Not a single mom

Not a single mom.

Not a widow.

Not a divorcee.

Not a slut or mistress.

Not alone.

Not unwanted.

Not unloved.

Not burdened.

Not ugly.

Not a loser.

Not abused.

The woman you see with kids and/or who wears no wedding ring and/or has no obvious kid father around is NOT any of these things.

She is a surrogate mother of Jesus Christ. Why? Because she chose life in a culture of death. No matter what 

circumstances brought her to her status, she is not defined by the world's definition of her situation.

Mans categories and labels above demand a sense of shame that God clearly calls a "reproach" she should not let weigh her down.

“Do not be afraid; you will not be put to shame. Do not fear disgrace; you will not be humiliated. You will forget the shame of your youth and remember no more the reproach of your widowhood. (Isaiah 54:4 NIV)

Remember no more sisters what the world has called you and how they judge you while you are carrying your children on your own with God's mighty strength.

"because more are the children of the desolate woman than of her who has a husband,” says the Lord. (Isaiah 54:1 NIV)

In this passage of Isaiah God is speaking of a woman who has no other family with her but her son. She is called a "widow" which was the homeless status of her day. 

Have we shut similar women of today out or refused to lend a helping hand or hear their cries for understanding in similar ways? Have we misjudged them? Have we missed an opportunity to praise them for choosing life?

How they have been served by others and how deserving they are to be put in a positive light is not a factor in how we should speak life to them and about them. Imagine if we spoke to them the way God did this widow:

"For your Maker is your husband— the Lord Almighty is his name— the Holy One of Israel is your Redeemer; he is called the God of all the earth. The Lord will call you back as if you were a wife deserted and distressed in spirit— a wife who married young, only to be rejected,” says your God. (Isaiah 54:5, 6 NIV)

To the Women who have been given the slanderous titles above,

Stand up, hold your head high and claim that you are not those things because you can have confidence in this truth! 

As the wife of the Lord this is what you've inherited when you said "I do":

"All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace. In righteousness you will be established: Tyranny will be far from you; you will have nothing to fear. Terror will be far removed; it will not come near you. (Isaiah 54:13, 14 NIV)

God, our protector and provider, is there for everyone.  Even in the Old Testament where the words "adulterous" and "widow" are used to show nation Israel sometimes chose to break the marriage covenants God offered, God never stopped pursuing them and never divorced them or left them alone. Never ever does he stop loving you or take his ring off.

He doesn't leave women in today's circumstances alone either. And he doesn't expect her "I do" to mean to go off and "do" perfectly. It means "I do" believe in His promise. Sing the vows out loud, no matter if in sickness or in health. The angels will join you and His Spirit will empower you. 

"no weapon forged against you will prevail, and you will refute every tongue that accuses you. This is the heritage of the servants of the Lord, and this is their vindication from me,” declares the Lord. (Isaiah 54:17 NIV)

Focus NOT on what the world calls you but the ABUNDANT LIFE God gave you. So much in this chapter promises a great inheritance no threat of shame can steal.