Mom Enough: The Fearless Mother's Heart and Hope

by Tony Reinke (Editor), Karalee Reinke (Editor), Rachel Jankovic (Contributor)

Are you mom enough? The cover of a popular magazine asked this haunting question in bold red letters that hung over the startling image of a young mother nursing her four-year-old. When the issue hit newsstands, it re-ignited a longstanding mommy war in American culture. But it turns out this was the wrong question, pointing in the wrong direction. There is a higher and more essential question faced by mothers: Is he God enough? This short book with twenty-four short contributions from seven young mothers, explores the daily trials and worries of motherhood. In the trenches, they have learned how to treasure God and depend on his grace. The paradox of this book is the secret power of godly mothering. Becoming mom enough comes as a result of answering the burning question above with a firm no.

Genres: Parenting, Christian, Nonfiction, Family, Christian Living, Faith, Christian Non Fiction

120 pages, Paperback

First published November 4, 2014

About the author

Tony Reinke hosts the popular Ask Pastor John podcast and serves as the Communications Director for desiringGod.org. He has authored five books including *12 Ways Your Phone Is Changing You* (2017). He lives in the Twin Cities with his wife and their three children.

Reviews

[Brittnee · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful! Loved it! Definitely a book to reread through the years.

[Mason Sherrill · Rating 4 out of 5]

So encouraging! An easy read in which each chapter is a different article written by a different mother. Some articles are better than others. But overall I highly recommend!!! My favorite chapters were written by Rachel Jankovic, Gloria Furman and Trillia Newbell.

[Amber · Rating 5 out of 5]

One of the only books I never hesitated to give a full 5 stars to. Are you a mom? Wanting to become a mom? Do you have a mom? Do you love Jesus? Read.this.book!

[Christa Harrison · Rating 5 out of 5]

Favorite quote:
The important thing about those loaves and those fishes is not how big they were, but whose hands they were given into. In the hands of the Lord, the offering was sufficient. More than sufficient, even then there were leftovers. Given in faith, even a small offering becomes great. - Rachel Jankovic

Loved the book, helpful and encouraging.

[Kristin Mitchell · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an uplifting, encouraging, and convicting biblically grounded book for moms. (But really for anyone)

[Aszerina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was such a great book! Filled with gospel centred blogs. It really helped me as a Mama.

[Krissie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really really enjoyed this book. Everything from the short chapter length that gets right to the point to the variety of topics really spoke to my heart. I will re-read this one for sure!

[Melissa Whiting]

Honestly, I did not make it through this one. I had high hopes for a book that would remind me that when I am failing at motherhood (which definitely happens) Jesus is more than enough. This collection of essays did not do that for me, but rather left me feeling like I could not stand up to the writers’ righteousness. They fully lost me in one of the essays that definitely seemed to imply that to become a wife and mother one had to give up the pursuit of education and a career (although while making this claim the author tried to deny that she was saying that...). That may have worked well for that author, but it is a privilege-filled mindset that is unrealistic to many women and places unfair burden and judgement on women who do choose to work outside the home.

[Emmie Witham · Rating 5 out of 5]

A collection of short essays by a group of Christian women, 5/5 ⭐️

Included my favorite section below-


“Somehow, in Gods mathematics of grace:
Mom (never enough) + God (infinitely enough) = Mom enough.

Mom enough to believe and to be called chosen, daughter, righteous, honored, heir, forgiven, redeemed. Trusting in God, because of Christ, I will rise from the graveyard of mommy war victims, victorious and filled with resurrection power. Living in his perfect sufficiency, I will live to parent another day. Never mom enough, but filled with the One who is always enough”

[Jenni Harper · Rating 4 out of 5]

A great, encouraging book! The chapters are engaging and quick to read. There are many practical applications that can be learned and reflected on throughout.

[Leah Winder · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this collection of encouraging letters, which makes it easy to read in the chaos of motherhood. Highly recommend for first time mamas.

[Shannon · Rating 4 out of 5]

I'd say 3.5. This is simply a collection of articles from Desiring God's website, so technically you can reach them all for free there, but it's so convenient to have them all in one place and mark-up-able to boot. I enjoyed the first half of the book more than the last, when I felt the articles lost the focus of the beginning and started fanning out to encompass more general mothering topics.

[Claire Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is definitely getting a privileged place of permanency on my nightstand. I very rarely underline in books, but I got up from my chair to search for a pen while reading this one.

[Mary · Rating 5 out of 5]

Wonderful encouragement here! Also, the chapters are so short and manageable.

[Yuliya Stepnova · Rating 5 out of 5]

A bunch of healthy biblical essays on motherhood. I would get back to many of them from time to time as I need to be daily reminded of God’s truths in the context of being a mom. Am I mom enough? The answer is no.

[Belén Lechuga · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lectura indispensable para todas las mamás cristianas. Palabras de alivio, aliento y que te retan a cambiar de mentalidad. La maternidad como un llamado de Dios.

[Jillian Vincent · Rating 5 out of 5]

Recommend to all moms. To anyone who has a mom. To anyone thinking about becoming a mom.

Motherhood is about Jesus.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent collection of blog posts on motherhood from the Desiring God web site. I felt challenged, convicted, and uplifted reading these. It's good to be reminded that my child's heart is the most important mission field I'll ever have.

I was rattled by Carolyn McCulley's piece. She connected the decline in respect for motherhood to Darwin's view of women being less than men, and how that view directly led to a rise in abortions (thanks in no small part to Margaret Sanger). In today's culture of worship of self and "freedom," being a mother is the most radically pro-life thing any woman can do.

[Laura · Rating 5 out of 5]

Through a variety of voices mom's will find encouragement in "Mom Enough". The short chapters are each individually published blog posts that have since been compiled. Reading from the perspectives of each author, I found much to relate to in my own walk with the Lord as a mom. I enjoyed reading it on my Kindle during the night, awake with my little one. I also found plenty to highlight, that I'll surely reference in the future.

[Amber · Rating 2 out of 5]

Didn't finish. Made it 45% through before leaving it for a couple weeks and then finding I had no desire to continue it. The book is actually just a compilation of articles from Desiring God. Most of the articles would have been fairly good on their own but back to back, they were sooo repetitive. Also, they would rightly say that certain things don't belong in the "mommy wars" label because they are serious and objectively wrong...but then make excuses for things I would consider to be in the objectively wrong category...at what point is it "mom shaming" to "shame" the person doing the "shaming" when they are convinced they truly ought to speak up? Things to ponder. The women writing this articles are women I truly admire and love to read books by...but this one missed the mark...

[Chloe (Always Booked) · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5 stars. This book had some interesting and inspiring takeaways but for the most part it felt preachy and judgmental. This was a compilation of blog posts from a website called Desiring God so it was made up of multiple contributors. Some were better than others (as it always is with stuff like this). Some were almost unreadable to me because they were so judgmental, but others did serve as good reminders or motivators. Quick read, but I think I would've been just as well going to the website and reading the ones I wanted and thats it.

[Tristan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Sometimes I can roll my eyes at Desiring God resources, thinking they can get caught up in inner-Christendom arguments and make mountains out of mole hills as if the Calvinist interpretation of scripture is a gospel issue. But this book was seriously so good and I’m really hoping we can start a mom discipleship group that goes through this. I’m definitely adding this to the list of resources for the pre-parental mentoring at our church.

[Ashley Payne · Rating 5 out of 5]

I was encouraged and challenged by this short but meaningful read. My main takeaways are: 1) I need to constantly be dying to myself as a mom, 2) Motherhood is a significant and worthwhile calling, 3) Children are a gift, and 4) Worry and stress are not excusable aspects of motherhood. The grace I’ve been given in Christ is enough for me to have joy even when these years feel overwhelming.

[Kaylena Radcliff · Rating 5 out of 5]

This little book is the perfect complementary devotional for busy moms everywhere. The chapters are blog posts adapted to print, each a digestible chunk of reading yet still full of depth and scriptural application.

[Meagan Palmer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I’m not a mom yet (and won’t be for awhile), but it was still encouraging to read this! It’s very countercultural in a refreshing way. The message also applies to any role in our lives outside of parenting: we’re not going to be enough, but God is!

[Kaylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a must-have for every momma. From here on out, I will be buying this book for every baby shower I attend. Each chapter is only 1-2 pgs along (perfect length!) and full of gospel truth to refresh a momma's soul and heart. Buy this book. You will not regret it. I promise.

[Michael · Rating 4 out of 5]

Rachel Jankovic's and Gloria Furman's contributions in this book are excellent.

[Aria · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was great on biblical motherhood!

[Molls Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Being a collection of blog posts, the chapters are short and definitely able to get one done in 2-3 minutes between diaper changes or interruptions. Mom Enough both challenged me and encouraged my heart in motherhood and raising my boys!

[Mackenzie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Audiobook. 4 stars, only because of the reader. Definitely something I’d like to read as a physical copy.