Ep. 288 - How to Thrive as a Christian Mother and Wife

Ray, E.Z., Mark, and Oscar are talking to Rachel Zwayne (Ray’s daughter and E.Z.’s wife), founder of Joyful Mothers on Facebook and Instagram, who created the platform to offer encouragement through various life seasons. Her passion is to support women in spiritual growth, echoing the historical reliance on older generations for guidance. She notes that today's social media often exacerbates loneliness and anxiety. Rachel suggests unfollowing unhelpful accounts or leaving social media altogether and emphasizes the importance of being involved in the church.Daily engagement with God’s word is crucial. Prioritizing scripture allows for fulfilling roles and ministries God assigns. Trust in the Lord grows from feeding on His word, leading to a sense of fulfillment and security. Rachel acknowledges the challenges of maintaining devotional time, especially with young children, but stresses that investing in scripture nourishes the soul. She advises against rigid expectations for devotionals and encourages moms to remember their identity in Christ, which brings confidence and peace. Comparing oneself to others is unfruitful as it ignores the full picture. Walking in truth ensures security in the Lord. Rachel highlights that parents can't impart an identity in Christ to their kids without having it themselves. Demonstrating a genuine fear of the Lord at home influences children profoundly, as they can see through facades. Speaking truth to oneself, especially in weakness, and continually returning to scripture reinforces identity in Christ. While resting in His grace, believers must still take sin seriously, maintaining conviction to honor God in private. The fear of God leads to living for Him, and modeling a righteous life for children involves humility and faithfulness, recognizing the importance of each day. Rachel and E.Z. share insights on growing within marriage. Wives should understand and prioritize what is important to their husbands, frequently refocusing and reflecting on their roles. Rachel shares personal experiences from their early marriage, emphasizing the ease of making amends and the importance of apologizing if communication goes awry. She advocates for connecting with other women and church involvement, which may vary through different seasons but should remain transparent. Rachel advises smiling and laughing often, even amid life’s challenges. Scripture provides the encouragement needed to find joy. She also stresses the importance of self-care for moms who are constantly caring for others. Send us a text Thanks for listening! If you’ve been helped by this podcast, we’d be grateful if you’d consider subscribing, sharing, and leaving us a comment and 5-star rating! Visit the Living Waters website to learn more and to access helpful resources!You can find helpful counseling resources at biblicalcounseling.com.Check out The Evidence Study Bible and the Basic Training Course.You can connect with us at podcast@livingwaters.com. We're thankful for your input!Learn more about the hosts of this podcast.Ray ComfortEmeal (“E.Z.”) ZwayneMark SpenceOscar Navarro