The Confident Mom: Guiding Your Family with God's Strength and Wisdom

The Confident Mom: Guiding Your Family with God's Strength and Wisdom

Coach, cheerleader, confidant, chef and chauffeur -- the job description of a mom is as broad as the horizon. Perhaps this is why so many mothers deal with insecurity and uncertainty as they do their best to raise their children in a challenging and ever-changing world. If you've ever gone to bed disappointed with yourself, if you've ever felt like you weren't measuring up, or if you've ever wished there was a manual for motherhood, #1 New York Times bestselling author Joyce Meyer has just the book for you. In The Confident Mom you will be encouraged that you are not alone -- God is with you and He wants to help you with the challenges you face each day. Through inspiring stories, Biblical principles and Joyce's own valuable life lessons, there is no doubt you will discover the path to a new confidence and joy in motherhood. No matter your age, the size of your family, or the circumstances you find yourself in, The Confident Mom will help you become the joyful, confident mother God created you to be! Joyce Meyer is one of the world's leading practical Bible teachers. Her daily broadcast, Enjoying Everyday Life , airs on hundreds of television networks and radio stations worldwide. Joyce has written nearly 100 inspirational books. Her bestsellers include Power Thoughts; The Confident Woman; Look Great, Feel Great; Starting Your Day Right; Ending Your Day Right; Approval Addiction; How to Hear from God; Beauty for Ashes ; and Battlefield of the Mind . Joyce travels extensively, holding conferences throughout the year, speaking to thousands around the world. Joyce resides in St. Louis, MO. The Confident Mom Guiding Your Family with God's Strength and Wisdom By Joyce Meyer, Jodi Carlisle Hachette Audio Copyright © 2014 Joyce Meyer Jodi Carlisle All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-4555-8018-7 CHAPTER 1 Are We Having Fun Yet? The very idea that the words Confident Mom and Joyce Meyer couldappear together in print anywhere at any time proves two things about God.First: He is, without question, an absolute miracle worker. Second: He has agreat sense of humor. When I first started this journey called motherhood, I didn't have a singleshred of confidence. Actually, I was petrified. I felt unprepared, insecure, andinadequate—and I felt that way for good reason! When I gave birth to my first child, I didn't even know enough to realize whatwas happening when I went into labor. My husband had left me for another womanearly in my pregnancy and, without the money to pay a private physician, I'dbeen going to a hospital clinic for maternity care. I'd never seen the samedoctor twice (actually they were interns) so I'd somehow missed out on the basicinformation new mothers need. As a result, for about the first six months after David was born, I wasliterally afraid of hurting him. It took all the nerve I had just to bathe him.I had no idea how hot his bath water should be, or how hard I could scrub himwithout hurting him. If you've heard my story, you already know I had a host of other problems backthen too. I was still suffering from the effects of the years of sexual abuseI'd experienced growing up. I was unhappy and totally lacking peace. I feltdiscouraged and hopeless. Unable to sleep, I'd been taking over-the-countersleeping pills. Unable to eat, I'd gained only about a half pound the entiretime I was pregnant. The strain on my body (coupled with the emotional pressureI was under) left me very sick. On top of it all, I was broke. I'd held down a job through much of my pregnancy,but when I finally had to quit, I had no way to pay the rent on my small, third-story, garage apartment, which with no air conditioning and no fan was like anoven in the 100-plus degree summer heat. I didn't want to move back in with myparents because of the abusive behavior of my father. So when my hairdresser hadcompassion on me and offered to let me live with her, I accepted. Worse yet, when my unfaithful husband showed up at the hospital after thedelivery to claim the baby and ask me to take him back, I said yes to that too.Never mind that he was in trouble with the law. Never mind that he had no placeto live himself. I agreed anyway to move with him into his sister's house untilI could go back to work. At times it felt like I had nothing going for me, but that wasn't true. I hadthis one very important thing going for me: At nine years old I had asked Jesusto be my Savior. He came into my heart and—even though I went throughtimes when I felt rejected and abandoned by people—He never left me. What He's done in my life and in the lives of my children in the many years thathave passed since my first terrifying days of motherhood is nothing short ofmiraculous. Of course, those familiar with my story know that the Lord broughtDave into my life, and he has been a wonderful and loving husband. And today,all four of our children are grown and helping in our ministry in one way oranother. They're all talented and am