faith when we cannot control the outcome?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores two extraordinary miracles of Jesus in Mark 5: the healing of a woman who had suffered for twelve years and the raising of Jairus’ twelve-year-old daughter. Through these accounts, we see Jesus’ compassion for the suffering, His power over sickness and death, and His tender care for those who come to Him in faith.

These stories remind us that God can be glorified even in circumstances we would never choose for our families. Although faith does not guarantee the specific outcome we desire, we can trust the character and power of Jesus, bring our deepest fears to Him, and live with an eternal perspective.

For moms seeking biblical encouragement for Christian motherhood, parenting through uncertainty, and growing in faith and family life, this Bible study invites you to look beyond your circumstances to the Savior who makes us whole.

• Faith when the problem feels impossible: What Jairus and the suffering woman teach us about approaching Jesus with our greatest needs.
• Jesus sees the suffering others overlook: How Christ restored a woman who had endured twelve years of physical pain, social isolation, and spiritual exclusion.
• When healing seems delayed: How to trust God when you have tried everything to help someone you love and still have no answers.
• The difference Jesus makes: Why the woman’s touch did not make Jesus unclean—and how His healing power made her whole.
• Trusting God with your children: What Jairus’ desperate request teaches us about bringing our fears for our children to Jesus.
• Faith in the face of fear: Jesus’ words, “Do not fear, only believe,” invite us to look to Him even when circumstances seem hopeless.
• Living with eternity in view: How the temporary nature of life changes the way we approach sickness, suffering, parenting, and our children’s spiritual well-being.
• Biblical wisdom for family health decisions: Why we need discernment, prayer, and wisdom as we seek answers for our families rather than simply chasing the next health trend.
• Prioritizing spiritual care in busy motherhood: How to remain attentive to the spiritual needs of our children while meeting the constant physical needs of family life.

• Mark 5:21–43 — Jesus heals the woman who had been bleeding for twelve years and raises Jairus’ daughter.
• Numbers 15:37–41 — God commands Israel to wear tassels as reminders of His commandments.
• Hebrews 11:6 — Without faith it is impossible to please God.
• Romans 8:28 — God works all things together for good for those who love Him and are called according to His purpose.

Faith is not pretending that sickness, fear, and suffering are insignificant. It is bringing those very things to Jesus, trusting His character when we cannot understand His timing, and remembering that this life is not the end of our story.

The woman in Mark 5 had suffered for twelve years. Jairus faced the possibility of losing his beloved daughter. Neither circumstance was too difficult for Jesus. He saw the woman whom others had overlooked, and He responded with compassion to a father who desperately wanted his child to live.

As mothers, we can pray for our children’s physical protection and healing while remembering that their spiritual well-being matters eternally. We can ask God for wisdom, seek appropriate help, and entrust our families to the Savior who cares for them even more deeply than we do.

Join Stephanie as we study Mark 5 and discover how the miracles of Jesus can strengthen our faith, quiet our fears, and help us trust Him with the people we love most.

The Dwelling Place is a Bible podcast from Entrusted Ministries, created to help busy Christian moms spend time in God’s Word and apply biblical truth to motherhood, parenting, and family life.

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

ut treasured daughters whom He delights to draw near.

If you're a busy mom seeking biblical encouragement, a deeper understanding of Scripture, and wisdom for Christian motherhood, join us as we continue through God's Word with The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast.

You may not understand what God is doing today, but you can trust the Savior who walks beside you.

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Bible Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

How can we faithfully teach our children God’s Word while trusting Him to produce the growth? And what should we do when we can’t see whether the seeds of faith we’re planting are taking root?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores eight parables Jesus tells in Matthew 13, along with their significance for Christian moms who long to raise children who love and follow Jesus.

Following the rejection Jesus faced from the scribes and Pharisees, these parables reveal a surprising picture of the kingdom of heaven. God’s kingdom may not always appear the way we expect, and His work is not always immediately visible. Yet God is at work, even when we cannot see the results.

Stephanie unpacks the parable of the sower and the four soils, sharing why she regularly prays that she and her children would be good soil for God’s Word. As moms, we are called to faithfully teach Scripture, talk about God’s goodness, and create opportunities for our children to know Him. But we cannot make faith grow in their hearts. That is God’s work.

Through the parables of the wheat and weeds, the mustard seed, the leaven, the hidden treasure, the pearl of great value, and the net, we’re reminded of the kingdom’s present, sometimes hidden work, its incomparable worth, and the certainty of God’s final judgment.

If you’re a mom wondering whether your efforts to disciple your children are making a difference, this episode will encourage you to remain faithful, pray expectantly, and trust God with the harvest.

In this episode, you’ll discover:

• The meaning of the parable of the sower and why we should pray to be good soil for God’s Word.
• How the enemy, life’s trials, and the pleasures of the world can prevent Scripture from taking root.
• The partnership between parents and God in biblical parenting: we plant and water, but God gives the growth.
• Why we must keep praying for loved ones whose hearts seem resistant to the gospel.
• What the parable of the wheat and weeds teaches us about appearances, discernment, and the final judgment.
• How the mustard seed and leaven illustrate the surprising growth and influence of God’s kingdom.
• Why Jesus describes the kingdom of heaven as a treasure and a pearl worth giving up everything to possess.
• What the parable of the net teaches us about the coming separation of the righteous and the wicked.
• How Jesus’ rejection in His hometown reminds us that hearing God’s Word does not automatically mean submitting to it.

Scriptures discussed:

• Matthew 13 — Jesus’ parables about the kingdom of heaven.
• Luke 8 — The parable of the sower and the importance of hearing God’s Word.
• Luke 11 — Jesus’ teaching on prayer and spiritual responsiveness.
• 1 Corinthians 3:6–7 — We plant and water, but God gives the growth.
• Deuteronomy 6:6–7 — Teaching God’s commands throughout everyday family life.

A prayer for Christian moms: Lord, make our hearts and the hearts of our children good soil for Your Word. Help us faithfully plant and water the seeds of truth, teach our families to meditate on Your goodness, and trust You when we cannot see what You are doing beneath the surface. Protect our families from the enemy, the trials of this world, and the fleeting comforts that can draw our hearts away from You. Cause growth in us, our husbands, and our children. Amen.

If you’re following a chronological Bible reading plan, join us as we continue through Scripture and discover how God’s Word shapes our faith, our families, and our approach to biblical parenting.

Listen, grow in God’s Word, and keep praying for the harvest. We may not see the growth today, but we can remain faithful to the One who gives it.

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms is brought to you by Entrusted Ministries, equipping families to live out God’s truth in their homes.

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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What does it mean to make your home a dwelling place for God? And how can busy moms learn to surrender their children to the Lord while growing in their own faith?

In this Prepare to Dwell episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox shares the personal story behind the podcast's name and the Scripture that has shaped her heart for motherhood: Psalm 84.

After years of dreaming of becoming a singer, Stephanie reflects on how what felt like a shattered dream became an opportunity for God to redirect her toward a deeper love for His Word. Later, during a difficult pregnancy with her fourth child, the Lord used Psalm 84 to remind her of the beauty of dwelling in His presence and the importance of laying her children before Him.

As Christian moms, we can easily become consumed with our hopes, expectations, and plans for our children. But God invites us to return to Him, trust His goodness, and remember that He loves our children even more than we do. Before we can faithfully point our children to Jesus, we must first learn to worship Him ourselves.

In this episode, you'll discover how the Bible speaks to the heart of motherhood, why surrendering our children to God is an ongoing process, and how Christian community can help us remain faithful when family life feels overwhelming.

In this episode, we discuss:

• The story behind the name The Dwelling Place and the vision for this Bible podcast for busy moms.
• How God can use disappointing circumstances to redirect our lives toward His purposes.
• Psalm 84 and the beautiful picture of a mother laying her children before the Lord.
• Why surrendering our children to God often means releasing our own hopes and expectations for their futures.
• What the name “LORD of hosts” reveals about God's power, sovereignty, and protection.
• How to trust God's goodness when motherhood takes us through difficult and bitter seasons.
• Why our own relationship with Jesus must come before our efforts to disciple our children.
• The importance of Christian community, encouragement, and accountability in biblical parenting.
• How a consistent Bible reading plan can help us grow in faith and become more intentional about making our homes centered on Jesus Christ.

Scriptures explored:

• Psalm 84 — Finding joy in God's presence and surrendering our children to Him.
• 1 Samuel 1 — Hannah's prayer for Samuel and her willingness to entrust him to the Lord.
• Romans 8:28–29 — Trusting God's good purposes as He transforms us into the image of Christ.

A word of encouragement for moms: You don't have to parent perfectly to be faithful. You can bring your fears, hopes, disappointments, and children to a God who is good, sovereign, and trustworthy. As you learn to dwell in His presence, He will continue to shape your heart and equip you to point your family toward Jesus.

The Dwelling Place Bible Plan for Busy Moms was created to help you stay rooted in the full counsel of God's Word, pray Scripture over your family, and grow alongside other moms who want to be faithful in their homes. Whether you've struggled to stay consistent with Bible reading plans in the past or are simply longing to deepen your walk with Jesus, you are welcome here.

Let's pursue the heart of God together and learn to make our homes places where Christ is treasured.

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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This episode is part of the Prepare to Dwell series from Entrusted Ministries, introducing the vision and practical tools behind the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan.

Are you a busy mom who longs to spend more time in God's Word but struggles to find the time and consistency? You're not alone! In this special episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox shares an honest reminder that even moms who love Scripture and are committed to following Jesus still desperately need His grace, strength, and rest.

After an exhausting night and an overwhelming to-do list, Stephanie finds herself wrestling with Jesus' invitation in Matthew 11:28–30: “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” What happens when the burdens we carry aren't just the demands of motherhood, but also our own expectations?

Stephanie opens up about the pressure to keep up, the temptation to measure faithfulness by our own performance, and the freedom of remembering that our faith rests not in our ability to do everything perfectly, but in the faithfulness of Jesus Christ.

Then, Stephanie revisits the heart and vision behind The Dwelling Place Bible Plan for Busy Moms. Discover why this podcast exists, how it helps moms stay grounded in the full counsel of God's Word, and how you can build a sustainable Bible reading and prayer routine—even in your busiest season of motherhood.

God's Word isn't another burden to add to your already-full plate. It's where we learn to depend on His strength, discern truth from lies, and remember the God who longs to dwell with His people.

In this episode, you'll discover:

• How Matthew 11:28–30 invites weary moms to find rest in Jesus.
• Why our own expectations can become burdens God never intended us to carry.
• Why Christian moms need God's grace just as much as the families they serve.
• The heart behind The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast and its mission to help busy moms read the Bible and pray for their families.
• How God's plan to dwell with His people unfolds from Genesis to Revelation.
• Three flexible ways to participate in the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan, whether you listen to Scripture, read along with an audio Bible, or read the Bible independently.
• Why reading through the whole Bible helps us understand God's character and avoid taking individual verses out of context.
• How to give yourself grace when you fall behind and return to God's Word without striving for perfection.

Scriptures mentioned:

• Matthew 11:28–30 — Jesus' invitation to the weary and burdened
• Psalm 119:92 — Delighting in God's law amid affliction
• Psalm 143:8, 10 — Seeking God's steadfast love and guidance each morning
• Revelation 21:1–5 — God's promise to dwell with His people and make all things new
• Ephesians 6 — Putting on the full armor of God, including the sword of the Spirit

A word of encouragement for busy moms: You don't have to be a perfect mom, maintain a flawless Bible reading streak, or have everything together to draw near to Jesus. When you fall behind, give yourself grace and begin again. The goal isn't to prove how faithful you are; it's to keep returning to the One who is always faithful.

If you're longing to grow in your faith, become more grounded in biblical parenting, and pray God's Word over your children, we'd love for you to join us. Whether you're a seasoned Bible reader, a mom trying to establish a daily quiet time, or someone just beginning to explore the goodness of Jesus, there is a place for you here.

Let's make room for God's Word in the middle of busy motherhood and learn to dwell with Him together.

Learn more about Entrusted Ministries and the Dwelling Place Bible reading plan at Entrusted Ministries.

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What does it look like to live as a true follower of Jesus? And how can we build our homes and raise our children on a foundation that will stand firm through life’s storms?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries, Stephanie Hickox explores Matthew 5–7, the Sermon on the Mount. These powerful chapters reveal what true righteousness looks like—not simply following outward rules, but allowing God to transform our hearts, desires, words, and relationships.

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan through the New Testament, we’ll uncover 10 essential lessons Jesus teaches about Christian living, biblical parenting, prayer, money, anxiety, relationships, and building a life firmly rooted in God's Word.

Whether you’re looking for a Bible podcast for moms, a New Testament Bible reading plan, or practical Christian parenting wisdom, this episode will challenge and encourage you to put Jesus’ words into practice in your everyday life.

1. Embrace the Beatitudes: God’s Kingdom Turns the World’s Values Upside Down

Jesus blesses the poor in spirit, the meek, the merciful, the peacemakers, and those who hunger and thirst for righteousness. True blessing is deeper than temporary happiness or worldly success. It comes from belonging to God and depending on Him.

Discover why Jesus calls us to be peacemakers rather than simply peacekeepers—and how that distinction matters when we're navigating sibling conflict and difficult conversations in our families.

2. Guard Your Heart and Be the Salt and Light of the World

Jesus calls His followers to be salt and light, displaying the goodness of God so that others glorify Him. He also teaches that righteousness goes deeper than outward behavior.

From anger and reconciliation to lust and digital temptation, Jesus calls us to examine what is happening in our hearts. Stephanie discusses why Christian moms must take seriously the media and images we allow into our homes and how we can help our children develop biblical discernment.

3. Love Others as Your Heavenly Father Loves

Jesus challenges His followers to go beyond ordinary expectations. Instead of retaliating or loving only those who love us, we are called to bless our enemies and pray for those who persecute us.

What does this kind of love look like in marriage, motherhood, and everyday relationships? Learn how the gospel shapes our responses even when others have wronged us.

4. Pursue Sincerity in Prayer and Generosity

God cares about the motives behind our actions. Jesus warns against giving, praying, and practicing righteousness merely to receive recognition from others.

We’ll explore the Lord’s Prayer and discover how private prayer cultivates dependence on our Father. We’ll also consider the connection between receiving God’s forgiveness and extending mercy to others.

5. Invest in What Matters for Eternity

Jesus warns us not to store up treasures on earth or attempt to serve both God and money. Our attention shapes our desires, and our investments reveal what we treasure.

This lesson has important implications for biblical parenting. Our children are precious gifts, but even our love for them can become disordered when we place our ultimate hope in their achievements, behavior, or future. How can we invest deeply in our families while keeping our greatest treasure in Christ?

6. Fight Anxiety by Seeking God First

Matthew 6:25–34 offers some of the most comforting words in Scripture for anxious hearts. Jesus points to the birds of the air and the flowers of the field as reminders of our Father's care.

Stephanie shares how these verses have strengthened her through difficult circumstances and countless hospital rooms. Discover the difference between wise planning and anxious preoccupation, and why Jesus calls us to seek first the kingdom of God.

For the mom carrying more worries than she feels able to bear, this passage offers a reminder: God knows what you need, and you can trust Him one day at a time.

7. Practice Humble Discernment, Not Hypocritical Judgment

“Judge not” is one of the most quoted—and frequently misunderstood—teachings of Jesus. He does not call us to abandon discernment. He calls us to examine our own hearts before addressing the faults of others.

We’ll explore the picture of the log and the speck, the importance of humility when correcting someone, and Jesus’ warning about giving what is precious to those who will treat it with contempt.

These principles are especially valuable as we guide our children through friendships, dating relationships, and decisions about whom to trust.

8. Trust Your Father’s Goodness and Practice the Golden Rule

Jesus teaches us to treat others as we would want to be treated. He also reminds us that our heavenly Father delights in giving good gifts to His children.

Stephanie invites us to consider the love we feel when preparing gifts for our own children—and how much greater our heavenly Father’s goodness is toward those who come to Him.

9. Choose the Narrow Gate and Recognize Good Fruit

Jesus warns that the way leading to life is narrow and that false prophets can appear trustworthy while producing bad fruit.

As Christian moms, we want our children to understand why following Jesus is different from simply going along with the crowd. We’ll consider how to teach them to evaluate beliefs and influences by Scripture, remain faithful when Christians are in the minority, and recognize that outward appearances alone do not prove genuine faith.

10. Build Your Life and Family on the Rock

Jesus concludes the Sermon on the Mount with the picture of two builders. One builds on rock and withstands the storm; the other builds on sand and experiences a devastating fall.

Hearing Jesus’ words is not enough. We must put them into practice.

This is a fitting reminder of Entrusted Ministries’ theme verse, Psalm 127:1: unless the Lord builds the house, our labor is in vain. How we spend our time, money, attention, and energy reveals the foundation on which we are building our homes.

The Sermon on the Mount gives Christian moms more than a list of behaviors to teach their children. It reveals the heart attitudes that God desires in His people.

As we parent, we have opportunities every day to model peacemaking, forgiveness, generosity, humility, discernment, and trust in God. We also have the opportunity to acknowledge our own failures and show our children our ongoing need for Jesus.

Our goal is not merely to raise children who look righteous on the outside. We want to help them know Christ, love His Word, and build their lives on His truth.

As you read Matthew 5–7 and listen to this episode, consider these questions:

• Which of the Beatitudes most challenges the way I naturally think about success and blessing?
• Am I pursuing peace in my family, or am I sometimes settling for temporary peacekeeping?
• What are my words, habits, and media choices revealing about my heart?
• Where am I tempted to worry about tomorrow instead of trusting God for today?
• Are my investments of time, money, and attention reflecting my eternal priorities?
• How can I correct my children with humility while still teaching them biblical discernment?
• What practical change would help our family build more intentionally on the foundation of God's Word?

• Matthew 5:3–12 — The Beatitudes.
• Matthew 5:13–16 — Salt and light.
• Matthew 5:17–30 — Jesus fulfills the Law and calls for righteousness of heart.
• Matthew 5:43–48 — Love your enemies.
• Matthew 6:5–15 — Sincere prayer and the Lord’s Prayer.
• Matthew 6:19–24 — Heavenly treasure and serving God rather than money.
• Matthew 6:25–34 — Do not be anxious; seek first God’s kingdom.
• Matthew 7:1–6 — Humble judgment and discernment.
• Matthew 7:7–12 — Ask, seek, knock, and practice the Golden Rule.
• Matthew 7:13–23 — The narrow gate and recognizing good fruit.
• Matthew 7:24–27 — Building on the rock.
• Psalm 127:1 — Unless the Lord builds the house.

Heavenly Father, may Your name be glorified on earth as it is in heaven. Help us seek Your kingdom first and trust You to provide what we need today. Forgive us where we fall short, and teach us to extend the mercy we have received to others. Guard our hearts from bitterness, compromise, and distractions that draw us away from You. Give us wisdom to recognize temptation, courage to obey Your Word, and discernment to guide our children in truth. May we build our homes on the firm foundation of Jesus Christ and live in a way that brings glory to Your name. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries helps Christian moms read the Bible, grow in biblical wisdom, and apply Scripture to everyday motherhood.

If you’re looking for a Bible podcast for Christian moms, a chronological Bible reading plan, a New Testament Bible reading plan, or encouragement for biblical...

The Age of the Disciples

Blaspheming the Holy Spirit

Have you ever felt unseen in the constant demands of motherhood? Do you struggle to respond with patience when you're interrupted, exhausted, or misunderstood? In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we explore Matthew 12, Mark 3, and Luke 6 to discover a Savior who understands the intensity of serving others—and who calls us to reflect His compassion, humility, and truth.

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan through the New Testament, we’ll see Jesus face intense opposition from religious leaders even as crowds press in to receive His healing. We’ll discover why Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath, what He teaches about the words we speak, and how His response to those who follow Him helps us understand the family of God.

We’ll also explore Jesus’ warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit, His intentional choice of the twelve disciples, and the transforming power of a heart filled with the love of God.

• Why Jesus is Lord of the Sabbath. When religious leaders criticize Him for healing on the Sabbath, Jesus exposes their hard hearts and reveals that God’s commands reflect His goodness and compassion.
• How Jesus responds to hardened hearts. Mark tells us Jesus looked around with anger and grief at the religious leaders’ refusal to show mercy. His response challenges us to examine whether our convictions lead us toward compassion or pride.
• What the Bible teaches about the unforgivable sin. We consider Jesus’ warning in Matthew 12 and the context of the religious leaders attributing the Spirit’s work to Satan.
• Why our words matter. Jesus teaches that our words flow from the abundance of our hearts and that we will give an account for careless words. This is especially relevant for Christian moms raising children in an age of social media and constant communication.
• How Jesus understands the exhaustion of motherhood. Surrounded by crowds and continually meeting people’s needs, Jesus experienced the intensity of a demanding ministry. His life offers encouragement to moms who feel interrupted, depleted, and unseen.
• What it means to belong to the family of God. Jesus identifies those who do the will of His Father as His spiritual family, highlighting the profound privilege of belonging to Him.
• Why Jesus prayed before choosing His disciples. Before selecting the twelve apostles, Jesus spent the night in prayer. His example reminds us to seek God’s wisdom in the decisions that shape our lives and families.

In Matthew 12 and Mark 3, Jesus encounters a man with a withered hand in the synagogue. The Pharisees watch closely, hoping to accuse Him if He heals on the Sabbath.

Jesus answers their challenge with a simple comparison: if a man would rescue a sheep on the Sabbath, how much more valuable is a human being made in God’s image?

Jesus heals the man, but the Pharisees respond by plotting against Him.

Mark adds a striking detail: Jesus looks around at them with anger, grieved by their hardness of heart (Mark 3:5). His anger is not a rejection of compassion. He is grieved that people who claim to honor God’s law are unwilling to celebrate the restoration of a suffering person.

This account challenges us as Christian moms. We can become so focused on rules, expectations, or outward appearances that we miss opportunities to show mercy. Biblical wisdom helps us uphold God's truth while reflecting His compassion.

Jesus does not simply affirm people where they are; He calls them to repentance and transformation. His love is not indifferent to sin. It is the kind of love that seeks what is truly good for us.

One of the most sobering passages in this reading is Jesus’ warning about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit (Matthew 12:31–32). What does this mean, and how should Christians understand it?

In context, the religious leaders have witnessed Jesus’ powerful works but attribute His deliverance of a demon-oppressed man to Satan rather than acknowledging the work of God’s Spirit. Jesus exposes the contradiction in their accusation and warns them about the seriousness of their response to the truth they have witnessed.

Christians and biblical scholars differ in how they explain the precise scope of this warning and its application today. This episode considers the historical context and an interpretation that connects the warning specifically to the religious leaders’ rejection of Jesus’ Spirit-empowered ministry.

The larger lesson is clear: we must not treat Jesus’ identity and work casually. We are called to respond to Him with humble, genuine faith rather than hardening our hearts against the truth.

Jesus teaches that a tree is recognized by its fruit and that “out of the abundance of the heart the mouth speaks” (Matthew 12:34, ESV).

Our words reveal something about what is happening inside us. This is a searching reminder for moms who want to raise children to speak with kindness, truth, and self-control.

It is easy to focus on correcting our children’s words while overlooking our own. But biblical parenting begins with our own ongoing need for the Lord to transform our hearts. The way we respond to frustration, speak about others, and handle conflict provides a powerful example to our children.

Jesus also warns that people will give an account for careless words. In a world where social media encourages quick reactions and constant commentary, His words remind us to pause and consider whether our speech honors God.

Our goal is not merely to teach our children to say the right things. We want to cultivate hearts that love what is good and produce words that reflect that love.

By this point in His ministry, Jesus is surrounded by crowds so intense that people press in to touch Him. At one point, the demands are so great that He and His disciples cannot even eat.

When His family hears what is happening, some believe He is out of His mind. Jesus is not only opposed by religious leaders; He is also misunderstood by people close to Him.

For moms who feel constantly needed, interrupted, or misunderstood, these details offer meaningful encouragement. Jesus knows what it is like to pour Himself out in service while facing opposition and misunderstanding.

In Matthew 12, Jesus also explains that those who do the will of His Father are His brother, sister, and mother. He is not dismissing the importance of His earthly family. He is showing the deep significance of belonging to God's family through a shared devotion to the Father.

If you feel alone in your daily work, remember that Jesus sees you. Your faithfulness matters, even when the work is hidden and no one else seems to notice.

Luke 6 tells us that Jesus went out to a mountain and spent the entire night in prayer before choosing the twelve apostles.

Jesus’ example reminds us that important decisions deserve more than hurried reactions. Whether we are making choices about our children, our marriages, our schedules, or our responsibilities, we can seek the Lord’s wisdom through prayer and His Word.

The disciples themselves were imperfect men. They did not always understand Jesus’ mission, and one of them, Judas Iscariot, would eventually betray Him. Yet Jesus deliberately called these men to follow Him and learn from Him.

This gives us perspective as we disciple our own children. Growth takes time. We are called to teach, guide, pray, and model faithfulness while trusting God to do His transforming work.

As you listen to this episode and continue your chronological Bible reading plan, consider these questions:

• Do my convictions lead me to show compassion, or am I sometimes more concerned with rules and appearances?
• What do my words reveal about the condition of my heart?
• How can I model repentance and gracious speech for my children?
• Where do I feel unseen or overwhelmed in motherhood, and how does Jesus’ example encourage me?
• Am I bringing important decisions to the Lord in prayer before acting?
• How can I help my children understand that following Jesus means both believing the truth and being transformed by it?

• Matthew 12:9–14; Mark 3:1–6 — Jesus heals on the Sabbath and confronts hardened hearts.
• Matthew 12:22–32 — Jesus answers the accusation that He works by Satan’s power and warns about blasphemy against the Holy Spirit.
• Matthew 12:33–37 — The heart and our words.
• Matthew 12:46–50; Mark 3:31–35 — Jesus describes His spiritual family.
• Mark 3:20–21 — The intensity of Jesus’ ministry and His family’s concern.
• Luke 6:12–16 — Jesus prays before choosing the twelve apostles.
• Luke 6:17–19 — Crowds gather to hear Jesus and seek healing.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your mercy and compassion. Fill us so...

What difference would it make in your everyday life as a mom if you were deeply convinced that Jesus has authority over everything? In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we explore Matthew 8, Mark 2, and John 5 to see how Jesus demonstrates His authority over sickness, spiritual darkness, nature, sin, and even death.

As we follow a chronological Bible reading plan through the New Testament, we’ll discover how the power and goodness of Jesus can transform our fears, bring freedom from legalism, and help us find rest in the middle of the demands of motherhood.

We’ll also see how much good friends can accomplish when they bring someone to Jesus—and how Jesus sees those who feel alone and forgotten.

• How Jesus’ authority can transform your anxiety. From calming a raging storm to healing the sick, Jesus demonstrates that no part of creation is beyond His control. What might change if you trusted His power and goodness in the circumstances facing your family?
• Why Christian friendship matters. Four determined friends carry a paralyzed man to Jesus, showing us the value of relationships that help us draw near to Christ.
• Why we all need the Great Physician. When Jesus calls Matthew and eats with tax collectors and sinners, He reminds us that He came to rescue those who recognize their need for Him.
• How to recognize the difference between biblical obedience and legalism. Jesus confronts the Pharisees’ distorted understanding of the Sabbath and reveals God’s heart for His people.
• What Sabbath rest can look like for busy moms. Discover an encouraging reminder that small, practical changes—even something as simple as using paper plates—can help make room for refreshment rather than turning rest into another checklist.
• How Jesus brings freedom to the overlooked. After 38 years of disability, a man with no one to help him is seen and healed by Jesus. His story reminds us that Christ is not limited by our circumstances or the help we do—or do not—receive from others.
• Five witnesses that testify to Jesus’ identity. In John 5, Jesus points to the testimony of John the Baptist, His works, the Father, the Scriptures, and Moses to establish who He is and why He deserves our trust.

In Matthew 8, the disciples panic when a storm threatens their boat, but Jesus sleeps. When they wake Him, He rebukes the wind and the sea, and everything becomes calm.

Their question captures the wonder of what they are witnessing: “What sort of man is this, that even winds and sea obey him?” (Matthew 8:27, ESV).

As moms, we face circumstances that can feel just as overwhelming. We may worry about our children, our finances, our health, or the future. These passages invite us to look beyond the size of our problems and remember the greatness of our Savior.

Jesus’ authority does not mean life will always unfold as we hope. It means we can place our lives and families in the hands of the One who is powerful, good, and worthy of our trust.

In Mark 2, four friends refuse to let a crowded house keep them from bringing their paralyzed friend to Jesus. They even open the roof to lower him into the room!

Jesus responds to their faith, but He does something unexpected: before healing the man’s body, He declares his sins forgiven. Then He heals him, demonstrating His authority to forgive sins.

This account reminds us that Christian friendship is about more than offering sympathy or practical help. We can encourage one another to seek Jesus, trust His Word, and remember that our deepest need is spiritual rescue.

It also challenges us to consider how we are helping our own children see their need for Jesus and grow in their relationship with Him.

When Jesus calls Matthew, He willingly shares a meal with tax collectors and sinners. His explanation is simple: those who recognize their sickness understand their need for a physician.

As Christian moms, we want our children to grow in obedience and wisdom. But biblical parenting is not simply about producing outwardly well-behaved children. Our children need to understand their need for the grace and forgiveness of Jesus, just as we do.

We can model humility by acknowledging our own need for Christ, pointing our children toward His Word, and showing them that the gospel is not a reward for people who have it all together. It is good news for sinners who need a Savior.

Jesus says, “The Sabbath was made for man, not man for the Sabbath” (Mark 2:27, ESV).

The Pharisees had piled additional requirements onto God's commands until their rules obscured His heart. Jesus challenged that legalism and reminded them of the purpose behind the Sabbath.

For moms whose days are filled with meals, laundry, interruptions, and caring for children, rest can feel impossible—or like one more thing we are failing to do well.

In this episode, Stephanie shares a personal story about asking God how she could honor the Sabbath during a particularly exhausting season of motherhood. The answer she sensed was surprisingly practical: paper plates.

Sometimes a small adjustment can help simplify a day and create room for refreshment. Rather than treating rest as a perfect routine we must achieve, we can prayerfully consider how to receive God's good gifts within the realities of our season of life.

John 5 brings us to the heart of the episode: Jesus’ declaration of His authority and identity.

After healing a man on the Sabbath, Jesus explains His unique relationship with the Father. His words provoke opposition from religious leaders, but He does not back away from declaring who He is.

Jesus calls attention to five witnesses:

1. John the Baptist, who testified to the truth.
2. Jesus’ works, which demonstrate the authority and mission given to Him by the Father.
3. The Father, who bears witness to the Son.
4. The Scriptures, which point to Jesus.
5. Moses, whose writings ultimately testify about Him.

The religious leaders searched the Scriptures but refused to come to the One to whom they pointed. Their example is a sobering reminder that knowing biblical information is not the same as trusting and submitting to Jesus.

As we study the Bible with our children, our goal is not merely to help them know Bible stories or follow rules. We want them to know the Savior revealed throughout Scripture.

Whether you are listening to this episode while getting ready in the morning, preparing dinner, or driving your children, you can use these passages to grow in your understanding of God's Word.

Consider these reflection questions:

• Where am I tempted to feel anxious, and how does Jesus’ authority over every realm shape the way I approach that concern?
• Who has helped bring me closer to Jesus? How can I be that kind of friend to someone else?
• Am I helping my children understand their need for the Great Physician, or am I focusing primarily on their outward behavior?
• Have I turned rest or another area of Christian obedience into a checklist that leaves me discouraged?
• What practical change could help our family make more room for refreshment?
• Am I reading Scripture simply to gain knowledge, or am I responding to Jesus with faith and obedience?
• How can I help my children see that the whole Bible points to Jesus?

• Matthew 8:8–13 — The centurion’s faith and Jesus’ authority to heal.
• Matthew 8:23–27 — Jesus calms the storm.
• Mark 2:1–12 — Jesus forgives and heals the paralyzed man.
• Mark 2:13–17 — Jesus calls Matthew and eats with sinners.
• Mark 2:23–28 — Jesus teaches about the Sabbath.
• John 5:1–18 — Jesus heals the man at Bethesda and confronts legalism.
• John 5:19–29 — The Son’s relationship with the Father and His authority over life and judgment.
• John 5:30–47 — The witnesses who testify to Jesus.

Heavenly Father, thank You for sending Your Son, who perfectly reveals Your character. Help us understand Your heart to heal, rescue, and set people free. Show us how to serve our families faithfully while also receiving the rest and refreshment You provide. As we study Jesus’ authority over all things, transform the way we think about our worries. Help us trust Your goodness and power with our lives and our children. Teach us to fight the right battles with courage and love, and to point our families toward the peace and rescue found in Christ. In Jesus’ name, amen.

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries helps Christian moms study Scripture, grow in biblical wisdom, and apply God's Word to everyday family life.

Whether you are following a chronological Bible reading plan, beginning a New Testament Bible reading plan, or simply looking for a Bible podcast to help you stay connected to Scripture in a busy season, we invite you to keep opening God's Word with...

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“For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.” — John 3:16, ESV

Why did God send His Son to die for sinners? And how can we help our children understand their need for a Savior?

In John 2–4, we see Jesus reveal His divine authority through miraculous signs, His cleansing of the temple, His conversation with Nicodemus, and His remarkable encounter with the Samaritan woman at the well. But at the heart of these chapters is the message of John 3:16: God loved the world and sent His Son so that everyone who believes in Him may have eternal life.

On this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores what Jesus taught Nicodemus about being born again, why salvation cannot be earned through our own efforts, and how the grace of Jesus transforms even the most broken lives.

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan, we’ll also consider what these encounters teach us about biblical parenting, our own spiritual growth, and praying for our children to know and love Jesus personally.

• What John 3:16 teaches us about God's love, Jesus' sacrifice, and eternal life
• Why even a deeply religious person like Nicodemus needed to be born again
• Why salvation is a work of God's grace rather than something we can earn
• How Jesus' conversation with Nicodemus points to His death on the cross
• What the bronze serpent in Numbers 21 teaches us about looking to God for salvation
• Why the cross reveals the Father's love rather than persuading a reluctant Father to love us
• What John the Baptist meant when he said, “He must increase, but I must decrease”
• How the Samaritan woman encountered the Messiah and became a witness to her community
• Why your past does not put you beyond the reach of Jesus' grace
• How Christian moms can model repentance, humility, and dependence on Christ
• Why our greatest hope for our children is that they will know Jesus for themselves
• How to pray for your children to believe that Jesus truly is the Savior of the world

Nicodemus was a respected religious leader. He knew the Scriptures and had devoted himself to understanding and obeying God's law. Yet when he came to Jesus, he discovered that religious knowledge and outward obedience could not accomplish what he needed most.

Jesus told him that he must be born again—or born from above.

Nicodemus needed something he could not produce for himself: new life through the work of God's Spirit.

This is one of the most important truths we can grasp as Christian moms. We cannot save ourselves through good behavior, and we cannot make ourselves righteous through sheer determination. We need Jesus.

Our children need Him, too.

It can be tempting to focus on raising well-behaved children who know the right answers and follow the rules. But biblical parenting goes deeper than outward behavior. We want our children to understand their need for God's grace and to trust Jesus Christ as their Savior.

The good news is that salvation is offered to everyone who believes in Him.

Sometimes people imagine God the Father as harsh and judgmental, while viewing Jesus as the gracious one who persuaded the Father to show mercy.

But John 3:16 tells us something different.

God's love is the reason He sent His Son.

The cross does not create God's love for us; it demonstrates the love He has already shown in giving His Son for our salvation.

Jesus willingly came to rescue sinners. Through His death and resurrection, He accomplished what we could never accomplish for ourselves.

This is the hope of the gospel: we don't have to pretend we're strong enough, good enough, or capable of fixing ourselves. We can confess our sin, receive God's grace, and depend on the Savior who has power over sin and death.

For Christian moms, this changes how we approach both our own failures and our children's struggles. Instead of hiding our sin or pretending we have everything together, we can model humble repentance and the joy of being forgiven.

Jesus pointed Nicodemus back to an unusual moment in Israel's history.

In Numbers 21, the Israelites rebelled against God, and poisonous serpents began biting the people. God instructed Moses to make a bronze serpent and lift it up on a pole. Those who looked at it as God instructed lived.

Jesus used this account to explain what would happen to Him:

Just as the Israelites needed to look to God's provision rather than rescue themselves, sinners must look to Jesus for salvation.

We cannot earn eternal life. We cannot remove our own guilt. We cannot overcome sin through our own strength.

We must trust the Savior God has provided.

And that is the message we want our children to understand: not that they can become good enough to earn God's acceptance, but that Jesus is the Savior they desperately need—and the Savior who graciously welcomes all who believe in Him.

John the Baptist understood his purpose.

When his followers became concerned that more people were going to Jesus, John didn't become jealous or try to reclaim the attention. He rejoiced because the Messiah had come.

He explained:

What a heart-reset for Christian moms!

We can spend so much energy trying to become more productive, more organized, more patient, or more capable. We want to improve ourselves and do better for our families. Those desires can have a place, but self-improvement cannot replace dependence on Jesus.

We need Him to transform us.

We need His Spirit to help us love when we're tired, respond with patience when we're frustrated, and serve faithfully when nobody notices.

Our goal isn't to become impressive mothers who can handle everything on our own. It's to become women whose lives increasingly reflect the goodness of Christ.

In John 4, Jesus travels through Samaria and speaks with a Samaritan woman—someone a Jewish man of His time might have avoided.

Jesus knows her story, including her painful relationships and present circumstances. Yet He doesn't avoid her. He offers her living water and reveals that He is the Messiah.

Her past does not prevent her from encountering the grace of Jesus.

After speaking with Him, she goes back to her community and tells others about the man she has met. Many Samaritans believe because of her testimony, and then they come to hear Jesus themselves.

Their response is especially meaningful:

This is one of the most beautiful prayers we can pray for our children.

We want them to hear us speak about God's goodness. We want them to see the gospel changing our lives. We want to teach them Scripture and help them understand the truth.

But ultimately, we long for them to know Jesus personally.

May our children come to believe not merely because we have told them about Jesus, but because they have come to know Him for themselves.

Christian parenting is not about raising children who never struggle, never disobey, or never make mistakes.

It's about faithfully teaching them God's Word and pointing them toward the only One who can rescue and transform them.

That means helping our children understand both the seriousness of sin and the greater hope of God's grace.

It means acknowledging our own need for forgiveness rather than pretending to be perfect.

It means teaching them that God's commands are good, that sin has real consequences, and that Jesus welcomes sinners who turn to Him in faith.

And it means praying that the Holy Spirit will work in their hearts in ways we cannot accomplish through our own efforts.

We can faithfully teach, guide, correct, and encourage our children. But we cannot manufacture saving faith in them.

Our hope rests in Jesus, the Savior of the world.

As you continue your chronological Bible reading plan, reflect on these questions:

1. Do I truly depend on Jesus, or am I still trying to earn God's approval through my performance?
2. How does John 3:16 shape my understanding of God's character and His love for sinners?
3. Where do I need to say, “He must increase, but I must decrease”?
4. How can I model humble repentance and dependence on Jesus for my children?
5. Am I teaching my children only to behave well, or am I also helping them understand their need for a Savior?
6. How can I pray for my children to know Jesus personally and recognize Him as the Savior of the world?

The more deeply we understand the gospel, the more faithfully we can share it with our...

What can Christian moms learn from the way Jesus responded when Satan tempted Him?

In Matthew 4 and Luke 4, Jesus enters the wilderness after His baptism and faces Satan’s direct temptation. Jesus is physically weak and hungry, yet He refuses to satisfy His desires outside the will of His Father. When Satan twists Scripture, Jesus responds with the truth of Scripture. When Satan offers Him power and recognition, Jesus refuses to take what belongs to Him before the appointed time. And when Satan challenges His identity, Jesus refuses to put God to the test.

For busy Christian moms, this is more than a Bible story. Jesus shows us how to recognize temptation, discern truth from deception, and stand firm in the Word of God.

We also see Jesus rejected in His hometown of Nazareth, Peter confronted with his own sinfulness, and Jesus continuing His unconventional ministry despite opposition and interruption.

On today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we continue our chronological Bible reading plan through Matthew 4 and Luke 4–5 and ask how Jesus’ victory over temptation can shape our own walk with God—and our biblical parenting.

• How Jesus responded to Satan’s three temptations in the wilderness
• Why knowing Scripture is essential for resisting temptation
• How Satan can misuse or distort Scripture
• What Jesus’ forty days in the wilderness reveal about His obedience
• How Jesus succeeded where Israel—and ultimately humanity—had failed
• The connection between the temptations of Jesus, Adam and Eve, and 1 John 2
• How everyday temptations can involve food, finances, recognition, appearance, possessions, and significance
• Why Christian moms need discernment rather than simply following every piece of spiritual advice they hear
• What Jesus’ rejection in Nazareth reveals about His mission to bring salvation beyond Israel
• Why Jesus’ hometown was offended when He reminded them that God had shown mercy to Gentiles
• What Peter’s response to the miraculous catch of fish teaches us about recognizing our own sinfulness
• Why Jesus calls imperfect people to follow Him and participate in His mission
• How to help our children stand firm in biblical convictions when they encounter temptation

Jesus entered the wilderness “full of the Holy Spirit” and was tempted by the devil for forty days.

He was hungry.

He was physically weak.

And Satan knew exactly where to attack.

Yet every time Satan tempted Jesus, Jesus answered with Scripture.

That phrase is worth noticing.

Jesus did not defeat temptation by relying on His feelings, circumstances, or human reasoning. He knew the Word of God and used it rightly.

But there is another important detail: Satan knew Scripture too.

In the third temptation, Satan quoted Psalm 91—but he twisted its meaning and used it to tempt Jesus to test God.

This is why simply owning a Bible isn't enough.

We need to know God's Word well enough to recognize when it is being misused.

That is one of the reasons Bible study matters so much for Christian moms.

Jesus had not eaten for forty days.

Of course He was hungry.

Satan tempted Him to use His power to satisfy a legitimate physical need in a way that was outside the Father's will.

Jesus responded:

Food itself wasn't the problem.

Jesus would later miraculously provide food for hungry people.

The temptation was about whether Jesus would trust His Father and obey Him even when He had a legitimate desire that could be immediately satisfied.

And that raises questions for us.

What happens when we're worried about money?

What happens when we're concerned about our family's physical needs?

Do we become anxious about providing for our children?

Do we turn to food for comfort?

Do we ignore our own God-given limitations because we feel like we simply have to keep going?

The temptation may look different for each of us, but the underlying question remains:

Will I trust God enough to obey Him when I don't have what I want—or think I need?

Satan then offered Jesus the kingdoms of the world.

Jesus was worthy of all glory.

He truly is the King of Kings.

But He refused to take the crown on Satan's terms.

Jesus would wait for the Father's appointed time.

This temptation can hit much closer to home for moms than we might initially realize.

We may not want worldwide authority.

But we can want recognition.

We want someone to notice how much we do.

We want appreciation on Mother's Day.

We want our husband to acknowledge the work we carry.

We want our children to recognize our sacrifices.

We want other moms to think we're doing a good job.

And social media can intensify the desire for significance.

Jesus deserved every bit of glory—and still willingly waited.

What if faithfulness matters more than being noticed?

What if some of the most important work God has given us will never receive public recognition?

Satan's final temptation challenged Jesus' identity.

“If you are the Son of God…”

He encouraged Jesus to throw Himself from the temple and force the Father to prove His protection.

Jesus refused.

He knew that trusting God does not mean deliberately putting ourselves in foolish situations and demanding that God rescue us.

This is another important lesson for Christian moms:

Biblical faith is not the same thing as presumption.

We can trust God's protection while still walking in wisdom.

We can pray for our children while also setting wise boundaries.

We can trust God with our families without refusing to take reasonable precautions.

We can believe God is sovereign without demanding that He prove Himself to us.

The temptation of Jesus connects beautifully with the temptation described in Genesis 3.

Eve saw that the fruit was:

• Good for food
• A delight to the eyes
• Desirable to make one wise

And 1 John 2:16 describes:

• The desires of the flesh
• The desires of the eyes
• The pride of life

Those categories still describe many of the temptations we encounter today.

The perfect purchase.

The beautiful home.

The skincare product promising to fix everything.

The outfit that will finally make us feel confident.

The recognition we desperately want.

The food we use to comfort ourselves.

The comparison that tells us everyone else's family is doing better.

The desire to be admired as a “good mom.”

The temptation to find our identity in how our children behave in public.

The world continually tells us:

You need this. You deserve this. You should look like this. You should be admired like this.

But Jesus shows us another way.

Know the Word.

Trust the Father.

Walk in obedience.

Wait for God's timing.

This is especially important when we think about parenting.

Our children are growing up surrounded by voices telling them what they need, what will make them happy, what success looks like, and what they should believe.

And sometimes those messages even contain pieces of biblical truth.

That's what makes discernment so important.

We need to know God's Word—not merely recognize Bible verses.

We need to understand context.

We need to know the character of God.

We need to teach our children to distinguish between what sounds spiritual and what is actually biblical.

This is at the heart of biblical parenting.

Our goal isn't simply to raise children who can repeat Bible verses.

We want to raise children who know God, love His Word, recognize truth, and walk in biblical convictions.

Luke 4 then takes us to Jesus' hometown of Nazareth.

Jesus reads from Isaiah 61 and declares that the prophecy is being fulfilled in Him.

At first, the people marvel at His words.

Then Jesus points them toward two Old Testament examples: Elijah ministering to a Gentile widow and Elisha cleansing Naaman the Syrian.

And suddenly their admiration turns to fury.

Why?

They wanted the Messiah.

But they wanted a Messiah who belonged exclusively to them.

Jesus revealed that God's mercy would extend beyond their boundaries.

They were so angry that they attempted to throw Him off a cliff.

Yet Jesus simply passed through their midst and went away.

Jesus was not afraid of rejection when faithfulness required Him to speak truth.

In Luke 5, Peter experiences a miraculous catch of fish.

His response is striking:

Peter recognizes the holiness of Jesus and, in contrast, his own unworthiness.

But Jesus doesn't send him...

For Further Research: Why Did Jesus Get Baptized?

What if the exhaustion, interruptions, and endless serving of motherhood could actually become opportunities to model Jesus to your children?

In Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3, we witness the beginning of Jesus’ public ministry. He serves people, meets physical and spiritual needs, teaches, heals, calls disciples, confronts evil, and responds with compassion to those who are hurting. In Mark 1 especially, the pace is relentless—“immediately” appears again and again as Jesus moves from one need to the next.

And yet, Jesus also gets alone with His Father.

For Christian moms who feel weary from the constant demands of motherhood, this passage offers both encouragement and a needed reminder: our service matters, but we cannot faithfully serve others without drawing near to Christ ourselves.

On today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we continue our chronological Bible reading plan by studying Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3 and looking closely at the life and ministry of Jesus.

• Why Jesus’ life provides such a powerful model for Christian motherhood
• What Matthew, Mark, and Luke emphasize about Jesus as Messiah, Savior, and suffering Servant
• Why Luke traces Jesus’ genealogy all the way back to Adam
• The significance of Jesus’ baptism and the Father’s declaration, “You are my beloved Son; with you I am well pleased”
• How the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit are all present at Jesus’ baptism
• Why Jesus was baptized even though He was completely sinless
• What happened when Jesus was tempted in the wilderness
• Why Mark’s Gospel moves so quickly—and why the word “immediately” is so significant
• How Peter’s influence may have shaped Mark’s Gospel
• What John Mark’s story teaches us about failure, restoration, and usefulness to God
• Jesus’ authority over demons, sickness, and disease
• Why Jesus repeatedly withdrew to pray despite the overwhelming needs around Him
• What Jesus’ compassion for the leper teaches us about sacrificial love
• How the ordinary, unseen acts of motherhood can point our children toward the love of Christ

Motherhood can feel like an endless series of interruptions.

Someone needs food. Someone needs help. Someone is sick. Someone has a question. Someone needs correction. Someone needs comfort. And just when you think you might finally get a moment to yourself, someone calls your name.

Mark 1 gives us a glimpse into a similar rhythm in Jesus’ ministry.

People continually came to Him. He taught. He healed. He confronted demons. He cared for physical needs. He instructed His disciples. He ministered late into the evening.

And then, while it was still dark, Jesus got up and went to a desolate place to pray.

That is an important picture for weary Christian moms.

Jesus did not respond to the endless needs around Him by trying to operate independently of His Father. He withdrew to be with the Father.

Motherhood may require tremendous sacrifice, but our strength does not come from having an endless supply of strength within ourselves. We need Christ.

Mark’s Gospel moves quickly.

In Mark 1 alone, the word “immediately” appears repeatedly as Jesus moves from one event to another.

John the Baptist prepares the way.

Jesus is baptized.

He is tempted in the wilderness.

He calls His disciples.

He teaches in the synagogue.

He casts out a demon.

He heals Peter’s mother-in-law.

Crowds gather at the door.

Jesus heals and delivers people.

And then He rises early to pray.

Sound familiar?

The pace of motherhood can feel remarkably similar.

But there is something beautiful about realizing that Jesus knows what it feels like to be surrounded by people who need something from you.

When you are weary, overwhelmed, interrupted, or longing for solitude, Jesus understands.

And He invites you to come to Him.

Matthew 3, Mark 1, and Luke 3 all point us toward Jesus’ baptism.

As Jesus comes out of the water, the Spirit descends like a dove and the Father declares His pleasure in His Son.

This is a beautiful glimpse of the Trinity: Father, Son, and Holy Spirit present together.

Jesus is beginning His public ministry, but before He begins the work, the Father declares His love and pleasure in Him.

There is an important encouragement here for Christian mothers.

Our identity cannot ultimately come from how much we accomplish.

We can serve our families faithfully while still remembering that our deepest identity is found in belonging to Christ.

We don't have to prove our worth through our productivity.

Immediately after His baptism, Jesus is driven by the Spirit into the wilderness, where He is tempted by Satan for forty days.

Mark includes the striking detail that Jesus was with the wild animals and that angels were ministering to Him.

Jesus' ministry would not begin with comfort and ease.

He would face temptation, rejection, suffering, exhaustion, and ultimately the cross.

This matters when we consider motherhood.

Following God does not guarantee that our circumstances will be easy.

Sometimes obedience leads us into difficult places.

But God is still present there.

Jesus spent approximately thirty years in relative obscurity before beginning His public ministry.

Most of His earthly life was not spent preaching to crowds or performing miracles.

There were hidden years.

There were ordinary years.

There were years when the Son of God lived within a human family and worked in obscurity.

That can be incredibly encouraging when you are a mother whose days seem consumed by tasks nobody sees.

Changing diapers.

Feeding children.

Cleaning up messes.

Teaching.

Correcting.

Reading books.

Caring for sick children in the middle of the night.

Repeating the same instructions again and again.

These things may not look significant to the world.

But God does not waste hidden years.

Your faithfulness in ordinary motherhood is not an interruption to God's purposes for your life. It can be part of the very place where He is forming you and using you.

When Jesus enters Simon Peter's home, He discovers that Peter's mother-in-law is sick with a fever.

Jesus takes her by the hand, raises her up, and heals her.

And then she begins serving them.

This isn't presented as a command that every sick person must immediately return to work. Rather, it is a beautiful picture of a woman who has received Christ's compassionate care and responds with grateful service.

Christian motherhood involves countless opportunities to serve.

But the question isn't simply, “How much can I accomplish?”

The better question is:

“Am I serving from the strength Christ provides, or am I trying to manufacture strength on my own?”

One of the most striking moments in Mark 1 comes after Jesus has spent the evening ministering to crowds.

He gets up early, while it is still dark, and goes to a desolate place to pray.

His disciples eventually find Him and tell Him:

What does Jesus do?

He doesn't panic.

He doesn't allow the urgency of every need to determine His next step.

He knows why He came.

He continues preaching the gospel in other towns.

Jesus' example reminds us that being needed by everyone does not mean we are responsible to meet every need.

Christian moms need boundaries, wisdom, rest, and time with the Lord. We are not Jesus, and we should not expect ourselves to function as though we are.

But we can follow His example by making time to seek the Father—even when there are legitimate needs waiting for us.

At the end of Mark 1, a man with leprosy approaches Jesus.

This man would have experienced enormous social and religious isolation. Yet Jesus does something striking:

He touches him.

Jesus is not repulsed by the man's uncleanness.

He is moved with compassion.

And He heals him.

This is the Savior we serve.

Jesus is both powerful and compassionate.

He is holy, yet He draws near to the hurting.

He has authority, yet He serves.

He is the Son of God, yet He touches the untouchable.

Think about what happens when your child wakes up sick in the middle of the night.

Maybe they're covered in vomit.

Maybe they smell terrible.

Maybe you're exhausted and desperately want to sleep.

And then that little voice says, “Mommy, hold you?”

And you do.

You hold them.

You clean them up.

You comfort them.

Nobody applauds.

Nobody posts about it.

Nobody may ever know.

But your child is experiencing something tangible: love that moves toward them when they are...

The Birthday that Changed the World Podcast Episode regarding December 25th.

We often picture the birth of Jesus as peaceful, beautiful, and serene.

But when we read Matthew 1–2 and Luke 2 carefully, we discover something different.

Jesus' arrival was miraculous—but it was also dangerous, disruptive, humble, and difficult.

Mary faced the possibility of public shame. Joseph had to surrender his reputation and plans. Jesus was born in profoundly humble circumstances. Simeon warned Mary that sorrow would pierce her own soul. Wise men arrived seeking the newborn King, Herod responded with murderous jealousy, and Mary and Joseph had to flee to Egypt to protect their child.

And yet, through every unexpected circumstance, God was faithful.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox meditates on the birth and early childhood of Jesus through Matthew 1–2 and Luke 2. As Christian moms, we often research, plan, protect, and hope for the best for our children. But the Christmas story reminds us that faithful parenting does not mean controlling every circumstance.

Sometimes following God means surrendering our expectations and trusting Him when His plan looks very different from ours.

• Why Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the King of Kings and promised Messiah
• The significance of Matthew's genealogy and the women included in Jesus' family line
• How Jesus' name means “the Lord is salvation”
• Why Joseph's obedience is such a powerful example of faithfulness
• What Mary's willingness to surrender her reputation can teach Christian mothers
• Why the Christmas story may have been much less comfortable than our traditional nativity scenes suggest
• How God used Caesar Augustus and a Roman census to fulfill His promise that Jesus would be born in Bethlehem
• Why God repeatedly used humble and unexpected people to announce and honor Jesus
• What Simeon and Anna reveal about recognizing God's salvation
• The possible significance of the gifts of the wise men
• Why Herod's response demonstrates the world's opposition to the rightful King
• How God protected Jesus by sending Mary and Joseph to Egypt
• What Jesus' childhood teaches us about wisdom, growth, obedience, and favor with God and people
• How Christian moms can surrender the desire to perfectly control their children's circumstances
• Why our ultimate goal in parenting should be children who place Christ on the throne

Matthew begins by establishing Jesus' royal credentials.

He traces Jesus' genealogy through Abraham and David, demonstrating that Jesus is the fulfillment of God's covenant promises and the rightful heir to David's throne.

But there is a remarkable contrast.

The King of Kings leaves heaven and enters the world in humility.

The One who owns everything is born into poverty.

The One who deserves worship is rejected.

The One who is worthy of a throne is laid in a manger.

The One who created the world becomes Emmanuel—God with us.

This is the pattern we see throughout Scripture: God's purposes don't always look impressive by worldly standards.

And that matters for mothers.

We can spend enormous amounts of energy trying to create the perfect circumstances for our children.

We research.

We plan.

We protect.

We worry.

We try to anticipate every possible problem.

But Mary and Joseph remind us that faithfulness is not the same thing as control.

Mary's pregnancy brought her extraordinary privilege—but it also brought enormous uncertainty.

She knew what God had told her.

She didn't know exactly how everything would unfold.

And now, as Jesus' mother, she would experience circumstances no mother would choose.

She would give birth in humble surroundings.

She would watch strangers arrive to worship her newborn Son.

She would hear Simeon tell her that a sword would pierce her own soul.

And eventually, she would watch Jesus suffer and die.

Mary couldn't control the circumstances.

But she could remain faithful.

That is an important lesson for Christian moms.

Our calling is not to guarantee our children's comfort. Our calling is to faithfully point them toward Christ.

Sometimes God's work in our children's lives will look different than we expected.

Our children may face disappointment, difficulty, rejection, or circumstances we desperately wish we could prevent.

We should protect them from what God calls us to protect them from.

But we also have to resist the temptation to make comfort and control the ultimate goals.

Jesus Himself entered the world through suffering and humility.

Joseph is another beautiful example of faithful obedience.

When Joseph discovered that Mary was pregnant, he intended to divorce her quietly because he was a righteous man who did not want to expose her to public shame.

Then God intervened.

An angel told him that Mary's child was conceived by the Holy Spirit and that he was to take Mary as his wife.

Joseph obeyed.

He accepted the social consequences.

He surrendered his reputation.

He took responsibility for a child who was not biologically his.

And later, when an angel warned him that Herod wanted to kill Jesus, Joseph immediately obeyed again and took his family to Egypt.

Joseph's example challenges us:

Are we willing to obey God even when obedience makes us look foolish to everyone else?

Christian parenting begins with parents who are willing to surrender themselves to Christ.

Our Christmas traditions can sometimes make the birth of Jesus look almost effortless.

But Scripture gives us a more complicated picture.

Mary and Joseph traveled to Bethlehem.

Jesus was born in humble circumstances.

Shepherds arrived after receiving an angelic announcement.

Simeon and Anna recognized Jesus as the promised Messiah.

Wise men eventually came seeking the King.

Herod responded with murderous jealousy.

Mary and Joseph fled to Egypt.

And after Herod died, they eventually returned and settled in Nazareth.

This wasn't a simple one-night story.

It was a series of moments in which ordinary people had to keep trusting God.

And perhaps that's one reason the story is so encouraging for moms.

Mary and Joseph had to walk by faith one step at a time—just as we do.

One of the themes running throughout these chapters is God's tendency to elevate the humble.

Look at the people He draws into the story:

• A young woman from Nazareth
• A carpenter
• Shepherds
• An elderly man named Simeon
• A widowed prophetess named Anna
• Poor parents bringing the least expensive sacrifice
• Foreign wise men coming from the East

The world's powerful ruler, Herod, responds with fear.

But the humble recognize the King.

This is a beautiful reminder for Christian mothers that faithfulness is more important than appearing impressive.

Your ordinary work matters.

Your quiet obedience matters.

Your prayers matter.

Your willingness to serve your family matters.

And your children don't need a mother who looks impressive.

They need a mother who knows and worships Jesus.

Simeon recognizes Jesus as God's salvation:

“For my eyes have seen your salvation.”

But then he tells Mary something difficult.

Jesus will be opposed, and “a sword will pierce through your own soul also.”

What a reminder that God's blessing does not always mean the absence of pain.

Mary's greatest earthly blessing—being the mother of Jesus—would eventually become the source of unimaginable sorrow as she watched Him suffer.

Yet God's plan was still good.

This is an important truth for mothers who are walking through difficult seasons.

A difficult circumstance is not automatically evidence that God has abandoned you.

Mary's story shows us that God's presence and God's purposes can coexist with suffering.

Matthew then introduces the wise men who come searching for Jesus.

We don't know exactly who they were or exactly how many traveled to see Him. Scripture simply tells us that they came from the East, followed the sign God provided, and eventually found Jesus.

And their response is striking:

“They fell down and worshiped him.”

They brought costly gifts:

• Gold, fitting for a king
• Frankincense, associated with worship
• Myrrh, pointing toward suffering and death

While Herod is threatened by the arrival of another king, these foreigners rejoice.

They recognize what others refuse to see:

Jesus is worthy of worship.

Herod...

The New Testament is here! After walking through all 39 books of the Old Testament in our chronological Bible reading plan, we finally turn the page to the Gospels and meet Jesus in His earthly ministry.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox begins the New Testament by studying Luke 1 and John 1 and reflecting on the arrival of the long-awaited Messiah.

Luke introduces us to Zechariah and Elizabeth, John the Baptist, and Mary—the humble young woman who responds to God's extraordinary calling with, “Behold, I am the servant of the Lord.” We see God's faithfulness to His promises, His heart for the humble, His use of families to accomplish His purposes, and His plan to send a Savior.

Then John introduces us to Jesus in a completely different way: “In the beginning was the Word.” Jesus is the eternal Son of God, the Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world, and the Messiah who came to dwell among us.

And throughout these chapters, one invitation keeps appearing:

Come and see.

Come and see who Jesus is.

Come and see what God has done.

Come and see the Savior who has finally come.

• Why Luke wrote his Gospel and his desire for readers to have certainty concerning the things they have been taught
• What Luke's Gospel reveals about Jesus' compassion for the overlooked and marginalized
• How God used Zechariah and Elizabeth's family in His redemptive plan
• The connection between John's birth and the prophecy at the end of Malachi
• What Mary's response teaches us about humility, surrender, and obedience
• Why Mary's Magnificat reveals her knowledge of Scripture and God's covenant promises
• How God used Mary and Elizabeth to encourage one another
• Why being filled with the Holy Spirit repeatedly leads to worship throughout Luke
• The theological emphasis of John's Gospel
• Why John calls Jesus “the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world”
• Seven names or descriptions of Jesus found in John 1
• Why John the Baptist points away from himself and toward Jesus
• The repeated invitation to “Come and see”
• What these chapters teach Christian moms about worship, humility, motherhood, family, and faithfulness

Luke begins his Gospel by telling us why he wrote it: so that Theophilus—and everyone who reads it—might have certainty about the truth of what they have been taught.

Then Luke brings us into the story through two families.

Zechariah and Elizabeth are described as righteous and faithful, yet they have experienced years of disappointment and barrenness.

Mary is a young woman from Nazareth who receives an announcement that will completely change her life.

Neither story unfolds according to human expectations.

But God is faithful.

The angel Gabriel tells Zechariah that John will prepare the way for the Lord, fulfilling the prophecy we just encountered in Malachi:

Then Gabriel comes to Mary with an even greater announcement: she will give birth to the Son of God, the promised King whose kingdom will never end.

Mary's response is remarkable:

“Behold, I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word.”

Mary doesn't respond by demanding control over the situation. She surrenders herself to God's purposes.

Mary's calling came with a cost.

She was willing to surrender her reputation, her plans, her expectations, and her future to God's purposes.

That makes her response especially meaningful for Christian mothers.

Motherhood requires surrender in countless ways. Our children, our homes, our schedules, our plans, and even our hopes for the future can tempt us to believe that we need to control the outcome.

But biblical motherhood begins with recognizing that we belong to the Lord before we belong to anything else.

Mary didn't know every detail of what God would do.

She simply trusted the One who had spoken.

And she declared herself His servant.

What would change in our homes if we approached our own lives with that same posture?

“I am the servant of the Lord.”

One of the most beautiful moments in Luke 1 happens when Mary visits Elizabeth.

Mary has received an extraordinary message that would have been difficult for others to understand. Elizabeth, filled with the Holy Spirit, responds with joy and affirmation.

She doesn't compete with Mary.

She doesn't question God's plan.

She rejoices.

For Christian women and mothers, this is a beautiful picture of how we can encourage one another.

We need women who will point us back to God's Word, remind us of His faithfulness, and rejoice when we see Him working.

Who are you encouraging in her walk with Christ?

And who has God placed in your life to encourage you?

John's birth fulfills the promise made through Malachi.

His calling is not to draw attention to himself but to prepare people for the Lord.

That becomes a powerful picture for Christian parenting.

Our children are not ultimately ours to shape according to our own image or ambitions.

They have been entrusted to us so that we can point them toward Christ.

John's life reminds us that our calling is not to make ourselves the center of the story.

Jesus is the center.

Our parenting, our marriages, our homes, and our daily lives can all become places where we say:

Come and see.

Come and see who Jesus is.

Come and see His goodness.

Come and see His faithfulness.

Come and see the One who saves.

After Luke's detailed introduction to the birth of Christ, John takes us all the way back to eternity:

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.”

John wants us to understand something essential:

Jesus did not begin in Bethlehem.

He existed before creation.

He is God.

He is the Creator.

He is the Light.

And “the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

This is the heart of The Dwelling Place.

The God who has always desired to dwell with His people came to earth in the person of Jesus Christ.

He didn't remain distant.

He came near.

He came to save.

And He invites us to know Him.

John's Gospel gives us a rich theological introduction to Jesus. In this chapter, we see Him identified as:

• The Lamb of God
• The Son of God
• Rabbi
• The Son of Man
• The Messiah
• The King of Israel
• Jesus of Nazareth

Each name gives us another glimpse of who Jesus is.

He is not merely a teacher whose example we admire.

He is the Savior of the world.

One phrase stands out throughout John 1:

“Come and see.”

Andrew hears John the Baptist identify Jesus and begins following Him.

Then Andrew tells his brother.

Jesus calls Philip.

Philip finds Nathanael.

And the invitation continues:

Come and see.

That is the invitation of the Gospel.

And it can become the banner over our lives as Christian women.

Instead of trying to convince everyone through our own strength, what if our homes became places where people could encounter the reality of Jesus?

What if our children could look at our lives and hear:

Come and see.

Come and see the God who forgives.

Come and see the God who is faithful.

Come and see the God who meets us in weakness.

Come and see the Savior who gave Himself for us.

These opening chapters of the New Testament remind us that God loves to work through families.

He worked through Zechariah and Elizabeth.

He worked through Mary.

He worked through Joseph.

He used John the Baptist to prepare people for Jesus.

And He continues to work through ordinary families today.

Biblical parenting isn't ultimately about creating perfect children or perfect homes.

It's about creating a home where Christ is known, worshiped, followed, and proclaimed.

That means our children don't need mothers who pretend to have everything together.

They need mothers who know where to go when they don't.

They need to see us humble ourselves.

They need to see us repent.

They need to see us worship.

They need to see us trust God's Word.

And they need to hear us continually point them toward Jesus.

Come and see.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, these chapters are a beautiful reminder that the Bible is one unified story.

The Old Testament wasn't a collection of disconnected...

You made it through the Old Testament! 🎉

After reading all 39 books of the Old Testament, tomorrow we begin the New Testament—and there is no better way to make that transition than by pausing to celebrate what God has revealed about Jesus Christ throughout His Word.

In this special episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox celebrates the completion of the Old Testament portion of the chronological Bible reading plan and looks ahead to the life, ministry, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

John 1 reminds us that Jesus was not simply a man who appeared in history. “The Word became flesh and dwelt among us.” Jesus was with God in the beginning, He was God, and all things were created through Him.

As we move from Malachi into the Gospels, we can look back and recognize that Jesus was present throughout the story of Scripture. The Old Testament continually points forward to the long-awaited Messiah.

And tomorrow, we finally begin reading about Jesus’ earthly ministry in the New Testament!

• Why completing the Old Testament is worth celebrating
• How Jesus is revealed throughout all 39 books of the Old Testament
• Why John begins his Gospel by pointing us all the way back to creation
• What it means that Jesus is the Word who became flesh
• A brief overview of the intertestamental period between Malachi and the birth of Jesus
• How Greek language and culture helped prepare the historical setting for the spread of the Gospel
• The Septuagint and why the Greek translation of the Old Testament mattered
• The Maccabean Revolt and the political changes leading up to Jesus' birth
• How synagogues, Pharisees, and Sadducees developed before the time of Christ
• Why the four Gospels are different from one another
• The unique emphasis and audience of Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John
• How the Gospels reveal Jesus as fully God and fully man
• Why tomorrow's reading begins the New Testament—and introduces us to Jesus

One of the beautiful things about completing a chronological Bible reading plan is being able to look back and see the unfolding story of redemption.

From Genesis to Malachi, Scripture continually points us toward Christ.

As the Name Above All Names poem reminds us:

• Genesis: Jesus is the ram at Abraham's altar.
• Exodus: Jesus is the Passover Lamb.
• Leviticus: He is the High Priest.
• Numbers: He is the cloud by day and pillar by night.
• Deuteronomy: He is our city of refuge.
• Joshua: He is the scarlet thread.
• Judges: He is our Judge.
• Ruth: He is our Kinsman Redeemer.
• 1 & 2 Samuel: He is the trusted Prophet.
• Kings & Chronicles: He is our reigning King.
• Ezra: He is the faithful scribe.
• Nehemiah: He is the rebuilder of what is broken.
• Esther: He is the faithful protector of His people.
• Job: He is our Redeemer who lives.
• Psalms: He is our Shepherd.
• Proverbs & Ecclesiastes: He is our Wisdom.
• Song of Solomon: He is the Bridegroom.
• Isaiah: He is the suffering Servant.
• Jeremiah & Lamentations: He is the weeping Prophet.
• Daniel: He is present in the fiery furnace.
• Hosea: He is the faithful love of God.
• Joel: He is the One who gives the Holy Spirit.
• Obadiah: He is our Savior.
• Jonah: He points us toward God's heart for the nations.
• Nahum: He is the righteous Judge.
• Habakkuk: He is the One we wait for in faith.
• Zephaniah: He is the Lord mighty to save.
• Haggai: He is the restorer.
• Zechariah: He is the fountain of cleansing.
• Malachi: He is the Sun of Righteousness who brings healing.

As you look back over your own Bible reading, what stood out to you?

Perhaps you saw Jesus as the God who sees you. Perhaps you saw His faithfulness, mercy, holiness, wisdom, justice, or patience in a new way.

Take some time today to reflect on how God has changed your understanding of Him through His Word.

After Malachi, there is a period of roughly four centuries without the prophetic books we find in Scripture.

But God was not inactive.

The intertestamental period was filled with political, cultural, and religious developments that shaped the world into which Jesus was born.

During this time:

• The Persian Empire gave way to Greek rule.
• Alexander the Great spread Greek language and culture throughout the region.
• The Old Testament was translated into Greek in what became known as the Septuagint.
• Alexander's empire was divided among his generals after his death.
• The Seleucid and Ptolemaic kingdoms competed for control.
• Antiochus IV Epiphanes severely persecuted the Jewish people and desecrated the temple.
• The Maccabean Revolt eventually led to a period of Jewish independence.
• Roman power eventually took control of Judea.
• Herod the Great ruled Judea when Jesus was born.
• Synagogues and religious leadership structures developed throughout the Jewish world.

So although the prophetic voice had grown silent, God's purposes had not stopped.

He was preparing the world for the arrival of the Messiah.

Tomorrow, we begin the New Testament—and we begin with four accounts of the life and ministry of Jesus Christ.

Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John are not four different Jesuses. They are four Gospel accounts that present Jesus from different perspectives and to different audiences.

Matthew emphasizes Jesus as the promised Messiah and rightful King.

He repeatedly connects Jesus' life to Old Testament prophecy and highlights His place in the line of David.

Mark moves quickly and emphasizes Jesus' actions and ministry.

Jesus is presented as the suffering Servant who came to serve and ultimately give His life for others.

Luke emphasizes Jesus as the Son of Man and highlights His mission to seek and save.

His Gospel especially emphasizes that the good news of Jesus extends beyond the Jewish people to the nations.

John begins before Jesus' earthly ministry—even before creation:

“In the beginning was the Word.”

John's purpose is clearly stated in John 20:31: these things were written so that we might believe that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and that by believing we might have life in His name.

And tomorrow, we begin reading it.

If you've been following the chronological Bible reading plan, don't rush past this milestone.

You just read 39 books of the Bible.

You watched God's promises unfold. You saw Israel's faithfulness and rebellion. You encountered kings, prophets, judges, priests, exiles, restorations, suffering, judgment, mercy, and hope.

And throughout it all, God was preparing the way for Jesus.

As moms, we can sometimes feel pressure to simply get through the next chapter, the next task, or the next day. But God's Word invites us to slow down long enough to recognize the bigger story.

We aren't simply teaching our children Bible stories.

We're teaching them the story of God's redemptive work—and pointing them to Jesus.

The goal of biblical parenting isn't merely to raise children who know Bible facts. We want our children to know the God revealed in Scripture, to recognize their need for Christ, and to understand that the whole Bible tells one unfolding story of redemption.

So celebrate today.

Then open your Bible tomorrow.

The Old Testament pointed forward to Him. Now we get to walk with Jesus through the Gospels.

John 1:1–5 — Jesus, the Word, was with God and was God from the beginning.

John 1:14 — “And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us.”

John 1:12–13 — Those who receive Christ and believe in His name become children of God.

John 20:31 — The Gospels were written so that we might believe Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God, and have life in His name.

Malachi 4:2 — The coming Messiah is described as the “sun of righteousness” who brings healing.

Heavenly Father, thank You for Your faithfulness.

Thank You for the privilege of studying Your Word and for the 39 books of the Old Testament that reveal Your perfection, glory, patience, mercy, and faithfulness.

Thank You for sending Your Son, Jesus Christ.

As we begin the New Testament tomorrow, give us eyes that see, ears that...

What if God’s love for you isn’t always the kind of love that makes life easier—but the kind of love that makes you more like Jesus?

Today on The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we reach the final book and final day of our Old Testament chronological Bible reading plan! Malachi brings the Old Testament to a close with a powerful message about God’s covenant faithfulness, spiritual compromise, marriage, parenting, holiness, and the refining love of God.

After centuries of God's faithfulness to Israel, His people have once again become apathetic and disobedient. Through a series of questions and answers, Malachi exposes their hearts—and reminds them that God does not merely want outward religious behavior. He wants His people to love Him, honor His Word, and walk faithfully with Him.

For Christian moms, Malachi has especially important lessons about biblical parenting and Christian marriage. God calls us to put His Word on our lips, guard our hearts and spirits, honor our marriage covenants, and faithfully point our children toward Him.

But Malachi ends with something even greater: hope.

The Old Testament closes with God's people still waiting. The promised Messiah has not yet come. John the Baptist has not yet appeared. The Sun of Righteousness has not yet risen.

The story isn't finished.

And that makes this the perfect place to turn the page to the New Testament and meet Jesus.

• Why Malachi's message was necessary before 400 years of prophetic silence
• How God's refining love differs from the passive love our culture often expects
• What Malachi teaches us about spiritual leadership in the home
• Why Christian moms should seek to have “true instruction” on their lips
• God's design and purpose for marriage
• What it means to guard your heart and spirit within marriage
• How God can use difficult circumstances to refine us into the image of Christ
• Why the refiner's fire is actually a picture of God's loving presence
• How Malachi points forward to John the Baptist and Jesus
• What the final verses of the Old Testament reveal about God's heart for families
• Why the Old Testament ends with unresolved longing—and why that's good news
• How Christian moms can wait faithfully for God when His promises aren't yet fulfilled

Malachi begins with a statement that God's people apparently struggled to believe:

God loves them.

Their response is essentially, How have You loved us?

Their circumstances and spiritual condition made God's love difficult for them to recognize.

But throughout Malachi, we see that God's love isn't merely sentimental or permissive.

God's love is refining.

He loves His people enough to confront their sin, expose their hypocrisy, and call them back to Himself.

That is an important truth for Christian mothers.

We often think of love as making someone feel comfortable, protected, or happy. But biblical love sometimes requires confrontation, correction, perseverance, and the willingness to endure discomfort for the sake of someone's holiness.

God doesn't simply want His people to feel loved.

He wants to make them holy.

And He does the same work in us.

Malachi means “my messenger” or “the Lord's messenger.”

And Malachi's message to the priests is essentially: This was supposed to be your purpose.

They were supposed to teach God's Word faithfully and lead God's people toward Him. Instead, their teaching had become corrupted and their worship had become careless.

But as New Testament believers, we have an incredible identity.

Because of Jesus, we are described as a royal priesthood (1 Peter 2:9).

That gives mothers a beautiful picture of our responsibility.

As we disciple our children, what is on our lips?

Are we teaching them God's truth?

Are our lives consistent with the truth we teach?

Are we walking in peace and uprightness?

Are we helping turn our children away from sin and toward their Savior?

Malachi 2:6 gives us a picture worth praying over:

What a beautiful description for a Christian mother to desire.

Malachi 2 turns from spiritual leadership to marriage.

God confronts His people for being unfaithful to their spouses and reminds them that marriage is a covenant.

Then comes a striking statement:

Marriage matters because faithfulness in marriage is connected to the spiritual formation of the family.

A healthy marriage provides an important environment for children to see what covenant love, sacrifice, repentance, forgiveness, and faithfulness look like.

But this passage should never be used to burden women who are experiencing marital brokenness or to imply that a difficult marriage means they have failed their children.

Scripture itself gives us examples of people who faithfully followed God despite the spiritual failures of their families.

Our children's ultimate hope is not a perfect marriage between their parents.

Their hope is Jesus.

For those experiencing separation, divorce, abandonment, abuse, or other painful circumstances, God's heart is not to shame the wounded. He is the God who cares for the widow and the fatherless and who draws near to the brokenhearted.

One of the phrases that stands out in Malachi 2 is:

That command reaches deeper than outward behavior.

We can sometimes do the right thing externally while our hearts are filled with bitterness, resentment, disappointment, or anger.

And God sees the heart.

This is one of the hardest parts of Christian marriage—and Christian motherhood.

We can say the right words while internally rehearsing everything that is wrong with our spouse.

We can serve our families while quietly becoming bitter.

We can look faithful on the outside while our hearts are drifting from the Lord.

Malachi reminds us that God wants more than outward compliance.

He wants our hearts.

And thankfully, He doesn't simply command us to become pure through our own effort.

He provides His Spirit to transform us.

Malachi 3 contains one of the most beautiful pictures of God's sanctifying work:

A refiner heats precious metal to remove impurities.

The goal isn't to destroy the silver or gold.

The goal is to make it pure.

And Malachi says that God will “sit as a refiner and purifier of silver.”

There is comfort in that picture.

God does not throw us into the fire and walk away.

He is present.

He knows exactly what He is doing.

And He knows when the refining work is complete.

As Christian moms, we may desperately want God to remove a difficult circumstance from our lives or our children's lives. But sometimes the better prayer is:

“Lord, what are You producing through this?”

God's goal is not simply to make our lives comfortable.

His goal is to conform us to the image of His Son.

Romans 8:28–29 reminds us that God works all things together for good for those who love Him—and defines that good as being “conformed to the image of his Son.”

The refiner's fire is ultimately about reflection.

Is Christ becoming more visible in us?

Malachi also reminds us that God's refining work isn't the end of the story.

For those who fear His name:

The Old Testament closes by pointing forward.

The people are still waiting.

The Messiah hasn't arrived.

John the Baptist hasn't yet come to prepare the way.

The promises haven't all been fulfilled.

And that is exactly how the Old Testament is supposed to end.

We are supposed to want more.

We are supposed to ask:

Who will fulfill God's promises?

Who will finally accomplish the restoration His people need?

Who will rescue His people from their sin?

Turn the page.

Jesus is coming.

The final verses of the Old Testament contain a beautiful promise:

What a fitting conclusion for a Bible podcast for busy Christian moms.

God cares about the hearts of families.

He cares about reconciliation.

He cares about parents faithfully leading their children.

And He cares about children knowing and honoring Him.

For moms praying for restoration in their

Have you ever taught your children what is right, watched them make good progress, and then felt discouraged when they seem to do the very opposite of what you’ve taught them?

As we finish the book of Nehemiah in today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we discover that even after God’s people renewed their covenant and committed themselves to obedience, they soon returned to the very patterns they had promised to leave behind.

Nehemiah’s frustration may feel familiar to Christian moms. We work diligently to teach our children God’s Word, establish rhythms of faith, and guide our families toward what matters eternally. Yet we cannot control the choices our children make—or guarantee that the seeds we sow will produce immediate fruit.

In Nehemiah 10–13 and Psalm 126, we’re reminded to keep pursuing faithfulness, to lead with both conviction and self-control, and to trust God with the harvest.

As we approach the end of the Old Testament, Nehemiah’s unfinished story also leaves us longing for the promised Messiah. The restoration God’s people needed could not be accomplished through renewed promises alone. They needed Jesus.

• What Nehemiah teaches us about leadership, perseverance, and dependence on God
• How moms can balance long-term spiritual goals with the immediate needs of family life
• Why our children’s disobedience can feel so discouraging—and how to respond faithfully
• What Nehemiah’s return to Jerusalem reveals about the human tendency to wander from God
• How to address sin without allowing frustration to control our words and actions
• Why the unfinished ending of Nehemiah points us toward Jesus
• What Psalm 126 teaches us about sowing in tears and waiting for a harvest of joy
• How to keep investing in your children’s faith when you cannot yet see the fruit

Nehemiah is often studied for his leadership skills. He understood God’s call, planned carefully, delegated effectively, addressed opposition, and continually depended on the Lord.

But his leadership also required him to attend to immediate problems without losing sight of the larger mission.

That balance is familiar to moms.

We have long-term goals for our families: raising children who know and love the Lord, cultivating faith, and helping our children grow in wisdom and obedience. At the same time, we must address the “dashboard lights” that appear in everyday life—the conflicts, questions, struggles, and patterns that need our attention.

We cannot simply ignore the issues right in front of us because we have a larger goal. Nor can we allow every immediate problem to distract us from the direction we are heading.

Biblical parenting requires both faithfulness to the long-term work and wisdom in the moment.

Nehemiah’s example encourages us to keep our eyes on the road, pay attention to what needs repair, and continually seek God’s help.

In Nehemiah 10, the people make a covenant to obey God. They commit to honoring the Sabbath, supporting the temple, and living according to His commands.

Yet when Nehemiah returns to Jerusalem after an extended absence, he discovers that the people have broken their commitments.

The temple has been compromised. The Levites have not been properly supported. The Sabbath is being disregarded. And the people have returned to practices they had explicitly promised to avoid.

Nehemiah had helped lead the people toward renewal, but he could not ensure their continued faithfulness.

For Christian moms, this is a sobering reminder: we can faithfully teach and train our children, but we cannot make their hearts obedient.

We may establish good routines, teach Scripture, model repentance, and provide loving correction. But our children remain responsible before God for their own choices.

When they disobey, we should not give up on the work of parenting. We should continue to teach, correct, encourage, and pray—while remembering that only God can transform the heart.

Nehemiah responds forcefully when he discovers the people's disobedience. His actions raise important questions about righteous anger, leadership, and the way we confront sin.

Scripture does not explicitly evaluate every detail of Nehemiah’s response, so we should be careful not to treat all of his actions as a pattern for Christian parents to imitate.

We do know that biblical leadership cannot simply ignore persistent sin. At the same time, Scripture calls us to be slow to anger and to exercise self-control.

This is an important distinction for moms.

Our frustration may be understandable. Repeated disobedience can be exhausting, especially when we have invested so much time and care in teaching our children. But our response must still be shaped by God’s Word.

We can hold firmly to what is right without allowing anger to govern our words or actions.

As we move into the New Testament, we will continue to see Jesus as the perfect standard for holiness, truth, and righteous leadership.

Nehemiah ends on a note of disappointment.

The wall has been rebuilt. The people have renewed their covenant. The temple has been restored. Yet the people still turn away from God.

The return from exile was not the complete restoration God’s people ultimately needed. Their renewed commitments could not solve the deeper problem of the human heart.

The Old Testament leaves us waiting for the promised Messiah—the One who would fulfill God’s promises and bring the lasting redemption His people needed.

That longing makes the transition to the New Testament especially meaningful.

As we prepare to begin reading about Jesus, we remember that our hope is not ultimately in our own ability to lead perfectly, our children’s ability to obey consistently, or our family’s ability to keep every commitment.

Our hope is in Jesus Christ, the promised Messiah and the One who fulfills God’s saving purposes.

Psalm 126 offers a beautiful picture of hope after hardship.

The psalm celebrates the Lord’s restoration of Zion, remembering a time when laughter and joy replaced sorrow. Yet it also includes a prayer for further restoration:

The image is of a person who goes out to sow seed while weeping, carrying on with the work even in sorrow. The promise is that the one who sows will return with joy, carrying the harvest.

Motherhood can feel like this.

We teach the same truths again and again. We pray for our children. We correct, encourage, forgive, and begin again. Sometimes we see encouraging growth. Other times, we wonder whether our efforts are making any difference.

Psalm 126 reminds us that we can continue sowing faithfully even when the season is hard.

This is not a guarantee that every child will respond to our teaching in the way or on the timeline we desire. Rather, it is an encouragement to persevere in the work God has given us, trusting Him with what we cannot control.

You may be sowing in tears today, but your labor is not hidden from God.

As you finish Nehemiah and Psalm 126 in your chronological Bible reading plan, consider these questions:

1. What do Nehemiah’s leadership and perseverance teach me about faithfully serving God?
2. How can I balance the long-term spiritual goals I have for my family with the immediate needs in front of me?
3. How do I tend to respond when my children repeat behaviors I have already addressed?
4. Am I correcting my children with both conviction and self-control?
5. Where might I be tempted to measure the success of my parenting by what I can see right now?
6. What does Nehemiah’s unfinished story teach me about our need for Jesus?
7. Where am I currently sowing in tears?
8. What would it look like to keep faithfully investing in my children while entrusting the harvest to God?

• Nehemiah 10:28–29 — The people commit themselves to follow God’s law.
• Nehemiah 12:43 — The people rejoice with great joy as they dedicate the wall.
• Nehemiah 13:11 — Nehemiah confronts the neglect of God’s house.
• Nehemiah 13:14 — “Remember me, O my God, for good.”
• Psalm 126:1–3 — Remembering the joy of the Lord’s restoration.
• Psalm 126:5–6 — The promise of reaping with joy after sowing in tears.
• James 1:19–20 — Being quick to hear, slow to speak, and slow to anger.
• Galatians 6:9 — Not growing weary in doing good.

Heavenly Father,

Thank You that Your Word is honest about the challenges of leading and teaching Your people. You know how easily our hearts wander, and You know how discouraging it can be when our children do not follow what we have taught them.

Give us deeply rooted patience as we train and guide our children. Help us not to be shaken when they disobey, ask difficult questions, or seem unresponsive to Your Word.

Give us wisdom to address the issues right in front of us while keeping our eyes on the eternal work You have entrusted to us. Help us to correct with conviction, speak

What if some of the circumstances we most want to protect our children from are actually the very circumstances God may use to deepen their faith?

In today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we continue our chronological Bible reading plan in Nehemiah 5–9 and take a closer look at Nehemiah’s remarkable character, leadership, integrity, and fear of God. Living in the Persian Empire, Nehemiah developed qualities that challenge us to consider how God shapes His people—even when they are not living in what we would consider the “ideal” spiritual environment.

Nehemiah’s example leads us into a deeper question about biblical parenting: Are we sometimes more focused on creating ideal circumstances for our children than we are on trusting God to sanctify them wherever He places them?

Nehemiah 5–9 reminds us that God is faithful in abundance and in suffering. He uses difficulty, correction, obedience, His Word, and even seasons of hardship to refine His people and draw them back to Himself.

And perhaps one of the most encouraging reminders for Christian moms is this: we don't have to control every circumstance in our children's lives. We can trust the God who knows them better than we do.

• What Nehemiah’s leadership and integrity reveal about the fear of God
• How Nehemiah responded when God's people were exploiting one another
• Why Nehemiah refused to be distracted by his enemies
• How to recognize distractions and temptations that can pull us away from God's work
• Why Nehemiah prayed, “O God, strengthen my hands”
• What the completion of Jerusalem’s wall in 52 days revealed about God's power
• Why the people rejoiced when they understood God's Word
• How holiness and joy belong together
• What Nehemiah 9 teaches us about God's faithfulness and Israel's repeated rebellion
• Why seasons of suffering can become instruments of sanctification
• How Christian moms can surrender their children's circumstances to God
• Why we don't need to create a perfectly protected environment for our children's faith to grow

Nehemiah's character is striking.

He demonstrates compassion, generosity, diligence, courage, discernment, integrity, and leadership while living among the Persians. In Nehemiah 5, we see him confront wealthy Jews who were taking advantage of their own brothers and sisters during a famine.

Rather than using his position and resources for himself, Nehemiah provides meals for 150 people and their families.

His explanation for his different approach is especially important:

The fear of God shaped Nehemiah's decisions.

That gives Christian moms an important question to consider: What is shaping the character of our children?

We may be tempted to think that the right school, neighborhood, friendships, activities, or opportunities will guarantee spiritual growth. But Scripture continually reminds us that God is the One who works in the hearts of His people.

Our responsibility is to faithfully teach our children God's Word, model obedience, pray for them, and point them toward Christ. We cannot manufacture their sanctification by controlling every circumstance.

Nehemiah's enemies repeatedly attempt to distract him from the work God has given him.

Four times they call him away.

His response?

If you've ever tried to accomplish something as a mom while being interrupted again and again, this scene may feel surprisingly familiar!

But there is a deeper lesson here. Nehemiah understood what God had called him to do, and he refused to allow repeated distractions to pull him away.

Eventually, his enemies resort to deception and even attempt to manipulate him into disobeying God's commands.

Nehemiah sees through the scheme and prays:

There is wisdom here for Christian mothers. We don't need to respond to every distraction, accusation, fear, or pressure around us. We can ask God for discernment and strength to remain faithful to the work He has actually given us.

Nehemiah 8 gives us one of the most familiar verses in the book:

But the context is important.

The people had heard the Word of God and realized how far they had strayed. They were grieving over their sin.

Yet the leaders instructed them not simply to remain in sorrow. They were to celebrate, share with those who had nothing, and recognize that the day was holy.

The people rejoiced because they understood the words that were declared to them.

Holiness does not have to mean a joyless Christianity.

As Christian moms, we want our children to take God's Word seriously—but we also want them to associate knowing God with joy, delight, worship, celebration, and life.

What memories will our children carry from their childhood?

Will they remember Bible reading as something they had to endure? Or will they remember the joy of discovering God's character together?

Will they remember conversations about Scripture as lectures? Or will they remember a family captivated by the goodness of God?

Our homes can be places where our children see that obedience to God is not merely an obligation. It is a source of deep joy.

Nehemiah 9 gives us a sweeping summary of Israel's history.

The people spend a quarter of the day reading God's Word and another quarter confessing their sins and worshiping God.

As they recount their history, a pattern emerges:

God is faithful. His people are faithless. God is merciful. His people repeatedly rebel. God disciplines them. They cry out. God delivers them.

Again and again, God demonstrates that He is:

• Faithful
• Gracious
• Merciful
• Slow to anger
• Abounding in steadfast love
• Ready to forgive
• Faithful to His covenant

Even when Israel enjoyed abundance, they often became comfortable and turned away from God.

And yet, even in their rebellion and suffering, God did not abandon them.

This is the thread that leads us into one of the most challenging applications of this passage for Christian moms.

As moms, we naturally want good things for our children.

We want them to have good friends.

We want them to have godly influences.

We want them to have opportunities to thrive.

We want to protect them from suffering.

But Nehemiah's story—and Israel's history—reminds us that God can use circumstances we would never choose to accomplish His purposes in our children.

Nehemiah himself developed remarkable character while serving in a pagan Persian court.

God was not limited by Nehemiah's environment.

And He is not limited by our children's environments.

That doesn't mean we stop exercising wisdom as parents or become indifferent to harmful influences. Biblical parenting includes discernment and protection. But it does mean that we can surrender our illusion of control.

We don't have to believe that our children's spiritual health depends entirely upon our ability to engineer perfect circumstances.

God is their Father.

He knows what they need.

And sometimes the very difficulty we desperately want removed may become a place where their roots grow deepest.

Nehemiah 9 doesn't minimize suffering. The people acknowledge the hardship that came upon them because of their rebellion.

But they also recognize God's faithfulness through those difficult seasons.

This gives us a different perspective on suffering.

Instead of asking only, “How can I get my child out of this?”, perhaps sometimes we can also ask:

“Lord, what are You doing in my child's heart through this?”

That doesn't mean we stop praying for relief.

It means we can pray for God's purposes to be accomplished even when the circumstances don't change.

For Christian moms, this can be an enormous act of surrender.

We can faithfully parent our children without believing that we have to control every detail of their lives.

We can hold our children with open hands.

And we can trust the God who is merciful, faithful, and sovereign.

As you continue your chronological Bible reading plan, consider reflecting on these questions:

1. What characteristics of Nehemiah stand out to me in Nehemiah 5–6?
2. What does Nehemiah's “fear of God” teach me about biblical leadership and integrity?
3. What distractions most often pull me away from the work God has given me?
4. Do my children associate God's Word with joy and delight? Why or why not?
5. Where am I tempted to believe that I must control my children's circumstances in order for them to thrive spiritually?
6. What difficult circumstance might...

What does rebuilding a broken city have to do with motherhood?

More than you might think.

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan, we begin the book of Nehemiah and discover a leader who was called to an enormous task in the face of opposition, exhaustion, discouragement, and seemingly impossible circumstances.

Nehemiah had to rebuild Jerusalem's broken walls while facing enemies who mocked, threatened, and opposed the work. The people eventually worked with one hand while holding a weapon in the other—building and protecting at the same time.

For Christian moms, that picture can feel remarkably familiar.

Every day, we're building: feeding our children, caring for our homes, educating them, driving them where they need to go, and discipling them in the truth of God's Word. At the same time, we're aware of spiritual and cultural influences that threaten what we're trying to build.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Nehemiah 1–4 and explores prayer, perseverance, biblical motherhood, spiritual opposition, leadership, and what it means to remember that God is great and awesome—and that we don't have to do this work alone.

• The historical setting of Nehemiah and the rebuilding of Jerusalem
• Why Nehemiah's position as the king's cupbearer was one of tremendous trust
• How Nehemiah responded when he learned about Jerusalem's broken walls
• What Nehemiah's prayer teaches us about confession, God's character, and dependence on Him
• Why Nehemiah waited and prayed before taking action
• How God gave Nehemiah favor with King Artaxerxes
• What it means that “the good hand of my God was upon me”
• How Nehemiah responded when his enemies mocked and opposed the rebuilding
• Why the people had to build while simultaneously preparing to defend themselves
• How Nehemiah's leadership can encourage Christian moms
• Why biblical motherhood requires both physical care and spiritual investment
• How to persevere when the work God has given you feels overwhelming
• Why we need to remember the Lord rather than becoming intimidated by opposition
• How Christian moms can build a strong spiritual foundation for the next generation

When Nehemiah hears that Jerusalem is still in ruins, his first response isn't to immediately make a plan.

He weeps, mourns, fasts, and prays.

His prayer acknowledges God's greatness and faithfulness while also confessing the sins of God's people.

Nehemiah understands something important: before he can begin rebuilding the walls, he needs to turn his attention toward the God who called him to the work.

And Nehemiah doesn't pray for only a few minutes and then move on.

Four months pass between Nehemiah 1 and Nehemiah 2.

The burden remains.

When the opportunity finally comes to speak with the king, Nehemiah is ready to act—but he has already spent significant time bringing the situation before God.

For busy Christian moms, this is a beautiful reminder that prayer isn't something we do after we've figured everything else out. Prayer is part of how we prepare to obey God.

One of the repeated themes in Ezra and Nehemiah is God's hand upon His people.

When Nehemiah finally asks the king for permission to return to Jerusalem, he recognizes that the favor he receives is ultimately from God:

Nehemiah's confidence isn't ultimately in his leadership ability, his position, or the king's resources.

His confidence is in God's providence.

The same God who placed Nehemiah in a position of influence also gave him the opportunity and resources to accomplish the work.

When Nehemiah arrives in Jerusalem, he doesn't immediately announce everything he plans to do.

He first surveys the damage.

Then he tells the people what God has done and explains how the king has supported the work.

Their response?

The work begins.

But so does the opposition.

Sanballat, Tobiah, and others mock the Jews and question whether they could possibly accomplish what they have set out to do.

Nehemiah doesn't allow their ridicule to determine whether the work is worth doing.

He keeps building.

Nehemiah 4 may be one of the most relatable chapters for Christian moms.

The opposition becomes serious enough that the people must prepare to defend themselves while continuing the work.

They were building and battling.

Working and watching.

Providing for the needs of the community while protecting what they were rebuilding.

And that picture can remind us of motherhood.

Motherhood often feels like an endless list of practical responsibilities.

We feed our children.

We clean.

We do laundry.

We teach.

We drive.

We make appointments.

We manage school.

We care for physical needs.

And somewhere in the middle of all of that, we're also called to disciple our children and point them toward Christ.

We're building something that we hope will endure beyond our own generation.

But we're also aware that our children are growing up in a culture that may challenge or contradict biblical truth.

So what do we do?

We build.

And we stay spiritually alert.

We pray.

We teach Scripture.

We model repentance.

We point our children toward Christ.

And we remember that we are not sufficient for this task in ourselves.

Just as Jerusalem's walls could not be rebuilt without God's provision and protection, we cannot faithfully disciple our children through our own strength.

As the people become intimidated by their enemies, Nehemiah gives them a simple command:

Notice what Nehemiah doesn't tell them to do.

He doesn't tell them to pretend the opposition isn't real.

He doesn't tell them that the work will be easy.

He tells them to remember the Lord.

The enemies were real.

The danger was real.

The exhaustion was real.

But God was greater.

That is an important message for Christian moms who sometimes feel overwhelmed by the responsibility of raising children in a complicated world.

We don't need to pretend the challenges aren't real.

But we also don't need to forget how great our God is.

The people rebuilding Jerusalem weren't merely repairing stones.

They were restoring protection for a community and future generations.

And that gives us a helpful picture of biblical parenting.

You may feel like you're simply making dinner, correcting behavior, reading another bedtime Bible story, driving another child to another activity, or answering the same question for the hundredth time.

But faithful motherhood is often built through small acts of obedience repeated over time.

You may not see the finished “wall.”

You may not know what God will do through your faithfulness.

But you can faithfully build today.

And you can trust God with what comes after you.

Nehemiah and the people faced a task that was genuinely beyond their own strength.

There was too much rubble.

There were enemies surrounding them.

The workers became exhausted.

The wall was enormous.

Yet they continued.

This doesn't mean Christian moms should simply work harder until they collapse.

Nehemiah also demonstrates the importance of prayer, discernment, cooperation, wise planning, protection, and shared responsibility.

We aren't called to do everything.

We're called to be faithful with what God has actually entrusted to us.

And when we're overwhelmed, we can ask God for wisdom about which battles to fight, which tasks to prioritize, and where our energy should be spent.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan or looking for a Bible podcast for Christian moms, Nehemiah 1–4 offers rich encouragement for the work of motherhood.

When the work feels overwhelming:

Pray first.

When you don't know what to do:

Seek God's wisdom.

When the opposition gets loud:

Remember the Lord.

When you're exhausted:

Don't assume you have to do it alone.

When the task seems impossible:

Remember whose work it ultimately is.

And when...

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Ezra 7–10

What would it look like to set your heart to study God's Word, obey it, and teach it to your children?

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan, we return to the book of Ezra and meet a man whose life provides an incredible model for biblical faithfulness. Ezra was committed to knowing God's Word, living according to it, and teaching it to God's people.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Ezra 7–10 and explores God's providence, the importance of biblical literacy, obedience in a culture that pulls us away from God, and the responsibility Christian parents have to pass God's truth on to the next generation.

Ezra also confronts a difficult and complex situation involving Israel's intermarriage with surrounding peoples. This passage requires careful attention to its historical and covenantal context—and it reminds us why we should never build our theology around one difficult narrative passage without considering the whole counsel of Scripture.

For Christian moms, Ezra's example gives us a simple and powerful pattern:

Know God's Word.

Obey God's Word.

Teach God's Word.

• Why Ezra 7:10 is such an important model for Christian moms
• What it means to set your heart to study God's Word
• Why knowing Scripture must lead to obedience
• How Ezra's faithfulness influenced an entire community
• The repeated reminder that the hand of the Lord was upon Ezra
• How God moved the heart of a Persian king to support His purposes
• Why God's favor doesn't mean a life without difficulty
• How Ezra and the returning exiles sought God's protection on their journey
• Why Ezra responded with grief and repentance when Israel compromised
• The complicated issue of intermarriage in Ezra 9–10
• Why Ezra 9–10 should be understood as a narrative passage within its unique covenant context
• What the passage teaches us about the influence of culture on future generations
• Why Christian marriage should be entered into with a desire to faithfully follow Christ together
• How moms can begin discipling their children in God's Word right where they are

One verse captures Ezra's approach to Scripture:

Notice the order:

Study.

Do.

Teach.

Ezra didn't merely accumulate biblical knowledge.

He didn't study Scripture simply to win theological arguments.

He didn't teach others truths that he wasn't attempting to live himself.

He first set his heart to know God's Word, then committed himself to obeying it, and then taught it to others.

This is an incredible model for motherhood.

We don't need to wait for a quiet house, a perfect schedule, or a season when our children are older before we begin studying the Bible.

Even if you can only read a small portion today, set your heart toward God's Word.

What we learn, we can practice.

What we practice, we can model.

And what we are learning from Scripture can become part of what we teach our children.

Motherhood can be exhausting and all-consuming. It can be tempting to tell ourselves that we'll become serious students of Scripture someday—when the babies sleep through the night, when school gets easier, when the children are more independent, or when life finally slows down.

But there will always be another season.

Ezra challenges us to make God's Word a priority now.

For Christian moms, Bible study doesn't have to mean hours of uninterrupted study every morning. It can mean faithfully opening God's Word in the middle of a demanding season and allowing Scripture to shape the way we think, speak, parent, and live.

We study God's Word so that God's Word can change us—and then we can pass that truth to our children.

The phrase “the hand of the Lord” appears repeatedly in these chapters.

God's hand was upon Ezra.

God's hand protected the returning exiles.

God's hand moved the heart of a foreign king.

And yet God's hand being upon His people did not mean their journey was easy.

They traveled a long distance carrying valuable silver and gold and faced the possibility of enemies and ambushes along the way.

The lesson is important:

God's presence does not promise an easy life.

Instead, His presence gives us reason to trust Him in the midst of difficulty.

Ezra and the people fasted and prayed for God's protection. They recognized that they needed Him.

That is a lesson we can model for our children as well.

By Ezra 9, the returning Israelites had once again compromised with the surrounding culture.

This was especially serious because Israel's history was filled with examples of God's people being drawn into idolatry and away from wholehearted worship of Yahweh.

Ezra's response wasn't casual.

He grieved.

He confessed.

He humbled himself before God.

And he interceded for the people.

As Christian parents, we should pay attention to this response.

Our children are growing up surrounded by influences that compete for their hearts and attention. Biblical parenting isn't simply about controlling those influences. It is about forming children who know God's Word and understand why faithfulness to God matters.

That begins with us.

Ezra 9–10 contains one of the more difficult passages in the book.

The returned Israelites had married women from surrounding peoples, and Ezra and the leaders determined that these marriages had to be addressed because of the serious spiritual compromise and idolatry that had characterized Israel's history.

This passage should not be used to suggest that divorce is generally acceptable or that Scripture teaches Christians to abandon an unbelieving spouse.

Ezra 9–10 is a specific narrative describing a unique covenant situation in Israel's restoration after exile.

The broader teaching of Scripture about marriage must also be considered. In the New Testament, Paul specifically addresses situations in which a person becomes a believer while already married to an unbelieving spouse and instructs the believer to remain faithful to the marriage when the unbelieving spouse is willing to stay (1 Corinthians 7:12–16).

The larger principle we can take from Ezra is the seriousness of spiritual compromise and the importance of faithfully following God.

It also highlights why God's people should take marriage seriously and seek a spouse who will encourage faithfulness to the Lord.

Ezra's example gives us a beautiful picture of what biblical parenting can look like.

We want our children to know God's Word.

But knowing Bible facts isn't the ultimate goal.

We want them to:

Know God's Word.

Love God's Word.

Obey God's Word.

Live God's Word.

Teach God's Word to the next generation.

And that begins with our own hearts.

Our children are watching what we do with Scripture.

Do they see us turning to God's Word when we're anxious?

Do they see us seeking biblical wisdom when we don't know what to do?

Do they hear us confess when we've sinned?

Do they see that God's commands matter even when obedience is difficult?

Do they see that knowing Christ is more important than fitting in with the culture around us?

These everyday moments are part of biblical discipleship in the home.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan or looking for a Bible podcast for Christian moms, Ezra 7–10 is an invitation to move beyond simply reading Scripture.

Set your heart to:

Study it.

Do it.

Teach it.

You don't have to be a Bible scholar to disciple your children.

You simply need to be a mom who is willing to open God's Word, learn from it, obey it, and share what you're learning with the children God has entrusted to you.

The goal isn't perfect motherhood.

The goal is faithfulness to Christ.

Ezra 7:6–10 — Ezra's knowledge of God's Word and commitment to study, obey, and teach it

Ezra 7:9 — “The good hand of his God was on him”

Ezra 8:21–23, 31 — Fasting, prayer, and God's protection

Ezra 9:5–15 — Ezra's prayer of confession and repentance

Ezra 10:1–4 — Hope and repentance following Israel's faithlessness

Deuteronomy 6:4–9 — God's command to teach His words diligently to our children

1 Corinthians 7:12–16 — Faithfulness within marriage when spouses...

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Esther 6–10

See the difference a day can make!

In Esther 6–10, everything begins to change. Haman goes from anticipating Mordecai’s destruction to publicly honoring him. The man who built gallows for Mordecai is executed on them himself. Mordecai receives Haman’s position and authority. The Jewish people go from facing annihilation to experiencing deliverance and celebration.

And through it all, God’s name is never mentioned in the book of Esther—but His providence is everywhere.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Esther 6–10 and explores what this remarkable story teaches us about God’s sovereignty, His faithfulness, waiting on the Lord, courage, sacrifice, and trusting God when we cannot see what He is doing.

For Christian moms, Esther offers an important reminder: God may seem hidden, but He is never absent. And when we are raising children in a culture of instant gratification, we have an opportunity to teach them to patiently wait for God, trust His timing, and place their hope in Him rather than in immediate circumstances.

• How one night of insomnia became a turning point in God’s providential plan
• The dramatic reversal of Haman’s plans against Mordecai
• Why Esther’s second feast was an important part of God’s timing
• Esther’s courage in risking her life, position, comfort, and prosperity to save her people
• How Haman’s plot against Mordecai was completely reversed
• Why the original Persian decree could not simply be revoked
• How God provided a way for the Jewish people to defend themselves
• The origins and significance of the Jewish feast of Purim
• Parallels between Esther and the Exodus story
• How Esther points us toward the greater sacrifice of Jesus Christ
• Why God’s apparent hiddenness does not mean His absence
• How Christian moms can teach their children to wait patiently on God
• Why our ultimate hope cannot be found in earthly comfort or circumstances

One of the most remarkable features of Esther is that God’s name is never mentioned, yet His fingerprints are all over the story.

A king cannot sleep.

He happens to ask for the royal chronicles to be read.

The account of Mordecai saving his life happens to be the one that is read.

Haman happens to arrive at precisely the moment the king is considering how to honor Mordecai.

And the gallows Haman built for Mordecai ultimately become the instrument of Haman’s own judgment.

None of these events are presented as random accidents. Esther reminds us that God can be faithfully working even when His work is hidden from us.

That is an important truth for moms to remember when we don't understand what God is doing in our families, our circumstances, or the lives of our children.

Haman's pride leads him to believe that the king's honor must be intended for him. Instead, he is commanded to publicly honor Mordecai.

Then everything Haman has worked to obtain begins to disappear.

His position is lost.

His home is given to Mordecai.

His authority is transferred.

And the gallows he prepared for Mordecai become his own place of execution.

The book of Esther repeatedly shows God reversing circumstances that seem completely hopeless.

The lesson isn't that every difficult circumstance will turn around within 24 hours. Rather, Esther gives us a reason to trust the God who is sovereign over circumstances we cannot control or understand.

His timing is not always our timing—but He is faithful.

Esther's courage becomes even more striking when we consider what she stood to lose.

She was not merely risking her life when she approached the king.

She was risking her position, her comfort, her security, and the privileged life she had been given in the palace.

Esther had a choice: hold tightly to the comforts of the palace or risk everything to obey God and serve His purposes for His people.

Her willingness to sacrifice points us toward the far greater sacrifice of Jesus.

Christ willingly left the glory of heaven and laid down His life to rescue and redeem us.

The story of Esther ultimately points beyond Esther herself—to the God who saves and to the Savior who gave everything for His people.

One of the most important applications of Esther for mothers is learning to wait well.

We live in a world of immediate answers, instant communication, fast technology, and constant entertainment. Our children can easily learn to expect immediate gratification.

But Scripture teaches us something different.

God's people are repeatedly called to wait for Him.

Sometimes we pray and the answer doesn't come immediately.

Sometimes we cannot see what God is doing.

Sometimes the circumstances seem to be moving in the opposite direction from what we have asked God to do.

Esther reminds us that we can trust God's providence even when we cannot yet see His plan.

As moms, we can help our children learn that faithfulness is not measured by how quickly God changes our circumstances. We can teach them to pray, obey, wait, and hope in the Lord—even when rescue is not instantaneous.

Biblical parenting is not simply about teaching our children how to behave well when life goes their way.

We want to raise children who know where their hope belongs when life is difficult.

Esther gives us an opportunity to talk with our children about questions like:

• What do we do when God seems silent?
• Can God be working when we don't see Him?
• How do we respond when we have to wait?
• Is our hope in God—or in getting the outcome we want?
• What comforts are we tempted to hold onto too tightly?
• Are we willing to obey God when obedience costs us something?

These are lessons our children need not only to survive childhood, but to walk faithfully with Christ throughout their lives.

Esther is ultimately a story of God's faithfulness to His covenant people.

The deliverance of the Jews echoes themes from the Exodus: God's people face destruction, God raises up a deliverer, their enemies are defeated, and God's people celebrate His deliverance.

The celebration of Purim became a yearly reminder of God's faithfulness.

And the story points us toward an even greater deliverance.

Esther risked her life for her people.

Jesus gave His life for His people.

Esther entered the presence of an earthly king on behalf of others.

Jesus came from the glory of heaven to reconcile sinners to God.

Esther's story reminds us to trust God's providence. The gospel reminds us that God's greatest act of redemption has already been accomplished through Christ.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan or looking for a Bible podcast for Christian moms, Esther 6–10 is a powerful reminder that Scripture is not merely a collection of stories about people from the past.

It teaches us how to live today.

When you can't see what God is doing, trust His providence.

When you have to wait, trust His timing.

When obedience costs you something, remember Christ's sacrifice.

When circumstances seem hopeless, remember God's faithfulness.

And when you're raising children who want answers immediately, use those moments to teach them that the God who works behind the scenes is worthy of their trust.

Esther 6–10 — God's providence and deliverance of His people

Lamentations 3:22–23 — “His mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness.”

Esther 4:14 — Esther's calling to act for the sake of God's people

Esther 7:3–6 — Esther's courageous appeal before the king

Esther 9:20–22 — The establishment of Purim as a celebration of deliverance

Matthew 6:34 — Jesus' teaching about trusting God rather than worrying about tomorrow

Heavenly Father, we praise You that the absence of Your name is never evidence of the absence of Your involvement.

You are faithfully working even when we cannot see what You are doing.

Help us to hold the comforts of this life loosely and place our ultimate hope in You rather than in earthly blessings. Teach us to walk patiently and trust You when the wait seems long.

Give us wisdom as we raise our children. Help us teach them to wait well on You, to trust Your goodness when rescue is not immediate, and to hold firmly to their faith when they cannot yet see the outcome.

And help us remember the greatest evidence of Your faithfulness: Jesus, who willingly left the glory of heaven and laid down His life to restore us to the Father.

May our families learn to trust You—not simply because You change our circumstances, but because You are faithful.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Resources Mentioned:

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Entrusted Ministries

What do you do when you can't see what God is doing?

The Book of Esther is one of the most fascinating books in the Bible because God's name is never mentioned—not even once. Yet His providence is everywhere.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Esther 1–5 as part of our chronological Bible study and looks beyond the familiar Cinderella-like version of Esther to the much more complicated—and beautiful—story of God's sovereign protection of His people.

Esther was a young Jewish orphan who was taken into the Persian king's harem and eventually became queen. Mordecai uncovered a plot against the king. Haman rose to power and plotted the destruction of the Jewish people. And Esther was faced with an impossible choice: remain silent or risk her life to approach the king.

Through every seemingly random circumstance, God's fingerprints can be seen.

And that is an important message for Christian moms.

Sometimes God seems hidden in our circumstances. We don't understand what He is doing. We can't see how He could possibly use the difficult situation in front of us for good.

But God's hiddenness is not His absence.

The story of Esther invites us to trust the sovereign God who is working even when we cannot see His hand.

• Why the Book of Esther never explicitly mentions God's name
• How God's providence is unmistakable even when He appears hidden
• The surprising historical and cultural background behind Esther's rise to the throne
• Why Esther's story is much more complicated than a simple Cinderella story
• What we know about Esther's Hebrew name, Hadassah
• How Esther's circumstances reveal God's sovereignty and timing
• Why Mordecai's discovery of the assassination plot was far more significant than it initially appeared
• The connection between Haman and the ancient conflict between Israel and the Amalekites
• Why Mordecai refused to bow to Haman
• How Haman's plan threatened the entire Jewish people
• The significance of Esther's famous words, “If I perish, I perish”
• Why Esther called for fasting before approaching the king
• How Esther demonstrates courage and wisdom in an impossible situation
• What Esther teaches Christian moms about trusting God when He seems hidden
• How we can help our children develop a faith that trusts God's goodness even when they cannot see what He is doing

Esther is unique among the books of the Bible because God's name is never explicitly mentioned.

At first, that can seem strange.

But perhaps that is precisely the point.

Throughout Esther, we see a series of events that could easily be dismissed as coincidence:

Esther becomes queen.

Mordecai happens to overhear a conspiracy against the king.

The conspiracy is recorded in the royal chronicles.

Haman rises to power.

Esther is in the palace when the Jews are threatened with destruction.

Mordecai urges Esther to act.

Esther receives favor from the king.

None of these events, by themselves, announces, God is doing this.

But when we step back and see the entire story, God's providence becomes unmistakable.

God's name may be hidden, but His hand is not.

That is a powerful lesson for seasons of motherhood when God seems strangely quiet.

Esther's story is often presented as a beautiful young orphan who receives a year of beauty treatments, becomes queen, and saves her people.

But Scripture gives us a much more sobering picture.

Esther was taken into the king's harem. The young women were not simply contestants volunteering for a royal beauty pageant. Esther was brought into a system controlled entirely by a powerful pagan king.

The circumstances surrounding her position as queen were complicated and deeply troubling.

And yet God was sovereign even there.

This doesn't mean that evil becomes good or that sinful actions are justified because God eventually uses them.

Rather, Esther reminds us that God is powerful enough to work through circumstances He never approves of.

What looks like a devastating detour in our lives is never outside the sovereign knowledge of God.

One of the most remarkable examples comes at the end of Esther 2.

Mordecai discovers that two of the king's officials are plotting against him. Mordecai tells Esther, Esther tells the king, and the men are punished.

Then the event is recorded in the royal chronicles.

And that's it.

For now.

Mordecai receives no immediate reward.

No promotion.

No public recognition.

No obvious evidence that this act of faithfulness will matter.

But God is setting the stage for what comes next.

Later, that seemingly insignificant detail becomes enormously important.

This is one of the great encouragements of Esther:

Faithfulness does not have to produce immediate results to be significant in God's plan.

Christian moms know something about doing things that seem insignificant.

A conversation.

A prayer.

A Scripture lesson.

An apology.

A meal.

A bedtime routine.

A correction.

A thousand ordinary acts of faithfulness.

We may never see what God does with them.

But that doesn't mean they are wasted.

When Haman is promoted, he expects everyone to bow before him.

Mordecai refuses.

The text tells us that Mordecai was a Jew, and his refusal ultimately becomes the catalyst for Haman's plan to destroy the Jewish people.

Haman's hatred grows from one man refusing to give him the honor he demands into a plan for genocide.

The conflict reminds us that faithfulness sometimes puts God's people at odds with the culture around them.

Mordecai would not bend the knee.

And Esther would eventually have to decide whether she was willing to risk everything to stand with God's people.

When Mordecai learns about Haman's decree, he sends word to Esther.

She initially hesitates because approaching the king without being summoned could result in death.

Mordecai responds:

Esther responds with courage:

These words are familiar to many of us, but they become even more powerful when we understand the circumstances surrounding them.

Esther doesn't know how the story will end.

She doesn't know whether the king will extend the golden scepter.

She doesn't know whether the Jewish people will survive.

She simply chooses faithfulness in the situation God has placed before her.

That is often what faith looks like.

Not knowing the outcome.

Not having all the answers.

Simply taking the next obedient step.

Esther gives us an important perspective for motherhood:

We don't have to see God's entire plan in order to trust Him.

There may be seasons when you wonder:

Why is God allowing this?

Why isn't He answering?

Where is He in this situation?

What is He doing in my family?

Esther reminds us to look for God's fingerprints even when we cannot immediately see His hand.

God may be working through circumstances you would never have chosen.

He may be arranging details you don't yet understand.

He may be preparing something that will not make sense until much later.

And sometimes, like Esther, our calling is simply to be faithful with what is directly in front of us.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is not the promise that life will always go well.

It is teaching them that God is good and trustworthy even when life doesn't go well.

Our children will eventually encounter circumstances they cannot explain.

They may pray and not receive the answer they wanted.

They may experience disappointment, loss, injustice, sickness, or uncertainty.

If their faith depends on always seeing God's activity, it will be fragile.

But if they learn that God's character is trustworthy even when His purposes are hidden, they can develop a much deeper faith.

We can teach our children to say:

“I don't understand what God is doing, but I know who God is.”

That is the kind of faith Esther invites us to cultivate.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, Esther gives us an important glimpse into the lives of Jewish people who remained in the Persian Empire after the exile.

As you read Esther 1–5, look beyond the dramatic story and watch for God's providence.

Ask:

• Where do I see God working even though He isn't mentioned?
• What circumstances seem coincidental but may reveal God's providence?
• What does Esther teach me about courage?
• What does Mordecai teach me about faithfulness?
• How does...

What if the ordinary, repetitive things you do every day as a mom matter far more than you realize?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox finishes the book of Zechariah, walking through Zechariah 4–14 and exploring some of the most specific and remarkable messianic prophecies in the Old Testament.

Zechariah was written to God's people after the Babylonian exile, when they were rebuilding the temple and learning once again what it meant to faithfully follow the Lord. Their circumstances were far from perfect, yet God continued to pursue His people, call them to repentance, and give them hope for the coming Messiah.

For Christian moms, Zechariah offers an important reminder: we don't have to accomplish God's work in our own strength.

And when your days feel filled with small, unseen, repetitive tasks, don't despise them.

God was at work in the rebuilding of the temple—and He is still at work through the seemingly ordinary acts of faithfulness He calls us to today.

• Why Zechariah contains some of the Bible's most significant messianic prophecies
• What God means by “Not by might, nor by power, but by my Spirit”
• How Zechariah 4 encourages moms not to despise the day of small things
• Why God's work cannot be accomplished through human strength alone
• What the visions of the flying scroll, wickedness, and the four chariots reveal about God's judgment
• How Zechariah points to the Messiah as both Priest and King
• Why the coming Messiah would uniquely unite two offices that were previously kept separate
• What Zechariah teaches about true religion, mercy, justice, and caring for others
• How God can promise future faithfulness and restoration even when His people are currently struggling
• How Zechariah prophesied that Israel's coming King would enter Jerusalem riding on a donkey
• How Zechariah points forward to Jesus' betrayal for thirty pieces of silver
• What “strike the shepherd, and the sheep will be scattered” reveals about Jesus and His disciples
• Why God's refining work is evidence of His commitment to His people
• What Zechariah 14 teaches about the return of Christ and His future reign
• How Christian moms can wait faithfully for God's promises while continuing to do the small things He has placed before them

Zechariah 4 begins with a vision of a lampstand and two olive trees, representing God's provision and His work through Zerubbabel and Joshua.

Zerubbabel faced the daunting task of completing the temple, but God reminded him that the work would not ultimately be accomplished through human ability.

That truth is just as important for motherhood.

We cannot manufacture spiritual fruit in our children through our own strength. We cannot control the outcome of our parenting. And we cannot faithfully follow God by simply trying harder.

We need the Holy Spirit.

Zechariah 4:10 contains an encouragement that is especially meaningful for busy Christian moms:

The returning exiles could easily have looked at the rebuilt temple and thought it was insignificant compared with Solomon's temple.

But God told them not to despise what looked small.

Motherhood can feel much the same.

The meals.

The laundry.

The conversations.

The discipline.

The prayers.

The Bible reading.

The bedtime routines.

The countless reminders.

The seemingly invisible acts of service.

When you compare your family to another family—or compare your current season to what you thought motherhood would look like—it can be easy to believe that what you're doing isn't significant.

Zechariah reminds us to trust God's plan and remain faithful in the small things.

We don't have to see the full picture to obey God today.

One of the most significant passages in Zechariah appears in chapter 6, where the coming “Branch” is described as both a ruler and a priest.

Throughout Israel's history, the roles of king and priest were distinct.

But Zechariah points forward to a Messiah who would uniquely fulfill both roles.

Jesus is the perfect King and Priest—the One who rules His people and the One who offers Himself for their sin.

This is one reason Zechariah is such an important book for anyone following a chronological Bible reading plan. The Old Testament isn't merely giving us Israel's history. It is preparing us to recognize Jesus.

Zechariah 7 reminds God's people that genuine worship cannot be separated from how we treat others.

God calls them to:

• Render true judgments
• Show kindness and mercy
• Care for the widow and fatherless
• Care for the sojourner and poor
• Refuse to devise evil against others

The previous generation had hardened their hearts and refused to listen to God.

This challenges us as Christian parents to consider more than whether our children are simply outwardly obedient.

Are we cultivating hearts that love God and love others?

Biblical parenting is ultimately about pointing our children toward the Lord—not merely producing good behavior.

One of the most recognizable messianic prophecies in Zechariah appears in chapter 9:

Hundreds of years later, Jesus entered Jerusalem riding on a donkey.

Matthew explicitly connects Jesus' triumphal entry to Zechariah's prophecy.

The King God's people were waiting for did not arrive in the way earthly kings typically do.

He came humbly.

And within days, the One who was welcomed as King would be rejected and crucified.

Zechariah 11 contains another striking prophecy concerning the Messiah:

The passage continues with the silver being thrown into the house of the Lord to the potter.

The New Testament connects this imagery with Judas' betrayal of Jesus.

Zechariah's prophecies remind us that Jesus' first coming was not an unexpected interruption in Israel's story.

God had been preparing His people to recognize their Messiah.

Zechariah 13 gives another remarkable picture:

When Jesus was arrested, His disciples fled.

Yet even in the midst of rejection and abandonment, God was accomplishing His redemptive purposes.

And Zechariah goes on to describe God's refining work:

What a picture of God's mercy.

We have rejected Him.

We have pursued our own agendas.

We have wandered.

Yet God continues to call His people back to Himself.

The final chapter of Zechariah turns our eyes toward the future.

The Lord will come.

His feet will stand on the Mount of Olives.

Living waters will flow from Jerusalem.

And ultimately:

For Christian moms living in a world that often feels chaotic, uncertain, or far from the righteousness we long to see, this is a powerful reminder:

Jesus is King, and His story is not finished.

We can wait with hope.

We can remain faithful.

We can continue doing the small things God has placed before us.

And we can teach our children to look beyond the circumstances of today toward the King who is coming.

Motherhood often requires us to do things that seem very small.

We may not see immediate results.

We may not know how our prayers will be answered.

We may wonder whether the repetitive work of caring for our families is making any difference at all.

But God sees faithfulness.

Don't despise the day of small things.

Don't try to accomplish God's purposes through your own strength.

Don't measure God's faithfulness by what you can see today.

Instead, rely on the Holy Spirit, faithfully obey what God has placed in front of you, and trust Him with the results.

Your children don't need a perfect mother.

They need a mother who continually points them to a perfect Savior.

If you're working through a chronological Bible plan, Zechariah is a beautiful book to slow down and study...

What happens when God’s people become more focused on building their own lives than building His kingdom?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Haggai 1–2 and Zechariah 1–3 as part of our chronological Bible study. These two post-exilic prophets spoke to the Israelites after their return from Babylon, calling them to repent, realign their priorities, rebuild the temple, and return wholeheartedly to the Lord.

But these books point to something much greater than a physical building project.

Haggai and Zechariah remind us that God desires righteous hearts, not merely outward religious activity—and that our righteousness ultimately depends on the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

As Christian moms, we can easily become consumed with caring for our homes, accomplishing our responsibilities, and raising our children while allowing our devotion to God to slip into second place. Haggai’s repeated command—“Consider your ways”—invites us to pause and examine our own priorities.

And Zechariah gives us a beautiful picture of the gospel: Joshua the high priest stands before God wearing filthy garments, while Satan accuses him. Yet God Himself commands that Joshua’s filthy garments be removed and declares that his iniquity has been taken away.

We are not the solution to our own sin. Jesus is.

• Why God commanded the returning exiles to rebuild the temple
• How the Israelites’ misplaced priorities affected their lives
• What Haggai means when God repeatedly says, “Consider your ways”
• Why obedience sometimes requires beginning again after a season of discouragement
• How God encouraged Zerubbabel and Joshua to “be strong” and not fear
• The future Messianic significance of Haggai’s promises about God’s glory and the Davidic line
• Why Zechariah is one of the Old Testament books most focused on the coming Messiah
• What Zechariah’s visions reveal about God’s anger, mercy, and faithfulness
• How God’s discipline demonstrates His commitment to His people
• Why God’s pursuit of His people is ultimately an expression of His love
• The powerful picture of Joshua’s filthy garments being removed in Zechariah 3
• How Zechariah points us toward Jesus as the Messiah who is both Priest and King
• Why Christian parents must teach our children that Jesus—not their own good behavior—is the answer to their sin

Haggai spoke to a generation that had returned from exile but had become discouraged and distracted from rebuilding the temple.

The people had settled into their own homes while the house of the Lord remained in ruins.

God tells them:

Their problem wasn't simply unfinished construction. Their priorities had become disordered.

Haggai calls them to recognize what was happening, repent, and obey. And when they respond, God gives them an extraordinary encouragement:

That reminder matters for Christian moms, too. Sometimes obedience requires us to stop, examine our priorities, and ask whether we are investing our energy in what matters most to God.

The returning exiles had already experienced opposition in Ezra. They had begun rebuilding the temple, only to have the work stopped.

It would have been easy to conclude, Maybe this just isn't the right time.

But Haggai calls them to get back to work.

God also recognizes that some of the people were discouraged because this temple would not look like Solomon's temple. Yet He tells Zerubbabel and Joshua to be strong and reminds them:

God's presence—not impressive circumstances—is what His people needed.

And Haggai's promises ultimately point beyond this rebuilt temple toward the future glory of the Messianic King.

Zechariah begins with a simple but profound invitation from God:

The Israelites had returned from exile, but their hearts still needed continual realignment.

Zechariah's visions remind us that God does not abandon His people when He disciplines them. He pursues them.

God's anger against sin is real, but so is His mercy.

He declares:

For moms, this gives us a beautiful picture of God's heart toward His children. His goal is not simply behavior modification. He desires His people to know, love, and worship Him.

One of the most powerful pictures in these chapters comes in Zechariah 3.

Joshua the high priest stands before the angel of the Lord wearing filthy garments while Satan stands nearby to accuse him.

But God doesn't tell Joshua to clean himself up.

Instead, the filthy garments are removed.

The angel declares:

What an incredible picture of the gospel.

We cannot make ourselves righteous.

We cannot parent perfectly enough to earn God's favor.

We cannot perform our way into holiness.

We need someone to take away our sin and clothe us in righteousness.

And Zechariah immediately points forward to “my servant the Branch”—the promised Messiah.

The Old Testament is continually moving us toward Jesus.

As mothers, we can become very focused on getting our children to behave correctly.

But Scripture calls us to something deeper.

Our children need more than a list of rules. They need to understand their sin, their need for a Savior, and the incredible mercy of God.

That means our parenting should continually point them toward Jesus Christ.

We want our children to understand that faithfulness matters—but that their faithfulness does not save them.

We want them to pursue holiness—but to know that holiness is ultimately a work of God's grace.

We want them to obey—but not merely because we want well-behaved children. We want them to become true worshipers of God.

And that begins with us.

Before we ask, What do I need to change in my children?, Haggai invites us to ask:

“Consider your ways.”

Where are my priorities?

Where am I spending my time and energy?

What am I building?

Am I pursuing what God has called me to pursue—or have I become consumed with building my own little kingdom?

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, Haggai and Zechariah give you an important window into Israel's history after the Babylonian exile and alongside the events recorded in Ezra.

These books remind us that the Bible is not simply a collection of disconnected stories. The Old Testament continually points forward to Christ.

As you read these chapters, look for:

• God's holiness and hatred of sin
• God's discipline of His people
• God's mercy toward repentant people
• God's presence with His people
• The promised Messiah
• The relationship between obedience and worship
• The difference between outward behavior and inward righteousness
• The hope of restoration

And as you study, don't just ask, “What does this teach me to do?”

Ask, “What does this reveal about God—and how does it point me to Jesus?”

Haggai 1:5 — “Consider your ways.”

Haggai 1:13 — “I am with you, declares the LORD.”

Haggai 2:4–5 — “Be strong... My Spirit remains in your midst. Fear not.”

Haggai 2:9 — “And in this place I will give peace, declares the LORD of hosts.”

Haggai 2:23 — God promises to make Zerubbabel “like a signet ring.”

Zechariah 1:3 — “Return to me... and I will return to you.”

Zechariah 1:16 — “I have returned to Jerusalem with mercy.”

Zechariah 2:5 — God promises to be “a wall of fire” around Jerusalem and “the glory in her midst.”

Zechariah 2:11 — “And I will dwell in your midst.”

Zechariah 3:4 — “I have taken your iniquity away from you.”

Zechariah 3:8 — “Behold, I will bring my servant the Branch.”

Heavenly Father, thank You for pursuing us when our priorities become misaligned. Help us to consider our ways and recognize where we have allowed other things to take first place in our lives.

Thank You that You do not require perfection from us. Thank You that You have provided the righteousness we could never provide for ourselves through the sacrifice of Jesus Christ.

Help us communicate this beautiful truth to our children. Teach us to walk with them patiently and mercifully, pointing them not toward their own perfection but toward the perfect Savior.

May our homes become places where our children learn to love You, worship You, trust You, and...

Have you ever known that God was leading you to do something, only to encounter obstacle after obstacle?

Sometimes we assume that if we're walking in God's will, the path should become easier. But the opening chapters of Ezra give us a very different picture.

In Ezra 1–6, God's people return to Jerusalem after seventy years of exile and begin the overwhelming work of rebuilding the temple. God clearly provides for them. He moves the heart of Cyrus. He stirs His people to return. He provides resources. He raises up leaders.

And then…opposition comes.

The work is stopped for years.

So what do we do when we're faithfully following God and the work still gets hard?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Ezra 1–6 and Psalm 137, exploring God's faithfulness to His covenant people, the rebuilding of the temple, opposition from surrounding peoples, and what these chapters teach Christian moms about perseverance, worship, and trusting God when obedience becomes an uphill battle.

• The purpose and major theme of the Book of Ezra
• How Ezra and Nehemiah originally formed one combined narrative
• God's remarkable use of Cyrus, king of Persia, to accomplish His purposes
• How the Israelites were provided with resources as they returned to Jerusalem
• Why the genealogies in Ezra 2 mattered for the restoration of God's people
• The significance of Zerubbabel and Jeshua's leadership
• Why the rebuilding of the altar came before the completion of the temple
• What it means to simply “make a beginning” when an enormous task feels overwhelming
• Why the people responded to the temple foundation with both rejoicing and weeping
• Why Zerubbabel refused to compromise with people whose worship was mixed with idolatry
• How opposition brought the rebuilding project to a halt
• Why hardship doesn't necessarily mean you've misunderstood God's calling
• How God used the prophets Haggai and Zechariah to encourage His people
• How God sovereignly worked through another Persian king, Darius, to restart the work
• The joy of finally completing and dedicating the temple
• Why outsiders were excluded from the temple construction but welcomed to participate in Passover worship when their hearts turned toward the Lord
• How Psalm 137 gives us a glimpse into the grief of God's people during exile
• Why we should treasure the freedom and opportunity we have to worship God today
• What Ezra teaches us about persevering in the good work God has entrusted to us

Ezra begins with one of the most remarkable examples of God's sovereignty in Scripture.

God stirred the spirit of Cyrus, king of Persia, to allow the Jewish exiles to return to Jerusalem and rebuild the temple.

Cyrus not only permitted the return—he provided resources for the rebuilding and returned the precious vessels that Nebuchadnezzar had taken from the temple decades earlier.

God was accomplishing His purposes through a pagan king.

This is an important reminder for us as Christian women:

God is not limited to working through the people who already know Him.

He is sovereign over kings, rulers, organizations, circumstances, resources, and people.

If you are praying for God to provide something you cannot provide for yourself, Ezra reminds us that God is fully capable of moving hearts and circumstances to accomplish His purposes.

Imagine returning to a city that has been devastated after seventy years away.

Where would you even start?

Ezra 3:8 simply says that Zerubbabel and Jeshua “made a beginning.”

They didn't rebuild everything in one day.

They started.

There is something encouraging here for moms.

Sometimes the task in front of us feels enormous.

Raising children to know and love the Lord can feel overwhelming. Building a godly home can feel overwhelming. Rebuilding something that has been broken can feel overwhelming.

But we don't have to accomplish everything today.

Sometimes faithfulness begins with simply making a beginning.

The Israelites were doing exactly what God had stirred them to do.

And then their enemies opposed them.

They discouraged the people.

They made them afraid.

They worked against the rebuilding project.

Eventually, the work stopped for years.

This is an important theology check for all of us:

Difficulty does not automatically mean that we're outside God's will.

Sometimes we know that God has called us to something, and the next step is hard.

That doesn't necessarily mean we heard God incorrectly.

Faithfulness still requires perseverance.

This is especially meaningful in motherhood.

There are seasons when the work God has entrusted to us can feel repetitive, exhausting, invisible, or even discouraging.

We may wonder:

Is this really making a difference?

Why is this so hard?

If I'm doing what God has called me to do, why isn't this getting easier?

Ezra reminds us that God's people can be doing precisely what He has called them to do and still encounter significant resistance.

The answer isn't always to quit.

Sometimes we need to keep building.

God eventually sent Haggai and Zechariah to encourage His people, and the work resumed.

God had not abandoned them.

When the foundation of the temple was completed, the people worshiped and praised God:

“For he is good, for his steadfast love endures forever.”

But not everyone was celebrating.

Some people wept as they remembered the former temple.

Their worship was filled with both joy and grief.

That feels very real.

Sometimes gratitude and sorrow exist side by side.

Sometimes we can praise God for what He is doing while grieving what has been lost.

Faith doesn't require us to pretend that difficult things aren't difficult.

We can worship God in the middle of complicated emotions because He remains good and His steadfast love endures forever.

Psalm 137 gives us a glimpse into the grief of Israel during their Babylonian captivity.

They were far from Jerusalem.

They were mocked by their captors.

And they were unable to worship at the temple as they once had.

For many of us, this can be difficult to comprehend because we have extraordinary access to God's Word and Christian worship.

We can open a Bible.

We can listen to worship music.

We can attend church.

We can listen to a Bible podcast while driving or folding laundry.

These freedoms can become so ordinary that we stop recognizing them as blessings.

Ezra and Psalm 137 challenge us to embrace the opportunity we have to worship rather than becoming apathetic toward it.

As moms, we naturally want our children to have lives that are safe, peaceful, and relatively easy.

But Scripture doesn't promise that following God will make life easy.

Instead, we want to raise children who know that God is faithful even when life is hard.

Children who understand that obedience may involve sacrifice.

Children who aren't surprised when following Christ brings opposition.

Children who know how to return to God's Word when they are discouraged.

Children who learn to persevere when the work feels overwhelming.

And children who know that God's faithfulness doesn't depend upon their circumstances.

We may not be able to remove every obstacle our children encounter.

But we can teach them how to respond when obstacles come.

Maybe you're in the middle of a good work that feels incredibly hard.

Maybe you're faithfully investing in your children and wondering whether they're listening.

Maybe you're trying to build something God has called you to build, but progress seems painfully slow.

Maybe you've encountered resistance that you never expected.

Ezra reminds us:

Don't assume that difficulty means God has abandoned the work.

God's people had to wait.

They had to persevere.

They had to listen to God's Word.

They had to begin again.

And ultimately, God was faithful to complete what He had called them to do.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, Ezra 1–6 marks an important turning point in Israel's story.

The exile is ending.

God's people are returning.

Jerusalem is being rebuilt.

The temple is restored.

And God's covenant faithfulness is on display.

Ezra reminds us that God's work often unfolds more slowly and through more obstacles than we would prefer—but His purposes do not fail.

So if the work God has entrusted to you feels like an uphill battle today, take courage.

Keep building.

Keep worshiping.

Keep trusting.

And remember that the God who moved the heart of Cyrus is still sovereign over every circumstance surrounding...

Can we trust the book of Daniel? Armstrong Biblical Institute Article

Why is the title "Son of Man" so significant?

What if the future makes you afraid for your children?

As moms, it can be easy to look at a chaotic world, frightening headlines, cultural confusion, and increasing hostility toward biblical truth and wonder, How will my children stand firm?

In Daniel 10–12, we are reminded that we don't know everything that lies ahead—but we do know who holds the future.

Daniel's final vision reveals spiritual warfare, persecution, suffering, earthly kingdoms, and the coming of God's final kingdom. Yet in the middle of all this uncertainty, God gives Daniel—and us—a message of hope: “the people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.” (Daniel 11:32)

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox explores Daniel's final vision and considers what these difficult chapters teach us about raising children with an eternal perspective, steadfast faith, and the character to endure whatever God calls them to.

• Daniel's final vision and the glimpse it gives us into the spiritual realm
• Why Daniel fasted and prayed for three weeks
• The mysterious spiritual warfare surrounding Daniel's prayer
• What Daniel 10 teaches us about the reality of spiritual warfare
• Why believers are called to stand firm in the strength of God rather than fear
• The remarkable precision of Daniel 11's historical prophecies
• Antiochus Epiphanes and his persecution of God's people
• The Maccabean Revolt and the restoration of the temple
• The biblical connection between Antiochus and the coming Antichrist
• Daniel's prophecy concerning the end of the age
• One of the clearest Old Testament descriptions of the resurrection
• Why believers can have hope even when persecution and suffering are real
• What Christian moms can do to prepare their children for an uncertain future
• Why our greatest responsibility isn't to guarantee our children's comfort, but to point them toward the eternal King
• How Ephesians 6 helps us pray for ourselves, our children, and believers around the world

One verse particularly stands out in these chapters:

Notice that Daniel doesn't promise that God's people will avoid suffering.

Instead, Scripture prepares us to know God well enough to remain faithful when suffering comes.

That distinction matters deeply in Christian parenting.

We cannot promise our children that following Jesus will make their lives easy. We cannot guarantee that they will never experience disappointment, hardship, persecution, or suffering.

But we can teach them to know their God.

We can teach them His character.

We can teach them His Word.

We can model prayer, repentance, courage, humility, and faithfulness.

And we can continually point them toward the only kingdom that will never end.

Daniel 10 gives us one of Scripture's most remarkable glimpses into the unseen spiritual realm.

Daniel has been fasting and praying when an angel explains that his prayer was heard from the beginning—but that spiritual opposition delayed the messenger.

This reminds us of Paul's words in Ephesians 6:

Our children are growing up in a world where the battle for truth, worship, and righteousness is very real.

But our battle isn't ultimately against people.

That changes the way we pray.

It changes the way we respond.

And it changes the way we prepare our children.

One of the striking things about Daniel is that God doesn't give Daniel a comforting message that everything will soon become easy.

Instead, God tells him that more suffering is coming.

Throughout Scripture, God's people are not promised a life free from hardship. Again and again, suffering becomes an instrument through which God's people are refined and purified.

This is an important truth for Christian moms.

Our goal cannot simply be to raise children who are comfortable.

We want to raise children who know God.

Children who can remain faithful when obedience is costly.

Children who understand that following Jesus is worth more than fitting in.

Children who know that earthly kingdoms are temporary but Christ's kingdom is eternal.

Daniel 11 contains remarkably detailed prophecies concerning the kingdoms that would affect Israel following the division of Alexander the Great's empire.

Much of the chapter describes the conflict between the Ptolemaic and Seleucid kingdoms and the devastating persecution of God's people under Antiochus IV Epiphanes.

Antiochus attempted to suppress worship of Yahweh and desecrated the temple.

Yet God's people resisted.

The Maccabean Revolt eventually resulted in the restoration and rededication of the temple, commemorated by the Jewish celebration of Hanukkah.

Daniel 11:32 gives us the description:

“The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”

This is what faithful endurance can look like.

Daniel 12 brings us to one of the most hopeful passages in the book.

Daniel sees a future resurrection:

The story doesn't end with persecution.

It doesn't end with wicked rulers.

It doesn't end with suffering.

It ends with resurrection and everlasting life.

That is the hope we want our children to know.

As mothers, we naturally want to protect our children.

We want them to have peaceful lives.

We want to shield them from suffering.

We want to make their paths easier.

But Daniel reminds us that our most important responsibility is something deeper.

We need to prepare our children to know God.

We need to help them develop an eternal perspective.

We need to teach them how to open God's Word when they're afraid.

We need to teach them how to pray.

We need to model repentance.

We need to teach them to recognize truth.

We need to cultivate character that will endure hardship.

And we need to continually remind them that Jesus is King.

We don't know what circumstances our children will face.

But we can trust the God who does.

Daniel's final vision points us toward Ephesians 6 and the spiritual battle believers face.

So as we pray for our children, we can ask God to equip them with:

• The belt of truth
• The breastplate of righteousness
• The readiness of the gospel of peace
• The shield of faith
• The helmet of salvation
• The sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God
• A life characterized by prayer and spiritual alertness

Our children's greatest protection isn't that we can control everything they encounter.

It is that they belong to Christ.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, Daniel 10–12 brings the book to a dramatic conclusion.

These chapters may leave us with questions about prophecy and the end times. We don't have to agree on every detail of eschatology to recognize the central truth:

Jesus wins.

Earthly kingdoms rise and fall.

Wickedness is permitted for a time.

God's people may suffer.

But Christ's kingdom is eternal.

So when you're tempted to fear for your children's future, fix your eyes on the King.

Teach your children to know Him.

And trust Him with whatever He calls them to.

• Daniel 10:12 — Daniel's prayers are heard
• Daniel 10:19 — “Peace be with you. Be strong and of good courage.”
• Daniel 11:32 — “The people who know their God shall stand firm and take action.”
• Daniel 11:35 — God's people are refined and purified
• Daniel 12:2 — The resurrection and everlasting life
• Daniel 12:3 — Those who turn many to righteousness
• Ephesians 6:10–18 — The armor of God and spiritual warfare

Heavenly Father,

Help us to be strong in You and in the strength of Your might.

Teach us to put on the whole armor of God so that we can stand against the schemes of the devil. Remind us that our battle is not ultimately against...

What do we do when the world around us feels chaotic, frightening, or increasingly wicked?

Can we trust the book of Daniel? Armstrong Biblical Institute Article

Why is the title "Son of Man" so significant?

In Daniel 7–9, we are reminded to fix our eyes on eternity rather than the circumstances in front of us. Kingdoms rise and fall. Wickedness may seem to have the upper hand. But above it all, the Ancient of Days is seated on His throne.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through some of the most significant prophetic passages in the Book of Daniel, including the four beasts, the Ancient of Days, the coming of the Son of Man, and Daniel's humble prayer of repentance and intercession.

As Christian moms, these chapters give us a powerful reminder: our peace doesn't come from having peaceful circumstances. Our peace comes from knowing who reigns over them.

And as we raise our children in a chaotic culture, we have the opportunity to point them beyond what they see around them to the eternal kingdom of Jesus Christ.

• Why Daniel 7–12 shifts back to Hebrew and how Daniel 2–7 forms a chiastic structure
• The significance of the four beasts and the kingdoms they represent
• Why Daniel 7 is considered one of the pivotal Old Testament passages concerning the Messiah
• The Ancient of Days and the picture of God's absolute sovereignty
• The incredible prophecy of the Son of Man coming with the clouds of heaven
• How Jesus Himself identified with Daniel's prophecy of the Son of Man
• Why some biblical prophecies can be difficult to understand—and why that shouldn't keep us from faithfully studying God's Word
• Daniel's response to Jeremiah's prophecy concerning Israel's 70-year exile
• The humility and urgency of Daniel's prayer of repentance
• What Daniel's prayer teaches us about interceding for God's people
• How God's sovereignty gives us hope when wickedness seems to be winning
• Why Christian moms must continually fix their eyes on Christ rather than the chaos around them
• How we can cultivate homes characterized by peace, hope, faithfulness, and reverence for God

Daniel's vision in chapter 7 gives us a breathtaking picture of God's sovereignty.

The kingdoms of this world may appear powerful. They may create chaos, persecute God's people, and seem to reign without restraint. But their authority is temporary.

Daniel sees the Ancient of Days take His seat as judge.

Then comes one “like a son of man” who is given:

His kingdom is everlasting.

For moms who sometimes feel overwhelmed by the state of the world, our circumstances, or the culture our children are growing up in, this is an important reminder: what we see is not the whole story.

The throne is occupied.

Daniel 7 contains one of the Old Testament's clearest pictures pointing toward Jesus Christ.

Jesus intentionally used the title Son of Man, and during His trial He connected Himself directly to Daniel's prophecy, declaring that they would see the Son of Man seated at God's right hand and coming with the clouds of heaven.

The One Daniel saw receiving an everlasting kingdom is Jesus—the victorious King who laid down His life for our sins, rose again, and now reigns and intercedes for His people.

Our hope isn't ultimately in political kingdoms, cultural stability, or earthly circumstances.

Our hope is in the eternal King.

Daniel himself didn't understand everything he saw.

Even after Gabriel explained the vision in Daniel 8, Daniel admitted that he was still overwhelmed and didn't understand it all.

That gives us permission to approach difficult prophetic passages with both humility and perseverance.

There are things in God's Word that we can understand clearly, and there are things that remain mysterious to us.

We don't have to understand everything in order to trust the One who does.

Daniel 9 gives us another beautiful example of faithful response.

When Daniel realizes that the 70 years of exile prophesied by Jeremiah are nearing their completion, he doesn't simply celebrate that the difficult season is almost over.

He prays.

He fasts.

He confesses.

He intercedes.

And remarkably, Daniel identifies himself with the sins of his people:

“We have sinned.”

Daniel had spent decades faithfully serving God in a pagan empire, yet he approached God with humility rather than self-righteousness.

He appeals not to Israel's righteousness but to God's mercy, covenant faithfulness, and character.

That is a powerful example for us as mothers.

We cannot control the world our children will grow up in.

We cannot prevent every difficult circumstance.

We cannot guarantee that our children will never experience suffering.

But we can teach them where to look.

We can point them to the throne.

We can teach them that kingdoms are temporary, but God's kingdom is eternal.

We can model repentance, prayer, humility, faithfulness, and hope.

And we can remind our children that wickedness is only allowed to reign for a time.

The Ancient of Days is seated on the throne.

• Daniel 7:9–14 — The Ancient of Days and the Son of Man
• Daniel 7:18 — The saints receive the kingdom
• Daniel 7:27 — The everlasting kingdom
• Daniel 8:15–17 — Gabriel explains Daniel's vision
• Daniel 9:4–19 — Daniel's prayer of confession and intercession
• Daniel 9:23 — “You are greatly loved”
• Matthew 26:62–64 — Jesus identifies Himself with Daniel's Son of Man prophecy

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, Daniel 7–9 is an important section to slow down and consider. These chapters remind us that Bible study isn't merely about understanding every prophetic detail.

It's about knowing the God who revealed it.

When your day feels chaotic, when parenting feels overwhelming, or when the world around your family feels frightening, open God's Word and lift your eyes higher.

The Ancient of Days is on the throne.

And the Son of Man has been given an everlasting kingdom.

Heavenly Father,

Help us to walk in faith and keep our eyes fixed on You amid the frustrations and friction of everyday life.

When the world feels chaotic, remind us that the things we see are temporary. Give us steadfast hope as we look forward to the day when Your glory will be fully revealed.

Make our families a powerful witness for You. May our homes be characterized by peace regardless of our circumstances, and may that peace point others to Christ.

Soften the hearts of our children and teach them to walk in reverence toward You.

Thank You that Jesus is the victorious Son of Man, reigning and interceding on behalf of His people. You deserve all praise, honor, and glory.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources

How do we raise children who remain faithful to God when the culture around them is pulling them in the opposite direction?

The life of Daniel gives us an incredible picture of resilient faith, godly character, integrity, courage, and unwavering devotion to God. Daniel lived through multiple kingdoms, rulers, and cultural changes, yet his faithfulness never wavered.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues our Daniel Bible study by exploring Daniel 4–6 and the stories of Nebuchadnezzar, Belshazzar, Cyrus, Darius, and Daniel in the lions' den.

Through Daniel's faithful witness, we see how God can use one person's unwavering obedience to influence entire kingdoms. We are also reminded that God is sovereign over every ruler, nation, culture, and circumstance—and His kingdom will never end.

For Christian moms, Daniel gives us a powerful example of the kind of faith and character we want to cultivate in our own children.

• Why Nebuchadnezzar's pride ultimately led to his humbling
• What Nebuchadnezzar eventually recognized about the God of Heaven
• How Daniel courageously warned a powerful king while still demonstrating compassion
• Why God is able to humble those who walk in pride
• The story of the mysterious handwriting on the wall in Daniel 5
• What Mene, Mene, Tekel, Parsin means
• How the fall of Babylon fulfilled Isaiah's prophecies concerning Cyrus
• Why Daniel's reputation was so impeccable that his enemies could find no legitimate accusation against him
• How Daniel responded when a law threatened his relationship with God
• Why Daniel continued to pray even when he knew it could cost him his life
• What Daniel's experience in the lions' den teaches us about trusting God
• How God used Daniel's faithfulness as a witness to multiple empires
• Why Daniel's story is so relevant for Christian parents raising children in today's culture
• How we can teach our children to remain faithful regardless of their circumstances

Daniel had spent decades living in Babylon.

He had experienced captivity, cultural pressure, changing rulers, political intrigue, and enormous shifts in power. Yet one thing remained constant:

Daniel remained faithful to God.

He didn't allow his circumstances to dictate his character.

He didn't compromise his integrity when it would have been advantageous.

He didn't abandon prayer when it became dangerous.

And he didn't become bitter toward the people or nations God had placed around him.

Daniel shows us that faithfulness isn't dependent upon having ideal circumstances.

We can honor God wherever He has placed us.

Nebuchadnezzar had accumulated incredible power and wealth. He looked around at Babylon and essentially took credit for everything he had accomplished.

But God reminded him that earthly kingdoms are temporary.

After being humbled, Nebuchadnezzar finally declared:

"His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation."

What a contrast.

Human kingdoms rise and fall.

God's kingdom endures forever.

This is an important truth for our families to remember when the world around us feels unstable. Political leaders change. Cultures change. Nations rise and fall.

But God remains on His throne.

Daniel's life challenges Christian parents to think beyond simply protecting our children from worldly influences.

We certainly need wisdom about what influences we allow into our homes, but we also need to prepare our children to live faithfully in a world they cannot completely control.

Daniel didn't get to choose Babylon.

He couldn't control the culture surrounding him.

But he could choose how he responded.

As parents, we can teach our children to:

• Know God's Word
• Recognize cultural pressure to compromise
• Develop convictions before they're tested
• Work diligently and honestly
• Speak with wisdom and discretion
• Treat others honorably
• Pray consistently
• Remain faithful when obedience is costly
• Trust God's sovereignty when circumstances are frightening
• Be a winsome witness rather than responding with bitterness

Our goal isn't simply to raise children who can identify what's wrong with the world.

We want to raise children who faithfully represent Jesus within it.

Perhaps one of the most remarkable details in Daniel 6 is that Daniel's enemies couldn't find anything corrupt or dishonest in his life.

They essentially realized that the only way they could attack him was through his devotion to God.

That's an extraordinary testimony.

Daniel's enemies couldn't find a weakness in his character.

His faithfulness had become so consistent that his relationship with God was the only thing they could use against him.

What would it look like for our children to develop that kind of reputation?

Not perfection.

Not a life without mistakes.

But integrity.

A life in which what they say they believe matches how they live.

When Daniel discovered that the king had signed a decree forbidding prayer to anyone except the king, he didn't panic.

He prayed as he had done previously.

Daniel didn't suddenly become faithful because a crisis arrived.

The crisis simply revealed the faithfulness that was already present in him.

And when Daniel was thrown into the lions' den, God shut the lions' mouths.

But perhaps the greatest miracle wasn't simply Daniel's physical rescue.

God used Daniel's faithful witness to point an entire empire toward the living God.

King Darius proclaimed:

"For He is the living God, enduring forever. His kingdom shall never be destroyed."

Daniel's faithfulness had influence far beyond Daniel himself.

Daniel never got to return to his homeland.

He never married.

He never had children.

Yet God gave him an extraordinary ministry of influence.

His life reminds us that God's definition of a fruitful life isn't always the same as ours.

Daniel's influence reached across multiple kingdoms because he simply remained faithful to God in the place where God had put him.

You may never know how God will use your faithfulness.

Your children are watching.

Your neighbors are watching.

Your coworkers are watching.

And perhaps people you never expected to influence are watching, too.

Faithfulness in the ordinary places God has put us can become a powerful witness.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, Daniel provides a fascinating window into the Babylonian exile and the changing kingdoms of the ancient world.

But Daniel is about much more than ancient history.

It teaches us about God's sovereignty, biblical prophecy, Christian character, persecution, prayer, courage, and faithful living in a culture that doesn't share our convictions.

As Christian moms, Daniel gives us an opportunity to ask:

Are we preparing our children merely to avoid the world—or to faithfully represent Christ within it?

And perhaps even more personally:

Are our own lives demonstrating the kind of resilient faith we hope our children will have?

Daniel's example encourages us to remain steadfast, trusting that the God who was sovereign in Babylon is still sovereign today.

• Daniel 4–6
• Isaiah 44–45
• Jeremiah
• 2 Kings
• Revelation

Daniel 4:3 — "His kingdom is an everlasting kingdom, and his dominion endures from generation to generation."

Daniel 4:37 — "Those who walk in pride he is able to humble."

Daniel 5:22 — Belshazzar knew what happened to Nebuchadnezzar but refused to humble his heart.

Daniel 6:10 — Daniel continued praying to God as he had done previously.

Daniel 6:23 — Daniel was rescued because he trusted in his God.

Daniel 6:26–27 — Darius proclaims the living God who delivers and rescues.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You that Your kingdom is eternal and that You reign from generation to generation.

Regardless of what circumstances on earth look like, we know You are on Your throne and You have a plan to work all things for Your glory.

Help us to be steadfast, faithful servants just as Daniel was.

May our families be found blameless, and may others recognize that a different spirit is present in us.

When we or our children face persecution, help us to be salt and light to a world that does not understand the goodness of Your rules and Your ways.

Jesus, thank You that You pray that we would hold fast to You even in times of persecution. Thank You that we can trust You to strengthen us through Your Spirit.

Amen.

Resources...

How can we remain faithful to God when our circumstances are difficult, our culture is hostile to biblical truth, or we feel like we're living in a kind of captivity?

In Daniel 1–3, we meet young men who show us that our circumstances do not have to dictate our faithfulness. Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were taken from their homes, immersed in a pagan culture, pressured to assimilate, and ultimately threatened with death. Yet they remained faithful to God.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox begins the book of Daniel and explores what these faithful young men can teach us about Christian parenting, biblical courage, working with integrity, standing firm in a difficult culture, and trusting God's sovereignty over every kingdom and circumstance.

Daniel's life gives Christian moms an important reminder: we can honor God wherever He has placed us—and we can teach our children to do the same.

• The historical context surrounding the Babylonian captivity
• Why Daniel is considered one of the Bible's major prophets
• Who Daniel, Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego were
• How young Daniel responded when he was taken from his home and family
• Why Babylon's education system was designed to assimilate these young Jewish men
• The significance of Daniel and his friends being given new Babylonian names
• Why Daniel resolved not to defile himself with the king's food
• How Daniel demonstrated wisdom, humility, courage, and discretion
• What Daniel's response to Nebuchadnezzar's impossible demand teaches us about faith
• Why Daniel prayed before God revealed the king's dream
• What Nebuchadnezzar's statue represents in Daniel 2
• How Daniel points us toward the ultimate and everlasting Kingdom of God
• Why Christians can work with excellence and integrity even under difficult leadership
• How Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego responded when commanded to worship a false god
• What their words "But if not" teach us about trusting God
• Who the fourth person in the fiery furnace might have been
• How Christian parents can help their children stand firm in a culture that pressures them to compromise
• Why our circumstances don't determine whether we can be faithful to God

Daniel was likely only a teenager when he was taken captive and transported roughly 500 miles from Judah to Babylon.

He had every reason to feel powerless.

He didn't choose captivity. He didn't choose to leave his family. He didn't choose Babylonian culture. And yet Daniel refused to allow his circumstances to determine his obedience to God.

He resolved that he would not defile himself.

That decision became the beginning of a lifetime of faithfulness.

As Christian parents, we can't always control the culture our children grow up in. We can't remove every worldly influence, prevent every difficult circumstance, or make every decision for them.

But we can teach them that faithfulness to God is possible wherever they are.

Daniel's example gives us hope as we raise children in a culture that increasingly challenges biblical convictions.

Daniel's response to Nebuchadnezzar's impossible demand is one of the great demonstrations of faith in Scripture.

Daniel didn't pretend to possess supernatural wisdom. Instead, he immediately turned to God.

After God revealed the mystery, Daniel praised Him:

Daniel understood something that we desperately need to remember today:

God is sovereign over kings, governments, cultures, circumstances, and history.

Nothing happening in our world has taken God by surprise.

The kingdoms of this world may look powerful, but Daniel 2 reminds us that an everlasting kingdom is coming—the kingdom of God.

One of the most encouraging aspects of Daniel is that he was young when his faith was tested.

Daniel and his friends didn't wait until adulthood to develop convictions.

They had already determined whom they would serve.

As parents, this challenges us to prepare our children before the moment of testing arrives.

We can help our children:

• Know God's Word
• Understand why we believe what we believe
• Practice making wise choices
• Develop godly character
• Speak with wisdom and discretion
• Work diligently and honestly
• Recognize cultural pressure to compromise
• Trust God when obedience comes with a cost

We shouldn't merely teach our children how to survive a difficult culture.

We want to raise children who know their God and are willing to stand faithfully for Him.

Daniel 3 gives us one of the most remarkable declarations of faith in the Bible.

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego knew God could rescue them from the fiery furnace.

But they didn't make their obedience conditional upon rescue.

Their faith was essentially:

God is able to save us. But even if He doesn't, we will still worship Him.

That is resilient faith.

It is the kind of faith we want to cultivate in our own homes—a faith that trusts God's goodness even when the outcome isn't what we hoped for.

Our children need to know that following Jesus doesn't guarantee an easy life.

It does guarantee that God is worthy of our trust.

Maybe your circumstances don't look anything like Daniel's, but perhaps you understand the feeling of being stuck in circumstances you didn't choose.

A difficult marriage.

A challenging workplace.

Financial pressure.

A difficult culture.

A season of parenting that feels overwhelming.

A situation caused by someone else's decisions.

Daniel reminds us that we can honor Christ even when our circumstances aren't our fault and aren't what we would have chosen.

God was not absent from Daniel's captivity.

He was working through it.

And the same sovereign God who was at work in Babylon is still at work today.

• Daniel 1–3
• 2 Kings
• Ezekiel
• Acts
• Revelation

Daniel 1:8 — Daniel resolves not to defile himself.

Daniel 2:20–22 — Daniel praises God as the One who changes times and seasons, removes kings, gives wisdom, and reveals mysteries.

Daniel 2:44 — God establishes a kingdom that will never be destroyed.

Daniel 3:17–18 — Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego declare that God is able to deliver them—but even if He doesn't, they will not worship the golden image.

If you're following a chronological Bible reading plan, studying Daniel gives you an important look at the Babylonian exile and helps connect the historical books of the Old Testament with the prophetic books.

But Daniel isn't simply a book about ancient Babylon.

It points us toward God's sovereignty over history and ultimately toward the everlasting kingdom of Christ.

As we study Daniel together, we're reminded that God is still on His throne, even when the world around us seems chaotic.

And as moms, we have the opportunity to pass that confidence on to the next generation.

Our circumstances don't have to dictate our faithfulness.

We can honor God wherever He has placed us.

God of heaven, sovereign over all kings and kingdoms, we praise You for Your providence and Your power.

We rejoice that regardless of what happens in our homes, communities, nations, or world, we can cling to Your trustworthiness.

We pray that our children, our spouses, and ourselves would be filled with deep, resilient faith in the midst of circumstances that seem impossible to resolve well.

Help us to trust You for a good result, and ultimately help us to bring You glory through all things.

Teach our children to speak with wisdom and discretion as Daniel did. May they walk in an honorable way, demonstrating godly character and testifying to Your goodness.

And when we walk through trials, remind us that we are not alone.

We love You, Jesus.

Amen.Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1,

What does the book of Joel teach us about God's judgment, repentance, restoration, and the Day of the Lord? And what can Christian moms learn from Joel about teaching our children to understand sin, holiness, and the mercy of God?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through the book of Joel and explores its powerful message for believers today. While the exact date of Joel's prophecy is debated, its message is unmistakable: human sin brings devastation, but God graciously calls His people to return to Him.

Joel repeatedly emphasizes the Day of the Lord—a day of both judgment and blessing. We see God's righteous response to sin, but we also see His steadfast love, His desire for repentance, His promise of restoration, and the incredible promise that He will pour out His Spirit on His people.

• Why the exact date of the book of Joel is debated and why biblical context matters
• What the devastating locust invasion in Joel 1 teaches us about God's judgment
• Why Joel tells the people to tell their children what happened
• How the destruction affected every part of life, including food, farming, and temple worship
• What it means to "rend your hearts and not your garments"
• Why true repentance is more than outward religious behavior
• How Joel describes the Day of the Lord
• Why God's people can have hope even in the midst of judgment and devastation
• The beautiful promise, "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten"
• How Joel 2 points forward to the outpouring of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost in Acts 2
• Why the promise that "everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved" is such good news
• How Christian parents can model humble repentance for their children
• Why God's heart is for restoration, even when His redemption doesn't look the way we expected

One of the most powerful parenting applications in Joel is God's command to gather everyone—including the children—for repentance.

Sometimes parents are tempted to hide our failures from our children. We don't want them to see our mistakes or know about the consequences of our sin. But Joel gives us a beautiful picture of parents and children coming before God together.

There is a place for age-appropriate honesty with our children:

"If I could go back, I would live differently. That choice brought deep regret and consequences, and I want something better for you."

Our children need to see that repentance isn't simply something we teach them to do. It is something we practice ourselves.

Joel reminds us that God is not only a God of judgment—He is also a God of mercy, restoration, and redemption.

The promise that God will restore what the locusts have eaten can speak deeply to anyone experiencing a season of loss. Perhaps you've lost finances, health, time with someone you love, or years you wish you could have lived differently.

God's restoration doesn't always look the way we expect. But we can trust the character of the God who promises to dwell with His people.

We can pray with open hands:

"God, I know Your redemption in this situation might not look how I expect, but I believe You dwell in my midst. I trust You to work this for Your glory and my good."

• Joel 1–3
• Exodus 34
• Acts 2
• Isaiah
• Jeremiah
• Ezekiel
• Zephaniah

Joel 2:12–13 — "Return to me with all your heart..."

Joel 2:25 — "I will restore to you the years that the swarming locust has eaten..."

Joel 2:27 — "You shall know that I am in the midst of Israel, and that I am the Lord your God..."

Acts 2:17 — God promises to pour out His Spirit on all flesh.

Acts 2:21 — "And it shall come to pass that everyone who calls upon the name of the Lord shall be saved."

If you're working your way through the Bible chronologically and sometimes wonder how the Old Testament connects to the New Testament, Joel is a beautiful example.

Joel's prophecy points beyond the immediate circumstances of Judah toward God's larger redemptive plan. Peter later quotes Joel at Pentecost, showing us that the promises spoken through this Old Testament prophet ultimately point toward the work of the Holy Spirit and God's salvation offered to His people.

The more we study Scripture, the more we see that the Bible tells one unified story of God's holiness, mercy, judgment, redemption, and restoration.

And as Christian moms, we have the privilege of passing that story on to the next generation.

Heavenly Father,

We thank You for Your Word and how it applies to all generations. We pray that we would have a deep reverence in our souls for Your judgment, and that our families would understand that sin deserves to be punished.

We pray that this reality would lead us to humble repentance when we fall into temptation, but also to a joyful holiness that prevents us from engaging in sin.

We pray for the moms whose hearts are heavy and who are longing for You to prove Yourself as a God of redemption. We pray for the nations, for eyes to be opened and deceived minds to receive clarity. We desire a revival that would bring glory to You and for the gospel to be preached to tribes and peoples who have never heard Your name.

You are patient and abounding in steadfast love, and we rejoice that You will never turn away someone who calls upon You.

Jesus, thank You for paving a way for us to be restored to our loving Father.

Amen.Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

What does it mean that “The Lord is there”?

As we finish the book of Ezekiel in our chronological Bible reading plan, we encounter some of the most difficult and debated chapters in all of Scripture. Ezekiel 43–48 contains an incredibly detailed vision of a future temple, complete with measurements, boundaries, priests, sacrifices, land allotments, and a life-giving river.

But even when we don't understand every detail, we can understand something unmistakable about the God who gave Ezekiel this vision:

God desires to dwell with His people.

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox walks through Ezekiel 43–48 and considers what these difficult chapters reveal about God's holiness, His presence, His order, His faithfulness, and His good plan for His people.

And as moms, we're reminded that we don't have to understand every detail of God's plan before we can faithfully obey Him.

We'll explore:

• Why Ezekiel 43–48 are some of the most difficult and debated chapters in Scripture
• The detailed vision of Ezekiel's future temple and why its measurements matter
• What the return of God's glory to the temple reveals about His desire to dwell with His people
• Why God's presence is always connected with holiness and repentance
• What Ezekiel's remarkable obedience teaches us about faithfully following God
• Why we can trust God's Word even when we don't understand every detail
• The difference between the common and the sacred
• What Ezekiel 45 teaches about justice, righteousness, generosity, and leadership
• Why the Sabbath and corporate worship continue to matter
• The purpose of sacrifices in Ezekiel's temple vision and how they point us back to Christ
• The extraordinary river flowing from the temple in Ezekiel 47
• Why the absence of the Ark of the Covenant is significant
• The connection between Ezekiel's temple, God's presence, and the biblical theme of dwelling with His people
• The meaning of Yahweh Shammah—“The Lord is there”
• How these chapters challenge us toward greater holiness and obedience
• What Ezekiel can teach Christian moms about trusting God's plan even when we don't have all the answers

Have you ever reached a section of your Bible reading plan and thought, I have no idea what I'm supposed to do with this?

Ezekiel's temple vision can certainly feel that way.

There are measurements upon measurements, detailed architectural instructions, priests, sacrifices, land boundaries, and a massive river flowing from the temple.

And there are faithful Christians who interpret these chapters differently.

But we don't have to resolve every theological question before we can be encouraged by God's Word.

We can approach difficult Scripture with humility and faith, remembering that God's Word is intentional even when our understanding is incomplete.

As moms, this is a valuable lesson for our children, too. We don't need to pretend that we have every answer. We can teach our children to approach Scripture with confidence in God's character while remaining humble about the things we don't yet understand.

One of the most beautiful themes throughout Ezekiel is God's presence.

Earlier in the book, Ezekiel witnessed the devastating departure of God's glory from the temple because of Israel's sin.

Now, in this final vision, God's glory returns.

Ezekiel 43 describes the glory of the Lord filling the temple, and God declares that this is the place where He will dwell among His people.

And then Ezekiel ends with the name of the city:

“The Lord is there.” — Ezekiel 48:35

This isn't a random detail.

From Genesis to Revelation, Scripture tells the story of a holy God making a way to dwell with His people.

That is the heart behind The Dwelling Place.

God is not distant or indifferent. His plan has always been to bring His people into His presence.

Ezekiel's faithfulness is one of the things that stands out most throughout this book.

God repeatedly gave Ezekiel difficult assignments, and Ezekiel simply obeyed.

He didn't need to understand everything before he acted.

He didn't need the assignment to be easy.

He didn't need to know exactly how God's plans would unfold.

He did as he was commanded.

That is a powerful example for Christian moms.

Motherhood is filled with details, decisions, responsibilities, and moments when we simply don't know what we're doing. We may want God to give us the entire blueprint before we take the next step.

But often, He gives us something better:

His Word for today.

We don't need to know every detail of God's plan for our children, our families, or our future.

We need to know Him, trust Him, and faithfully obey what He has already revealed.

Ezekiel's temple vision also reminds us that God's desire to dwell with His people doesn't mean He takes holiness less seriously.

Quite the opposite.

God's presence is holy.

The people are called to recognize their sin, repent, and live differently.

That matters in biblical parenting, because our goal shouldn't simply be to raise children who behave well enough to avoid consequences.

We want to help our children understand that obedience flows from a heart that knows and loves God.

We can teach them:

• God's holiness matters.
• Sin matters.
• Repentance matters.
• How we treat other people matters.
• Our choices reveal what we love.
• God is worthy of our obedience.

Christian parenting isn't ultimately about producing outwardly compliant children.

It's about faithfully pointing our children toward the holy God who made them, loves them, and calls them to Himself.

Ezekiel 47 gives us one of the most breathtaking images in these chapters: water flowing from the temple and bringing life wherever it goes.

The river grows deeper as it flows.

It transforms the waters of the sea.

Fish become abundant.

Trees grow along its banks.

Their fruit does not fail, and their leaves bring healing.

The source of this life-giving river is the sanctuary.

Once again, the message is unmistakable:

Life flows from the presence of God.

As moms, it is easy to spend our days pouring ourselves out for everyone else.

But we cannot manufacture spiritual life for our families.

We need the life that comes from God.

Our children don't ultimately need a perfect mother.

They need a mother who knows where the source of life is.

The book of Ezekiel ends with details that theologians have debated for centuries.

And that's okay.

We can study carefully.

We can ask questions.

We can seek wisdom.

We can learn from faithful teachers.

But ultimately, our confidence isn't in our ability to explain every prophetic detail.

Our confidence is in the God who gave the prophecy.

We can trust Him when we understand.

We can trust Him when we're confused.

We can trust Him when His plans are easy to see.

And we can trust Him when we're still waiting.

That is faithfulness.

Ezekiel began with a vision of God's glory.

Then came judgment because of God's people's rebellion and sin.

But judgment was not the end.

God promised restoration, a new covenant, a new heart, His Spirit, His presence, and ultimately a future in which He would dwell with His people.

And the book closes with a name that captures it all:

Yahweh Shammah — The Lord Is There.

What an appropriate way to finish Ezekiel.

And what a beautiful reminder for every Christian mom:

God is there.

He is there in the ordinary work of motherhood.

He is there when obedience is difficult.

He is there when our children are struggling.

He is there when we don't know what to do next.

He is there when we understand His plan—and when we don't.

And one day, His people will dwell with Him forever.

• Ezekiel 40–48
• Ezekiel 43:1–7
• Ezekiel 43:10–12
• Ezekiel 45
• Ezekiel 46
• Ezekiel 47:1–12
• Ezekiel 48:35
• Genesis 2
• Exodus
• Zechariah 14
• Revelation

Heavenly Father, we praise You that You are a God with a good plan.

As moms, we make decision after decision and handle detail after detail. Thank You for the clarity of Your Word and for showing us what matters most.

Lead us forward with peace. Help us to know what You are calling us to do and to obey You fully, as Ezekiel did.

When we are tired, discouraged, or facing something difficult, strengthen our hearts to move forward in diligence and faithfulness.

Teach us to trust You even when we don't understand every detail of Your plans.

Help us to raise our children to know that You are holy, that Your Word is trustworthy, and that Your presence is better than anything this world can...

What do you do when a situation feels completely hopeless?

When you’ve prayed for years, when your child seems spiritually far from God, when a relationship feels beyond repair, or when circumstances look as lifeless as the dry bones Ezekiel saw in his vision—where do you put your hope?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we continue our chronological Bible reading plan through Ezekiel 37–39, with special attention to one of the most famous passages in Ezekiel: the valley of dry bones.

Ezekiel 37 gives us a powerful picture of God’s resurrection power and His faithfulness to His covenant promises to Israel. God takes what appears completely dead and demonstrates that He alone has the power to bring life.

And while this prophecy specifically concerns the nation of Israel, it reveals something profoundly encouraging about the character of God for every believer: when all hope seems gone, God is still the God of hope.

• The valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 and what this vision meant for Israel
• Why God sometimes allows circumstances to reach what feels like absolute rock bottom
• The Hebrew word ruach, meaning breath, wind, or spirit, and its connection to creation and the Spirit of God
• God’s promise to restore and reunite His people
• What Ezekiel 37 teaches us about God’s faithfulness when His people have been unfaithful
• Why biblical hope is not confidence in a particular outcome, but confidence in the goodness and character of God
• How Hebrews 11:6 faith changes the way we walk through suffering and uncertainty
• What the dry bones can teach Christian moms about perseverance when circumstances seem lifeless
• The picture of a united Israel under one shepherd and the promise that God will dwell with His people
• How the hope of restoration can encourage parents praying for a prodigal child
• Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning Gog and Israel’s future enemy
• Why God allows enemies and difficult circumstances to arise—and how He ultimately uses them to display His glory
• A preview of Ezekiel’s mysterious and highly debated temple vision

One of the most challenging truths in this passage is that God is not always a God of prevention.

He is a God of restoration, resurrection, healing, and hope—but He does not always prevent suffering, loss, disappointment, or circumstances from reaching a place where we can no longer see a way forward.

Sometimes God allows us to stare at what looks like ashes and wonder how He could possibly bring beauty from them.

The valley of dry bones reminds us that God's ability to bring life is not limited by how dead something looks to us.

But there is an important distinction: our hope is not a promise that God will give us the outcome we want.

Our hope is in God Himself.

We can believe that He is good, that He is faithful, that He is working even when we cannot see what He is doing, and that He is able to use even our deepest trials for His purposes.

Ezekiel's vision wasn't originally given as a parenting lesson. It was a prophetic message concerning God's covenant people, Israel.

But the character of God revealed in this passage gives moms tremendous encouragement.

Motherhood will inevitably put us in situations where we don't know how to pray. We may watch a child struggle, make destructive choices, resist the Lord, or walk through circumstances we cannot fix.

We can influence our children.

We can teach them God's Word.

We can model repentance and faithfulness.

We can pray.

But ultimately, God is the one who gives life.

That means we don't have to carry the burden of being our children's savior.

Instead, we can faithfully point them toward the One who is.

And we can keep praying even when what we see looks as hopeless as a valley filled with dry bones.

Ezekiel 37 reminds us that God's promises don't depend on circumstances looking promising.

Israel was divided, exiled, devastated, and seemingly without hope. Yet God promised that He would gather His people, reunite them, cleanse them, give them His Spirit, and dwell among them.

The chapter ends with one of the most beautiful promises in Ezekiel:

“My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” — Ezekiel 37:27

This is the heart of The Dwelling Place: God has always desired to dwell with His people.

And for those of us who belong to Christ, we have the extraordinary privilege of knowing His presence now while looking forward to dwelling with Him forever.

Perhaps you've been praying for something for years.

Maybe you're waiting for reconciliation.

Maybe you're praying for a child who has wandered.

Maybe you're faithfully parenting but don't see the fruit you hoped for.

Maybe you're simply exhausted and wondering whether your faithfulness matters.

The valley of dry bones reminds us that God sees what we cannot see.

Keep praying.

Keep obeying.

Keep trusting.

Keep hoping—not because you know exactly what God will do, but because you know who God is.

God is not glorified only when we receive the answer we wanted. He is also glorified when we continue trusting Him when we cannot see the answer.

That kind of faith is precious.

• Ezekiel 37
• Ezekiel 38–39
• Ezekiel 36
• Genesis 2
• Psalm 23
• Jeremiah 29
• Hebrews 11:6
• Romans 11
• John 10

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your unparalleled power over our physical and spiritual lives. You are the God who sanctifies us, and You don't simply call us to holiness—you equip us through Your Holy Spirit.

For the mom who feels lonely, unseen, exhausted, or discouraged today, remind her that You are near. Give her clarity about what matters, strength to remain faithful in the things that are good but hard, and wisdom to cast off distractions.

For the situations in our lives that feel dead and lifeless, give us unwavering faith in Your resurrection power while also giving us deep surrender to the outcomes You know are best.

Teach us to hold hope and surrender together.

Thank You, Jesus, that You are our resurrected Lord and that our ultimate hope is found in You.

Amen.Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

What happens when God’s people have wandered so far that their hearts have become hard?

In today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through the chronological Bible reading plan in Ezekiel chapters 31–36. These chapters move from judgment and exile to some of the most beautiful promises of restoration in the Old Testament.

God exposes the pride of Egypt, appoints Ezekiel as a watchman, announces the fall of Jerusalem, and rebukes Israel’s corrupt shepherds. But then the tone changes dramatically.

God says:

“I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.”

He promises to gather His scattered people, care for the weak and injured, and establish one shepherd over them. This promise points us directly to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who says in John 10, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”

And then Ezekiel 36 gives us another breathtaking promise: God will cleanse His people, give them a new heart and a new spirit, and replace their heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

But restoration doesn't mean pretending the past never happened.

God's people will remember their sin, recognize their need for forgiveness, and experience godly sorrow that produces repentance.

For Christian moms, that raises an important question:

Are we simply trying to change our children's behavior—or are we teaching them to recognize sin, take responsibility, repent, and experience the restoration that comes through Christ?

• Ezekiel 31–32: God's judgment against Egypt and the consequences of pride.
• Ezekiel 33: Ezekiel's calling as a watchman and the responsibility to faithfully warn others.
• God's repeated declaration that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires that they turn and live.
• The historical fall of Jerusalem and the fulfillment of Ezekiel's years of warnings.
• Ezekiel 34: God's condemnation of Israel's corrupt shepherds and His promise to personally shepherd His people.
• The connection between Ezekiel's Good Shepherd prophecy and Jesus in John 10.
• How Psalm 23 helps us understand God's tender care for His people.
• Ezekiel 35: God's judgment against Edom.
• Ezekiel 36: God's promises of restoration, cleansing, a new heart, and a new spirit.
• Why God's restoration isn't based on Israel's worthiness but on His holy name and faithfulness.
• The difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow.
• How repentance should shape our approach to biblical parenting and Christian discipline.

Ezekiel 34 gives us a beautiful picture of God's heart toward His people.

The leaders of Israel had exploited the sheep rather than caring for them. They fed themselves, neglected the weak, failed to protect the vulnerable, and allowed the flock to scatter.

God's response is remarkable:

“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”

He promises to seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured, strengthen the weak, and provide a place where His sheep can dwell securely.

And then Jesus identifies Himself as this Shepherd.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” — John 10:14

What an encouragement for Christian moms.

We aren't the ultimate shepherds of our children.

Jesus is.

We are called to faithfully care for the children God has entrusted to us, but ultimately they belong to Him. And the same Shepherd who cares for us is the One who cares for our children.

Ezekiel 36 describes God's promise to replace a heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

That is a powerful picture of what we should ultimately desire in our parenting.

We don't merely want children who know how to behave.

We want children whose hearts are being transformed by the Spirit of God.

That means biblical parenting can't stop at behavior modification.

When our children sin, we want to help them understand:

• What did I do?
• Why was it wrong?
• Who did I hurt?
• What responsibility do I need to take?
• What do I need to confess?
• How can I make things right?
• How does God's forgiveness change the way I live?

The goal isn't simply “Don't do that again.”

The goal is a heart that understands sin, loves righteousness, receives correction, and desires God's will.

One of the most practical parenting applications from today's reading is the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow.

Worldly sorrow says:

“I'm sorry I got caught.”

Godly sorrow says:

“I'm sorry I chose to sin.”

Worldly sorrow makes excuses.

Godly sorrow takes responsibility.

Worldly sorrow blames someone else.

Godly sorrow confesses.

Worldly sorrow resists consequences.

Godly sorrow accepts correction and desires restoration.

Worldly sorrow wants to get off the hook.

Godly sorrow wants God's will.

This is a foundational principle of Christian parenting and biblical discipline: we aren't merely trying to produce compliant children. We want to shepherd their hearts toward genuine repentance and dependence on Christ.

Ezekiel 36 reminds us that restoration doesn't require God to overlook sin.

It requires His people to recognize the seriousness of their sin and the greatness of His forgiveness.

When we understand how much we've been forgiven, we don't have to hide from our past.

We can acknowledge it.

We can confess it.

We can repent.

And we can move forward in grace.

That is true for us as mothers, and it is what we want to teach our children.

Christians aren't perfect. We're forgiven.

And because we've been forgiven, we can acknowledge our sin without despair because our Good Shepherd is merciful.

When your child sins, what are you primarily pursuing?

Compliance—or repentance?

Are you simply trying to stop the behavior, or are you helping your child understand what is happening in their heart?

Biblical parenting calls us to go deeper.

We want our children to know the holiness of God, recognize their own sin, experience the mercy of Christ, and learn to walk differently through the power of the Holy Spirit.

• Ezekiel 31–36
• Ezekiel 33:7–11
• Ezekiel 34:10–31
• Ezekiel 36:22–32
• John 10:14
• Psalm 23

Heavenly Father, thank You for being our merciful and forgiving God. Thank You for being our Good Shepherd who seeks the lost, strengthens the weak, binds up the wounded, and lays down His life for His sheep.

Give us new hearts and renew our spirits. Soften the places in us that have become hard through bitterness, selfishness, or sin.

Help us as mothers to shepherd our children toward You. Teach us to look beyond outward behavior and address the heart. Give us wisdom to teach our children the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow.

May our families become places where confession, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration are practiced because we have experienced the mercy of Christ ourselves.

Thank You for replacing hearts of stone with hearts of flesh and for giving Your Spirit to Your people.

Jesus, thank You for being our Good Shepherd.

Amen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources

What happens when talent, success, beauty, wealth, and achievement begin producing pride instead of praise?

In today's episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through the chronological Bible reading plan in Ezekiel chapters 25–30. As God turns His attention from judging Jerusalem to judging the surrounding nations, one theme becomes impossible to miss:

God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.

Moab, Ammon, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt each experienced God's judgment for their rebellion, arrogance, violence, idolatry, or mistreatment of His people. Many of these nations were powerful, wealthy, influential, and strategically positioned—but their strength became a source of pride.

And that raises an important question for Christian parents:

Are we teaching our children to pursue greatness—or to glorify God with whatever gifts He has given them?

As moms, we naturally want our children to succeed. We celebrate their accomplishments, cheer them on in sports and academics, and want them to use their God-given abilities. But what if an opportunity that looks like success is quietly producing self-reliance, pride, or a love of worldly recognition?

Ezekiel reminds us that what matters most isn't how high our children climb.

It's who sits on the throne of their hearts when they get there.

• Ezekiel 25: God's judgment against Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Philistia.
• How Edom's hostility toward Israel contributed to its judgment.
• The historical significance of the ancient Moabite cities mentioned in Ezekiel.
• Ezekiel 26–28: God's judgment against the wealthy and powerful city of Tyre.
• How Ezekiel's prophecy concerning Tyre was fulfilled through historical events.
• Ezekiel 28: The pride of the prince of Tyre and the debated passage that many interpreters understand as also pointing to Satan.
• The connection between pride and spiritual rebellion.
• Why Philippians 2 gives us the perfect contrast to the pride described in Ezekiel.
• Ezekiel 29–30: God's judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt.
• The repeated biblical declaration: “Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”
• God's promise of restoration and hope for His people.
• What the fall of powerful nations teaches us about God's sovereignty.
• How biblical parenting can help our children pursue achievement without making achievement their identity.

Most of us want good things for our children.

We want them to work hard.

We want them to develop their talents.

We want them to succeed in school.

We want them to excel in sports, music, academics, or their careers.

We want them to have opportunities.

There is nothing inherently wrong with those desires.

But Ezekiel 25–30 reminds us that a gift can become dangerous when it begins producing pride instead of gratitude.

A child can receive a trophy and learn humility.

Or they can receive a trophy and begin believing they are better than everyone else.

A child can excel academically and use that ability to serve others.

Or they can begin finding their identity in being smarter than everyone around them.

A child can become successful and give God the glory.

Or they can begin believing, “My success proves that I don't need God.”

That is why biblical parenting isn't simply about helping our children become successful.

It is about helping them become faithful followers of Jesus.

This is one of the questions Stephanie explores in today's episode:

That's a difficult question for parents because sometimes our own pride gets wrapped up in our children's accomplishments.

Their success can make us feel successful.

Their talent can make us feel proud.

Their recognition can make us feel recognized.

But our children don't belong on the throne—and neither do we.

The goal isn't to suppress our children's gifts or discourage them from pursuing excellence. Instead, we can teach them to hold their plans loosely and use their abilities for the glory of Christ rather than their own glory.

One of the gifts we can give our children is helping them recognize the early signs of self-reliance.

What happens when they win?

What happens when they lose?

How do they respond when someone else succeeds?

Do they need recognition?

Do they become angry when they're not the best?

Are they willing to serve when nobody notices?

Can they receive correction?

Do they thank God for their abilities?

These seemingly small moments can reveal what is happening in the heart.

Biblical parenting isn't merely about correcting outward behavior. It's about helping our children see what is happening in their hearts and continually pointing them toward Christ.

Ezekiel 28 describes a ruler whose wisdom, beauty, wealth, and splendor became reasons for pride.

Philippians 2 gives us the stunning contrast.

Jesus, who truly deserved all glory, humbled Himself. He took the form of a servant and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

The world tells our children:

Climb higher. Be noticed. Be the best. Make a name for yourself.

Jesus shows us something entirely different:

Humble yourself. Serve others. Give God the glory.

That is the kind of greatness we want to cultivate in our homes.

As you think about your children's gifts and future, ask:

Is this opportunity producing more pride or more praise?

Sometimes the most loving parenting decision isn't simply asking, “Is this a good opportunity?”

It may be asking:

“What is this opportunity doing to my child's heart?”

We can encourage our children to pursue excellence while reminding them that their identity isn't found in a grade, trophy, position, talent, college acceptance, career, appearance, or accomplishment.

Their greatest achievement will never be what they accomplish for themselves.

Their greatest treasure is knowing Christ.

• Ezekiel 25–30
• Ezekiel 25:15–17
• Ezekiel 26:12–14
• Ezekiel 28:1–19
• Ezekiel 29–30
• Philippians 2:3–11

Heavenly Father, help us to pursue humility rather than striving for our own glory.

Help us teach our children to use their gifts and abilities for Your glory. Give us wisdom to recognize when success is producing pride rather than praise. Help us not to overlook the small signs of self-reliance, arrogance, or love of worldly recognition in our children's hearts.

Teach our families to hold our plans loosely and remain surrendered to You. May our children grow not simply to be successful, talented, or accomplished, but to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

You alone deserve the glory.

Amen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

What do we do when following God costs us something we deeply love? And how do we keep God first when motherhood constantly calls for our attention, energy, sacrifice, and devotion?

In today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through the chronological Bible reading plan with Ezekiel chapters 19–24. These chapters are difficult, sobering, and at times deeply uncomfortable—but they reveal both the seriousness of sin and the extraordinary faithfulness of God.

From Ezekiel's lament over Jerusalem to the fall of the city, God repeatedly confronts His people with the consequences of their rebellion. Yet even in judgment, He promises restoration for the sake of His great name.

And then Ezekiel is asked to make an extraordinary sacrifice of his own.

When his beloved wife dies, God tells Ezekiel not to mourn publicly. Ezekiel's response is astonishing:

“On the next morning I did as I was commanded.” — Ezekiel 24:18

What could produce that kind of radical obedience?

As Christian moms, we may never be asked to make the kind of sacrifice Ezekiel was asked to make, but we are continually faced with the question: Is Jesus truly our first love?

Our families are precious gifts from God, but they cannot become more important to us than the God who gave them to us.

• Ezekiel 19: A lament over the downfall of the Davidic kings and Jerusalem.
• Ezekiel 20: Israel's repeated rebellion against God and His determination to preserve His name and ultimately restore His people.
• Why God's statement that He gave Israel “statutes that were not good” in Ezekiel 20:25 does not mean that God's law itself is evil.
• The devastating sin of child sacrifice and idolatry and why God repeatedly condemned it.
• Ezekiel 21–22: God's judgment against Jerusalem and the injustice, corruption, false teaching, oppression, and violence that had infected the nation.
• Ezekiel 23: The graphic allegory of Oholah and Oholibah and what it reveals about Israel and Judah's spiritual unfaithfulness.
• Ezekiel 24: The beginning of Jerusalem's final siege and Ezekiel's heartbreaking personal sacrifice.
• What Ezekiel's obedience teaches us about following God when obedience is costly.
• Why Christian mothers must be careful not to make their families their first priority instead of Christ.
• How our children benefit from seeing a mother whose love for Jesus comes before everything else.

One of the most important parenting reminders in these chapters is that our families cannot become our gods.

It is good and right for mothers to care deeply about their children. We are called to nurture them, teach them God's Word, discipline them faithfully, pray for them, and point them toward Christ.

But our children are not our ultimate purpose.

Jesus is.

When our identity becomes wrapped up in our children's success, happiness, behavior, approval, or faith, we can begin carrying a burden God never intended us to carry. We cannot control our children's hearts. We cannot save them. And we cannot make our families the center of our lives and still rightly understand what it means to follow Christ.

Ezekiel's life gives us a sobering picture of what it can mean to belong completely to God.

Ezekiel had already given up so much.

He was living in exile. He did not get to fulfill the priestly ministry he had likely anticipated. He was asked to perform strange and difficult prophetic signs. He repeatedly delivered God's message to a rebellious people.

And then God asked him to surrender something incredibly precious.

Yet Ezekiel obeyed.

His example challenges us to ask:

Do I believe God is worthy of everything—even when following Him costs me something?

For a mother, that question may look different.

It may mean choosing faithfulness when no one notices.

It may mean surrendering our plans.

It may mean loving difficult people.

It may mean saying no to something good because God has called us to something better.

It may mean trusting God with a child we cannot control.

It may simply mean choosing Christ again and again in the middle of the ordinary demands of motherhood.

The goal isn't to become a mother who does everything perfectly.

It's to become a woman who knows that Jesus is worth everything.

The book of Ezekiel can feel overwhelmingly heavy, but God's judgment is never the whole story.

Again and again, God promises that He will restore His people, not because they deserve it, but because He is faithful to His name and His promises.

That gives us hope as we read difficult passages—and hope as we live through difficult seasons of motherhood.

This life is not all there is.

For those who belong to Christ, our eternity is promised, purchased, and being prepared.

The trials we experience here will not last forever.

And that eternal perspective can change the way we respond to today's sacrifices.

• Ezekiel 19–24
• Ezekiel 20:25
• Ezekiel 20:40–44
• Ezekiel 22
• Ezekiel 23
• Ezekiel 24:15–18
• Romans 7
• Additional connections to Jeremiah and Hosea

Lord, help us to keep You as our first love.

When motherhood demands more than we think we can give, remind us that You are worthy of every sacrifice. Give us an eternal perspective when our circumstances feel overwhelming. Help us love our families well without allowing them to take Your rightful place in our hearts.

May our children see in us a woman who loves Jesus more than the pleasures and promises of this world. And may our faithfulness point them toward the One who is worthy of everything.

Amen.

Mom Ears Alone: Ezekiel 23 contains graphic and mature imagery, and this episode discusses some of those passages.Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

What does God really think about disciplining and judging sin? And what does Ezekiel teach us about the spiritual legacy we’re building for our children?

In today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through a chronological Bible reading plan with Ezekiel chapters 13–18. These difficult chapters reveal both the seriousness of Israel’s rebellion and the astonishing mercy of a God who does not delight in the death of the wicked, but calls them to turn and live.

This is a particularly important Bible study for moms because Ezekiel 18 addresses a question many parents wrestle with: How much does our spiritual heritage determine the faith of our children? While our parenting and example have tremendous influence, every person ultimately stands individually before the Lord.

• Ezekiel 13: The danger of false prophets who promise peace when there is no peace
• Ezekiel 14: Why even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, and Job could not save an unrepentant nation
• Ezekiel 15: Israel as a fruitless vine and what it means to bear fruit
• Ezekiel 16: God's covenant relationship with Israel and the devastating depth of their idolatry
• Ezekiel 17: The eagle and vine imagery and the promise of the coming Messiah
• Ezekiel 18: Individual responsibility, repentance, God's justice, and His desire that sinners turn and live
• The difference between influence and control in parenting
• How our spiritual legacy can shape our children without determining their eternal destiny
• Why biblical parenting must address the heart, not merely outward behavior
• The hope of the gospel: God's justice and mercy ultimately meet in Jesus Christ

One of the most encouraging truths in this passage is that our children are not spiritually doomed by the sins of their parents.

Ezekiel 18 repeatedly emphasizes that each person is accountable before God. A righteous father can have a wicked son, and a wicked father can have a righteous son. Even more beautifully, God gives the wicked an opportunity to repent:

This doesn't minimize the influence parents have. Scripture consistently calls us to teach our children God's Word, model repentance, discipline faithfully, and point them toward Christ.

But it does remind us that we cannot save our children.

We can influence.

We can teach.

We can model faithfulness.

We can pray.

We can discipline and disciple.

But only God can give our children a new heart.

That truth can bring tremendous freedom to Christian moms who carry the weight of believing their children's spiritual decisions are entirely dependent upon their parenting.

Ezekiel 16 contains some of the strongest language in Scripture describing Israel's spiritual adultery. God's people took the very blessings He had given them and used them to worship other gods.

Yet even after describing Israel's horrific rebellion, God promises to remember His covenant.

What an incredible picture of God's character.

Our sin is serious. God's holiness is absolute. His justice is certain. And His mercy is astonishing.

The gospel gives us the ultimate demonstration of this truth. We don't receive forgiveness because we have earned righteousness. We receive grace because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin.

As mothers, we have an incredible opportunity to cultivate a spiritual legacy in our homes.

But Ezekiel reminds us not to confuse faithful parenting with guaranteed outcomes.

Perhaps today you are carrying guilt over a child who is making unwise choices. Maybe you're looking at your family history and wondering whether your children will repeat the same patterns.

Don't lose heart.

Be faithful.

Teach them God's Word.

Correct them when they sin.

Model repentance.

Point them toward Jesus.

Pray for their hearts.

And trust the God who alone can make a heart of stone into a heart of flesh.

Your calling is faithfulness—not control.

And there is tremendous hope in serving a God who says, “Turn, and live.”

• Ezekiel 13–18
• Deuteronomy 4
• John 5:28–29
• Revelation 20
• Romans 8
• Genesis 12

Key passage: Ezekiel 18:23–32

Heavenly Father, You are fully just, fully holy, and fully merciful. Thank You that Your forgiveness extends even to sinners like us. Help us to remember that our children ultimately belong to You and that You alone can transform their hearts.

Make us faithful mothers who teach Your Word, discipline with wisdom, model repentance, and point our children toward Jesus. Give us freedom from the burden of trying to control what only You can accomplish.

Help our children choose life. Give them hearts that love You and desire Your ways. And for those carrying guilt over their own past sins, remind them that the blood of Jesus is sufficient and that in Christ, it is finished.

May our lives be a response to Your never-failing mercy.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

In Ezekiel 6–12, we witness some of the most sobering passages in the Old Testament as God exposes Israel’s idolatry, injustice, and rebellion. Ezekiel is given a vision of the wickedness taking place inside the temple itself—and then, in a devastating moment, the glory of the Lord leaves the temple in Jerusalem.

Yet even in the midst of judgment, God gives His people hope.

He promises that He will gather His scattered people, give them “one heart” and “a new spirit,” and replace their hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. And for those of us living under the New Covenant, these promises point us toward the incredible reality that God doesn't simply dwell in a building. Through Christ and the Holy Spirit, God chooses to dwell with His people.

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan, Stephanie Hickox walks through Ezekiel 6–12 and considers what these difficult chapters teach us about God's holiness, His presence, biblical discipline, idolatry, and parenting our children with wisdom and grace.

One of the surprising applications in this episode comes from Ezekiel's repeated reminder that God judges His people according to their conduct.

This gives Christian parents an important framework for thinking about discipline. Biblical discipline isn't supposed to be an emotional reaction to our children's behavior. Instead, we can thoughtfully consider what response will help restore what has been broken.

When a child speaks unkindly to a sibling, simply separating the children may stop the conflict—but it doesn't necessarily restore the relationship. Biblical parenting seeks more than behavior modification. We want to help our children understand their sin, make things right, and grow in righteousness.

Stephanie also encourages moms who are parenting strong-willed or difficult children. Your child's challenging personality does not automatically mean that you are an ineffective mother.

Perhaps that very child is part of the way God is teaching you to depend more deeply on Him.

Just as the Holy Spirit equipped Ezekiel for an extraordinarily difficult ministry, God promises to equip mothers for the work He has entrusted to them. We don't have to parent in our own strength.

• Why God told Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains of Israel
• How Israel's idolatry led to God's judgment
• Why God says that He was broken over His people's unfaithfulness
• What Ezekiel's vision of the temple reveals about hidden sin
• Why worshiping creation instead of the Creator is still a temptation for us today
• How God judges His people according to their conduct
• What Ezekiel can teach us about biblical discipline and parenting
• Encouragement for moms raising strong-willed children
• Why Ezekiel's obedience mattered even when people refused to listen
• The significance of the glory of God leaving the temple
• Why God's presence being available in Babylon was actually good news for the exiles
• God's promise to give His people a new heart and a new spirit
• How Ezekiel points forward to the New Covenant and ultimately to Jesus
• Why God's presence—not a building or location—is the believer's true dwelling place

Ezekiel 6–12

Especially:

• Ezekiel 6:9 — God sees the hearts of His people and their unfaithfulness.
• Ezekiel 7:27 — God judges according to their ways.
• Ezekiel 8 — Ezekiel's vision of idolatry inside the temple.
• Ezekiel 9 — God's judgment and His marking of those who belong to Him.
• Ezekiel 10 — The glory of the Lord departs from the temple.
• Ezekiel 11:16–20 — God promises to be a sanctuary to His people and give them a new heart and spirit.

If you're parenting a child who seems particularly strong-willed, disobedient, or difficult, don't automatically assume that your child's temperament is evidence that you've failed as a mother.

Your responsibility is faithfulness, not control.

You cannot change your child's heart. Only God can do that.

But you can faithfully point your child toward Christ, lovingly correct sinful behavior, model repentance, establish wise boundaries, and continually depend upon the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes the children who require the greatest dependence on God become one of the ways He sanctifies us most deeply.

So instead of asking, “Why did God give me such a difficult child?” perhaps we can sometimes ask:

“Jesus, how do You want to use this child—and this parenting assignment—to make me more like You?”

Ezekiel's vision of God's glory departing from the temple is heartbreaking—but it also prepares us for something much greater.

God's presence is not ultimately confined to a building.

Through Jesus Christ, we have access to God. And through the Holy Spirit, believers become the dwelling place of God.

That means we can seek Him wherever we are—in our homes, our cars, our kitchens, our parenting struggles, and our ordinary daily lives.

The Lord offers to be our dwelling place.

And our prayer as Christian moms can be simple:

Lord, reign on the throne of my heart. Give me a heart that is tender toward You, and use my life and my parenting to point my children toward Your glory.

If you're following along with The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, keep reading through the chronological Bible plan with us as we walk through Scripture together.

You don't need hours of uninterrupted Bible study to grow in God's Word. You can open your Bible, listen during the drive or while you're doing dishes, and let God's Word transform the way you think about faith, motherhood, parenting, and everyday life.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast from Entrusted Ministries and continue studying the Bible chronologically with other Christian moms.

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms is from Entrusted Ministries and hosted by Stephanie Hickox. Each episode helps Christian women study God's Word and apply biblical truth to everyday life, including Christian parenting, biblical motherhood, faith and family, and raising children who love and follow Jesus.

Come dwell with us in the Word.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

What if your child's strong will isn't proof that you're a bad mom—but an opportunity to depend more deeply on God?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox begins the Book of Ezekiel by exploring chapters 1–5 and the extraordinary calling God gave the prophet. Ezekiel was asked to deliver God's Word to a rebellious people who, God already knew, would often refuse to listen. Yet Ezekiel was still called to be faithful.

That distinction—faithfulness rather than effectiveness—is incredibly encouraging for Christian moms.

If you've ever wondered whether you're failing because your child doesn't listen, obey, or respond the way you hoped, Ezekiel offers a different perspective. God doesn't ask us to control our children or guarantee their response. He calls us to faithfully point them toward Him while depending on His strength.

Stephanie walks through the opening chapters of Ezekiel and discusses:

• Why Ezekiel's prophetic ministry began at such a significant moment in his life
• Ezekiel's incredible vision of the glory of the Lord
• Why God repeatedly calls Israel a "rebellious house"
• What the title "Son of Man" means in Ezekiel
• Why God tells Ezekiel to eat a scroll—and why God's Word is described as being sweet like honey
• How the Holy Spirit strengthens Ezekiel for an incredibly difficult assignment
• Why Ezekiel is responsible for faithfulness and obedience, but not for whether the people respond
• The unusual prophetic signs God asks Ezekiel to perform
• The meaning behind Ezekiel's model of Jerusalem, his 390 days on his side, and his unusual bread
• Why God tells Ezekiel to shave his head and scatter his hair
• What Ezekiel teaches us about God's holiness, sovereignty, and glory
• How God was preparing His people to understand that His presence would not ultimately be confined to a physical temple

For many Christian moms, one of the hardest parts of parenting is raising a child whose temperament or strong will seems to require more patience, consistency, and diligence than we feel capable of giving.

It can be especially discouraging when you look at another family and think, "Why does obedience seem so easy for their kids?"

But Ezekiel reminds us that faithfulness is not the same thing as visible success.

God knew Ezekiel would be speaking to people who often wouldn't listen. His assignment was still worthwhile because his responsibility was to faithfully deliver God's message.

The same principle can encourage us in biblical parenting. We cannot control our children's hearts, but we can faithfully teach, discipline, correct, love, pray, and point them toward Christ.

Your child's struggles are not necessarily evidence that you've failed as a mother.

Sometimes the very parenting assignment that exposes how little strength we have is the assignment God uses to teach us to depend on Him more deeply.

God didn't send Ezekiel into an impossible ministry and then leave him to figure it out alone. The Spirit entered him and strengthened him for what God had called him to do.

The same God who strengthened Ezekiel is the God who meets us in the exhausting, repetitive, sometimes discouraging work of motherhood.

Whether you're navigating a strong-willed child, repeated disobedience, sibling conflict, discipline struggles, or simply the daily weariness of parenting, you don't have to manufacture the strength yourself.

God calls you to parent with Him.

Your calling isn't to produce perfect children. Your calling is to faithfully steward the children He has entrusted to you, trusting Him with the results.

Ezekiel's experience with the scroll is a beautiful reminder that God's Word must become part of us before we can faithfully give it to others.

As moms, we want our children to love Scripture, know God's truth, and recognize His voice. But that begins with our own relationship with the Word.

Before we can consistently point our children toward Christ, we need to continually dwell with Christ ourselves.

When motherhood feels overwhelming, don't run first to your own strength. Run to His.

If you've been feeling condemned because parenting your child seems harder than it looks for other families, take heart.

Your child's temperament does not determine your worth as a mother.

And your child's immediate response does not determine whether you are being faithful.

Ask God today for the strength to keep showing up, keep teaching, keep loving, keep correcting, keep praying, and keep pointing your child toward Jesus.

You may not see the fruit yet.

But faithfulness matters to God.

• Ezekiel 1–5
• Ezekiel 1:28 — The glory of the Lord
• Ezekiel 2:1–7 — Ezekiel's prophetic calling
• Ezekiel 3:1–4 — Eating the scroll
• Ezekiel 3:24 — The Spirit strengthening Ezekiel
• Ezekiel 4 — The prophetic signs concerning Jerusalem
• Ezekiel 5 — Judgment upon Jerusalem
• Galatians 5:22–23 — The fruit of the Spirit

Lord, thank You for the beauty of Your glory and for the way You strengthened Ezekiel for the assignment You gave him.

Help us remember that we don't have to parent in our own strength. Give us a dependence on Your Spirit and a hunger for Your Word.

For the mom raising a strong-willed or difficult child, bring encouragement today. Help her see that her child's struggles are not proof of her failure. Give her endurance to faithfully love, teach, discipline, and point her children toward You.

Help us release our desire for control and embrace our calling to faithful influence. May our children see mothers who depend on Jesus, pursue holiness, and keep faithfully pointing their families toward Christ.

And just as Your Word was sweet to Ezekiel, make Your Word sweet to us and to our families.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Listen to more episodes of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms as we continue through the Bible chronologically and discover how God's Word speaks into our faith, our families, and our everyday lives.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Entrusted Ministries

What do you do when life hurts—and the Christian answer isn't to pretend everything is fine?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast, Stephanie Hickox walks through the Book of Lamentations and explores what it means to bring our grief, disappointment, suffering, and unanswered questions honestly before the Lord while still clinging to the hope of the gospel.

Lamentations reminds us that biblical hope doesn't require us to deny our pain. Instead, Scripture teaches us to turn to God in our pain, tell Him about our pain, and trust Him with our pain.

Stephanie also shares wisdom from Pastor Mark Vroegop on the biblical practice of lament and explains how this can transform the way Christian moms respond to suffering—and teach their children to walk faithfully through hard things.

The Book of Lamentations is a powerful reminder that God's steadfast love never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, and great is His faithfulness.

• What biblical lament is—and why it is different from sinful complaining
• Why Christians don't have to choose between denial and despair
• How to bring grief and suffering honestly before God
• Why difficult circumstances don't mean that God has abandoned us
• How the gospel transforms our grief without pretending our pain isn't real
• Why suffering can be perplexing without being pointless
• How Lamentations points us toward God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and mercy
• Why Lamentations 3:22–23 is such an important passage for seasons of suffering
• How Jeremiah and the people of Judah responded to the destruction of Jerusalem
• How moms can teach their children to process suffering with faith, humility, and hope
• Why our children need to learn not merely to be "authentic," but to bring their whole selves to the Lord for transformation

One of the most helpful frameworks Stephanie shares from Mark Vroegop's teaching is:

1. Turn to Jesus in your pain.

Don't run away from God when you're hurting. Run toward Him.

2. Tell Jesus about your pain.

God doesn't ask us to bring only our praise reports. He invites us to cast our cares upon Him.

3. Trust Jesus with your pain.

Biblical lament doesn't end in despair. It moves us toward trust, obedience, and ultimately praise.

As Stephanie explains, lament is a prayer made in pain that leads to trust.

These familiar words become even more powerful when we understand the suffering surrounding them. Lamentations doesn't offer shallow optimism. It shows us how to acknowledge the devastation of a fallen world while deliberately fixing our eyes on the character of God.

God's faithfulness is not dependent upon our circumstances.

As Christian moms, we have an incredible opportunity to teach our children how to respond when life doesn't go the way they hoped.

We don't want our kids to believe that faith means pretending everything is okay. We also don't want them to become trapped in despair. Instead, we can teach them to bring their pain to Jesus.

When our children experience disappointment, suffering, rejection, or loss, we can model what it looks like to say:

"This really hurts—and God is still good."

That kind of faith doesn't ignore reality. It brings reality into the presence of the God who is sovereign, compassionate, and faithful.

Our goal isn't simply to raise children who can endure difficulty. We want to raise children who know where to take their difficulty.

Lamentations ends with a prayer:

That is ultimately where biblical lament leads us—not deeper into ourselves, but back to God.

If you're walking through a difficult season, you don't have to rush past your grief. You can bring it to the Lord. You can weep. You can ask questions. You can acknowledge how hard it is.

And then, like Jeremiah, you can remind your soul of what is true:

Great is His faithfulness.

• Lamentations 1–5
• Lamentations 3:1–39
• Lamentations 3:22–23
• Lamentations 3:55–60
• Lamentations 5:21
• Psalm 102
• Romans 8
• 2 Corinthians 4:9

Stephanie references Pastor Mark Vroegop's teaching on biblical lament and his book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, which explores how Christians can learn to lament well.

If you're a Christian mom trying to read the Bible consistently, understand Scripture in chronological context, and apply God's Word to everyday motherhood, join us for The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries.

Each episode is designed to help you dwell with God in His Word and grow in biblical wisdom for your family—one passage at a time.

What is one difficult circumstance you need to bring honestly before the Lord today?Because the goal isn't simply to get through the Bible. It's to let the Bible get into us—and to make our homes a dwelling place for Christ. Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

As we come to the conclusion of the book of Jeremiah, we don't find a neat, happy ending. Jeremiah's life doesn't wrap up with a pretty bow, either. Instead, these final chapters remind us of something we desperately need as Christian moms: God is sovereign, God is just, and God is our strong Redeemer.

In Jeremiah 47–52, we read God's judgments against the nations surrounding Judah—including the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Egypt, and ultimately Babylon itself. The same Babylon God used to discipline Judah would eventually face God's judgment.

And that truth has a profound application for Christian parenting: we don't have to take revenge when we're wronged. We can patiently entrust justice to God.

As our children watch us respond to conflict, injustice, disappointment, and mistreatment, they are learning what it looks like to trust the Lord with vengeance rather than returning evil for evil.

As we finish Jeremiah in our chronological Bible reading plan, we'll explore:

• God's judgment against the nations in Jeremiah 47–51
• Why God's discipline of Judah was ultimately intended for their good
• The significance of God's name Yahweh Sabaoth—the LORD of Hosts
• Why God can judge sin without delighting in destruction
• God's promise to preserve and redeem a remnant of His people
• The beautiful description of God as “the Lord their habitation of righteousness”
• Why Babylon's eventual destruction demonstrates God's sovereignty over the nations
• The difference between worshiping a god made by human hands and worshiping the God who formed all things
• God's promise: “I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you”
• Jeremiah's incredible faithfulness despite years of rejection, suffering, imprisonment, and persecution
• What Jeremiah's suffering can teach us about faithful Christian living
• Why God's justice allows us to patiently respond when we are mistreated
• How Christian moms can model patience and peacemaking for their children

One of the most practical lessons from these chapters is that God's justice frees us from having to pursue our own revenge.

When someone hurts us—or when our children are mistreated—it can be tempting to make things right ourselves. But Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God is the righteous Judge.

As moms, our children are watching how we respond when we're wronged.

Do we retaliate?

Do we hold grudges?

Do we demand that everyone understand our side?

Or do we patiently entrust justice to the Lord?

That doesn't mean becoming a doormat or ignoring genuine wrongdoing. It means becoming peacemakers who trust God enough to leave vengeance in His hands.

And that kind of response can become one of the most powerful lessons in biblical parenting our children ever receive.

One phrase in Jeremiah 50 particularly connects with the heart of The Dwelling Place:

God doesn't merely want to give His people rules to follow. He wants Himself to be their dwelling place.

As Christian moms, we want our children to see that righteousness isn't simply about outward behavior. We want them to see lives transformed by the presence of God.

Our hope isn't ultimately in comfortable circumstances, successful parenting, or even the behavior of our children.

Our hope is the Lord Himself.

Jeremiah's ministry is a powerful reminder that faithfulness isn't measured by visible success.

He endured rejection, threats, imprisonment, violence, isolation, and suffering. Yet he continued to proclaim God's Word.

He didn't get to see the kind of earthly ministry success we might hope for.

But he was faithful.

That is incredibly encouraging for moms who sometimes wonder whether all their seemingly insignificant acts of obedience are making any difference.

The meals.

The correction.

The prayers.

The conversations.

The Scripture.

The countless opportunities to patiently redirect a child.

The unseen sacrifices.

Faithfulness to God is never wasted.

In this episode, Stephanie prays that we would learn to patiently entrust justice to God rather than returning evil for evil—and that our children would see in us what it looks like to trust the Lord with the things we cannot control.

If you're reading through the Bible chronologically with us, you've just finished Jeremiah!

This episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms is part of our ongoing journey through Scripture, helping busy Christian moms understand the Bible in context, in chronological order, and with practical application for everyday motherhood.

If you've ever wanted to read through the Bible but struggled to know where to start—or wondered how all the prophetic books fit into the larger biblical story—come read along with us.

God's Word isn't merely something we check off a reading plan. It's where we learn to dwell with Him.

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Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 46–52; Jeremiah 50:4–7, 17–20, 33–34; Jeremiah 51:17–19, 36; Hebrews 11:37; Romans 12:19–21; 1 Peter 2:23.

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries encourages Christian moms to get into God's Word, understand Scripture in context, and allow the truth of the Bible to transform their everyday lives and parenting.

Because the goal isn't simply to get through the Bible. It's to let the Bible get into us—and to make our homes a dwelling place for Christ. Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible