The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Entrusted Ministries
What happens when following God doesn't lead to the life you expected?
In today's chronological Bible reading, Stephanie Hickox walks through Jeremiah 41–46 and explores a difficult but deeply encouraging question: What should our expectations be when life is hard, our prayers aren't answered the way we hoped, and faithfulness costs us more than we anticipated?
Jeremiah's story reminds us that God's presence is not a promise of an easy life. Sometimes obedience leads to sacrifice, disappointment, uncertainty, and suffering. But through it all, God Himself remains our hope.
And that truth has profound implications for Christian motherhood.
In This Episode
Stephanie explores:
- Why Judah's remnant appeared to sincerely seek God's direction—but ultimately refused to obey it
- What Jeremiah 42 teaches us about seeking God's will with a surrendered heart
- The danger of asking God for direction when we've already decided what we want to do
- Why God's people chose earthly security in Egypt instead of trusting God's supernatural protection
- God's repeated warning: "Do not fear... for I am with you"
- How God sees the motivations and intentions of our hearts
- Why God's patience and persistence in calling His people to repentance reveal His character
- The shocking response of Judah's remnant when they continued worshiping the Queen of Heaven
- Why outward religious reform doesn't necessarily mean inward heart transformation
- Baruch's honest cry: "Woe is me!"
- What God teaches Baruch about unrealistic expectations and seeking "great things" for himself
- Why following Christ may be much harder than we expected
- How Jeremiah and Baruch demonstrate faithful endurance even when obedience doesn't result in comfort
- How these chapters challenge us to examine our own expectations for marriage, motherhood, family, home, and life
- Why our ultimate hope isn't a comfortable life—but the presence of God and the glory of Christ
Are We Really Willing to Obey God?
One of the most sobering moments in today's reading happens when the remnant approaches Jeremiah and promises:
"Whether it is good or bad, we will obey the voice of the LORD our God."
It sounds wonderful.
But when God gives them an answer they don't like, they reject it.
They had already decided they wanted to go to Egypt. They wanted safety on their own terms.
And that raises an important question for us:
Do we seek God's will because we're willing to obey—or because we're hoping God will approve what we've already decided?
As Christian moms, it's easy to do the same thing.
We can ask God for wisdom about our children, marriage, finances, education, technology, friendships, or family decisions while quietly hoping He will confirm the answer we've already chosen.
Jeremiah reminds us that true surrender means being willing to obey God even when His answer isn't the one we wanted.
When Motherhood Doesn't Look Like You Expected
Perhaps the most relatable portion of today's reading is Baruch's cry:
"Woe is me! For the LORD has added sorrow to my pain. I am weary with my groaning, and I find no rest."Baruch had faithfully served Jeremiah for years. He had written God's words, endured opposition, and remained beside the prophet.
And yet eventually he reached a point where he wondered:
Is this really how my life is going to go?
Can you relate?
Maybe motherhood doesn't look like you expected.
Maybe your marriage doesn't look like you expected.
Maybe your children are struggling in ways you never anticipated.
Maybe the sacrifices you've made haven't produced the results you hoped for.
Maybe following Jesus has cost you more than you imagined.
God's answer to Baruch is striking: stop seeking great things for yourself.
That isn't a cruel rebuke. It's a loving correction of his expectations.
God doesn't promise Baruch an easy life.
He promises him life and His faithfulness in the midst of hardship.
Our Expectations vs. God's Glory
This is where Jeremiah becomes profoundly relevant to Christian parenting.
We can quietly build expectations around our children:
- My children will always make wise choices.
- If I parent faithfully, they will respond faithfully.
- My family will look a certain way.
- My marriage will become easier.
- My home will finally feel peaceful.
- If I sacrifice enough, life will eventually become comfortable.
But Scripture doesn't promise us those things.
Our calling isn't to create the life we imagined.
Our calling is to glorify Christ with the life He has actually given us.
That changes the way we approach motherhood.
Instead of asking, "How can I make my family turn out the way I want?" we can begin asking:
"Lord, how can I faithfully represent You in the circumstances You've entrusted to me?"
Run to God First
The remnant of Judah was terrified.
They wanted protection.
And God Himself told them:
"Do not fear... for I am with you to save you and to deliver you."Yet they chose Egypt.
How often do we do something similar?
When our children are sick, do we pray first—or immediately reach for every other solution?
When we're overwhelmed, do we run to God's Word—or our phones?
When we're worried about our children, do we entrust them to the Lord—or try to control every outcome?
Earthly wisdom isn't inherently wrong. But Jeremiah challenges us to consider where we run first.
The God who says, "I am with you," is worthy of our first response.
What Does Faithfulness Look Like When Life Is Hard?
Jeremiah and Baruch didn't receive comfortable lives because they were faithful.
They received difficult assignments.
They experienced rejection, hardship, imprisonment, displacement, and grief.
And yet they kept going.
Their lives remind us that faithfulness is not measured by comfort.
Sometimes the most faithful thing you can do is simply keep obeying God today.
Keep praying.
Keep opening His Word.
Keep loving your children.
Keep disciplining with grace.
Keep speaking truth.
Keep surrendering your expectations.
Keep trusting that God's presence is enough.
Because our hope isn't ultimately found in getting the life we wanted.
Our hope is found in Jesus.
A Word of Encouragement for the Weary Mom
If you feel like you've been laying down your life more than you expected, this episode is for you.
If motherhood has required sacrifices you didn't anticipate, this episode is for you.
If you're disappointed by your circumstances, your children, your marriage, or even yourself, Jeremiah 41–46 offers a better expectation:
Christ is worthy of your whole life, and His presence is enough.
We may not understand everything God is doing.
We may not receive the circumstances we hoped for.
But we can pray, as Paul did, that our greatest hope and expectation would be that Christ is glorified in and through us.
And that is a beautiful legacy to leave our children.
Today's Chronological Bible Reading
Jeremiah 41–46
Key Scriptures
- Jeremiah 42:5–6 — Willingness to obey God's direction
- Jeremiah 42:10–12 — God's promise of protection and presence
- Jeremiah 42:19–22 — The warning against going to Egypt
- Jeremiah 44:4 — God's persistent call to repentance
- Jeremiah 45:2–5 — God's message to weary Baruch
- Matthew 16:25 — Losing our lives for Christ
- Philippians 1:20–21 — Christ glorified in our lives
A Prayer for Moms Who Are Disappointed
Stephanie closes by praying for moms who are struggling to surrender their expectations for their marriages, parenting, homes, appearances, and futures.
She prays that we would learn to run to God's strength first, surrender our own agendas, and desire above everything else that Jesus Christ would be glorified in and through our lives.
And she prays that our children would see that kind of surrendered faith in us and learn to treasure God's glory above the temporary pleasures of this world.
Listen to The Dwelling Place
The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries is designed to help Christian moms read and understand God's Word through a chronological Bible reading plan while discovering biblical wisdom for everyday motherhood.
If you're trying to stay consistent in Bible reading while raising children, join Stephanie as she walks through Scripture and connects God's Word to the realities of Christian parenting, biblical motherhood, family life, and faithful discipleship.
You may not get the life you expected. But you can have the presence of the God who never leaves you.
Commentaries Most Consulted: Moody, MacArthur, Matthew Henry
