The U.S. surgeon general recently released an advisory warning that parental stress is a significant public health concern as 4 in 10 parents say that most days they feel so stressed they can’t function. In The Wall Street Journal’s report on the situation, the headline declares, “Parenting Is Hazardous to Your Health.”

As an image-bearer, and a woman, I have been created by God to reflect his glory. He designed my body beautifully, and it glorifies him.

But often, I don’t feel glorious. I feel frumpy, tired, and stretched out. It’s undeniable that motherhood takes a toll on a woman’s body—no matter how much I try to bounce back. I look at pictures and get self-conscious: What will other moms think of me?

A new Lifeway report on the State of Ministry to Women found an encouraging 80 percent of women strongly agree their church values women. However, only 63 percent of women strongly agree their church invests in and equips women. Even more concerning, only 43 percent of respondents report putting their spiritual gifts to use serving God and others. How can pastors work to close this gap so more women are equipped and engaged in local church ministry?

The very fellowship we long for with our families can feel elusive. We live in a fallen world and a fallen culture. Our families are made up of fallen people—including us. And even good things can make regular meals together feel impossible. Are they even worth the stress?

Since the early church, women have been a powerful force. Every person to walk the earth since Adam and Eve has had a mother. And women tend to have a profound impact on the spiritual formation of children. (Consider Timothy’s grandmother Lois or Augustine’s mother Monica.)

If Jesus Christ himself—fully God and fully man—prioritized prayer in all different contexts and circumstances during his time on earth, how much more important is it for us, finite and sinful creatures?

Sometimes I feel like I hardly have time to ask my husband about his workday, but God has time for me and every heart that seeks him on the planet.

Of course, motherhood is hard and, in some cases, deeply painful. However, many of our taglines overemphasize the pain of motherhood to the exclusion of the delight.

If we’re not careful, we can begin to sound like we’re equating motherhood with martyrdom. But the Bible speaks of motherhood as a gift, a crown, and a joy.