There is a particular kind of courage—silent and invisible—that only a mother understands. It’s the kind that wakes up in the middle of the night to soothe a crying child. It’s the kind that faces hospital reports, school fees deadlines, and uncertain futures with clenched fists and quiet prayers. In Exodus 2:1–4, we meet a Levite woman—later named Jochebed—who carried the weight of being a mother in the most dangerous time for a Hebrew woman to give birth.
She birthed a baby boy under a death sentence. Pharaoh had ordered all Hebrew male babies to be thrown into the Nile. Yet Scripture says, “When she saw that he was a fine child, she hid him for three months.” (Exodus 2:2).
But what mother doesn’t think her child is beautiful? Every mother looks at her child and sees hope—even when the world offers none.
In this blog post, we will unpack the emotional, spiritual, and practical weight mothers carry. We’ll also draw parallels between Jochebed’s boldness and the burdens mothers carry today—especially those trying to float what they can no longer carry. This is for every mother carrying invisible pain, battling silent fears, and daring to trust God with their child’s future.
When Hiding Becomes Survival
Let’s pause and ask the real questions:
How do you hide a pregnancy under an oppressive regime?
How do you give birth without being heard or reported?
How do you keep a baby quiet for three months, knowing every cry could mean death?
Jochebed’s story isn’t just miraculous—it’s strategic, gritty, and filled with the kind of faith that operates in the shadows. Mothers today may not be hiding from Pharaoh’s soldiers, but many are hiding:
- Their pain from friends who wouldn’t understand.
- Their fears from children who need their strength.
- Their exhaustion from families who rely on them.
- Their financial struggles, piecing together meals or rent behind brave smiles.
She hid her baby. Today, some mothers hide their tears behind locked bathroom doors. Others hide hunger, wearing the mask of “I’ve already eaten.” The weight of being a mother is not just about raising a child—it’s about carrying the unseen emotional and spiritual load that comes with nurturing life in uncertain times.
Want to know what it’s like to face fear and still take action? Read Take the Leap of Becoming Afraid—a reflection on courage, fear, and taking risks when the outcome is unknown.
Weaving the Basket: A Mother’s Silent Faith
When Jochebed could no longer hide the child, she didn’t just give up. Instead, she built a basket.
What a symbolic act that was.
She went out to gather papyrus, tar, and pitch. With every stroke of her hand, she layered prayer. With every thread she weaved, she whispered hope. The Nile had claimed many babies before—but she was trusting that this time, God would intervene.
Have you ever had to let go of something dear?
- A child going off to school far away?
- A dream that’s no longer sustainable?
- A hope that seems too painful to carry?
Mothers are weavers. They build safety with broken pieces. They patch baskets with faith. And they send their children into the world—into dangers they cannot control—believing that God will place someone along the riverbank to draw them out.
Just like Pharaoh’s daughter did.
Today’s Basket Moments — and the Unseen Grief
Today, the weight of being a mother isn’t only about nurturing life. It’s also about surviving loss, longing, and injustice.
There are mothers whose arms are still empty. They’ve tried every fertility treatment, whispered every prayer, fasted, and waited. Every month brings the ache of what hasn’t come. Every baby shower brings a silent tear. And every “when will you have children?” question pierces like a sword.
There are mothers whose children once filled their homes but now rest in graves.
- Some lost children through miscarriage.
- Others through illness or accidents.
- And many—heartbreakingly—through violence and injustice.
How do we not pause to mourn the young lives lost in the recent Kenyan demonstrations?
- The 12-year-old girl, shot while in her house. A home should be a sanctuary—not a grave.
- Ojwang’, whose life was extinguished inside a police cell.
- The humble mask seller, taken too soon.
- And the many unnamed sons and daughters, whose mothers are left with a basket of memories and no child to hold.
How does a mother release a child into a nation that has become a Nile of blood?
This is not just history repeating—it’s pain ongoing.
In moments like this, faith may feel like fragments. Nevertheless, even broken baskets float when God is near.
If you’ve lost a child—whether through death, abandonment, estrangement, or systemic injustice—know this:
God still sees you. God still weeps with you. God still draws close.
Lessons for Today’s Mothers
Here’s what we can take from Jochebed’s story:
1. Your child is not invisible to God.
Just like God saw Moses in the basket, He sees your child—in the NICU, in school, in rehab, in rebellion. God sees.
2. Your pain has a purpose.
The pain of letting go may feel unbearable. However, on the other side of obedience is often divine intervention.
3. You don’t have to carry the weight alone.
You may be the only adult in the house. Even so, you are not the only power present. God is with you.
4. Faith builds baskets.
You don’t need to understand how the story ends to start weaving. Begin with what you have. Add pitch, prayer, and persistence.
Comfort for the Weary Mother
Maybe today you’re building a basket:
- A prayer life to cover your children.
- A side hustle to keep food on the table.
- A blog or book to tell your story.
- A therapy journey to break generational trauma.
Whatever it is, don’t stop building. Keep praying. Keep releasing what you can’t control.
If you need reminders of what faith looks like when expressed in real life, don’t miss this beautiful post: Faith Expressing Itself Through Love
Need motivation in uncertain paths? This story is for you: Bumpy Road to Self-Employment
Strengthen Your Spirit, Equip Your Life
Here are a few resources that could support you or a mother you know:
🌿 Faith and Devotionals
🧺 Self-Care & Practical Tools
- Aromatherapy Diffuser – Create Peace at Home
- Weekly Planner for Busy Moms
- Insulated Water Bottle for On-the-Go Moms
📖 Books for Raising Faithful Children
As an Amazon Associate, I earn from qualifying purchases. Your support helps me continue sharing reflections like this.
A Final Word to the Mother Building Her Basket
You may feel like Jochebed today—desperate, overwhelmed, afraid. Even so, you’re not alone.
And more importantly, your child is not alone.
There is a God who still parts seas. He still watches over baskets in rivers. He still turns death sentences into deliverance stories.
Take courage. Keep weaving. Keep praying.
And when it’s time to let go—let go in faith.
Did this reflection touch your heart? Share it with a mother who needs encouragement today.
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Let’s remind one another: The weight of being a mother may be heavy—but God is strong enough to carry both you and the child.
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