Courtesy of kids-center.org
Courtesy of kids-center.org

I saw on my Google Analytics report that someone was looking for scriptures to help them through postpartum. As a result, I’ve compiled the following to help first-time or seasoned mothers get through postpartum.

Disclaimer: I am not a licensed therapist or medical professional. If you are suffering from severe depression, postpartum psychosis or if you feel like you are going to hurt yourself or your baby, seek professional help immediately!

If you feel overwhelmed…

You’ve just given birth. You’re tired. You’re trying to get your baby to latch on properly. You’re trying to get your milk up or you’re praying about what formula to use. Your body is healing. It can be overwhelming, especially if you’re a first time mom. Here is what Jesus has to say to you.

Matthew 11:29 (NRSV), “Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.”

1 Peter 5:7 (NRSV), “Cast all your anxiety on him, because he cares for you.”

Psalm 55:22 (NRSV), “Cast your burden on the LORD, and he will sustain you; he will never permit the righteous to be moved.”

Philippians 4:6–7 (NRSV), “Do not worry about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”

Psalm 18:6 (NRSV), “In my distress I called upon the LORD; to my God I cried for help. From his temple he heard my voice, and my cry to him reached his ears.”

If you feel tired…

Isaiah 40:28–31 (NRSV), “Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless. Even youths will faint and be weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not faint.”

Matthew 11:28 (NRSV), “Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.”

Galatians 6:9 (NRSV), “So let us not grow weary in doing what is right, for we will reap at harvest time, if we do not give up.”

John 15:5 (NRSV), “I am the vine, you are the branches. Those who abide in me and I in them bear much fruit, because apart from me you can do nothing.”

If you feel ugly…

You go through many hormonal and physical changes during postpartum. I experienced hair loss and terrible acne. The skin on my stomach was discolored for a few weeks, and it had lost a lot of its elasticity. I felt extremely ugly! Here are some scriptures to help you if you’re feeling unattractive.

Psalm 139:14 (NRSV), “I praise you, for I am fearfully and wonderfully made. Wonderful are your works; that I know very well.”

Proverbs 31:30 (NRSV), “Charm is deceitful, and beauty is vain, but a woman who fears the LORD is to be praised.”

1 Samuel 16:7 (NRSV), “But the LORD said to Samuel, “Do not look on his appearance or on the height of his stature, because I have rejected him; for the LORD does not see as mortals see; they look on the outward appearance, but the LORD looks on the heart.”

1 Peter 3:3–4 (NRSV), “Do not adorn yourselves outwardly by braiding your hair, and by wearing gold ornaments or fine clothing; rather, let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight.”

If you feel insignificant…

If you’re used to working outside of the home or if you’re a “Type A” personality like myself, staying at home, changing diapers and breastfeeding all day may make you feel insignificant. You may feel like you’re not making a substantial contribution to the world. However, the Lord has much to say about this as well. Motherhood is important, and your time with your baby is not in vain.

1 Corinthians 12:14–23 (NRSV), “Indeed, the body does not consist of one member but of many. If the foot would say, “Because I am not a hand, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. And if the ear would say, “Because I am not an eye, I do not belong to the body,” that would not make it any less a part of the body. If the whole body were an eye, where would the hearing be? If the whole body were hearing, where would the sense of smell be? But as it is, God arranged the members in the body, each one of them, as he chose. If all were a single member, where would the body be? As it is, there are many members, yet one body. The eye cannot say to the hand, “I have no need of you,” nor again the head to the feet, “I have no need of you.” On the contrary, the members of the body that seem to be weaker are indispensable, and those members of the body that we think less honorable we clothe with greater honor, and our less respectable members are treated with greater respect;”

Proverbs 31:10 (NRSV), “A capable wife who can find? She is far more precious than jewels.”

If you feel like a failure at motherhood…

Proverbs 3:5–6 (NRSV), “Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not rely on your own insight. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”

Proverbs 24:16 (NRSV), “for though they [the righteous] fall seven times, they will rise again; but the wicked are overthrown by calamity.”

Philippians 4:13 (NRSV), “I can do all things through him who strengthens me.”

2 Corinthians 12:9–10 (NRSV), “but he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for power is made perfect in weakness.’ So, I will boast all the more gladly of my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. Therefore I am content with weaknesses, insults, hardships, persecutions, and calamities for the sake of Christ; for whenever I am weak, then I am strong.”

One Reply to “Scriptures to Help You Through Postpartum”

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *