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Sufficient Hope: Gospel Meditations and Prayers for Moms
Motherhood is a wonderful season of life‚"‚€‚"but also a season filled with challenges, trials, discouragements, and stress. Laboring to tend to the needs of their children, moms often find themselves empty and spent by the end of the day. But we who possess the gospel have a wonderful resource to sustain us. God is more than sufficient to uphold us, and his gospel applies to all the daily challenges of motherhood.
Christina Fox uses each of her brief chapters to examine a range of situations through the lens of the gospel, showing who Christ is, where Christ is, and what he has done for us. Whatever you are going through, she shows that the gospel meets you where you are with life-giving, soul-saturating hope. Prayers at the end of each chapter apply the truths of the gospel to motherhood's different challenges.
Christina Fox uses each of her brief chapters to examine a range of situations through the lens of the gospel, showing who Christ is, where Christ is, and what he has done for us. Whatever you are going through, she shows that the gospel meets you where you are with life-giving, soul-saturating hope. Prayers at the end of each chapter apply the truths of the gospel to motherhood's different challenges.
184 pages, Paperback
First published June 1, 2019
14 people are currently reading
87 people want to read
About the author
Christina Fox
26 books30 followersChristina Fox is a blogger at where she chronicles her faith journey. She writes for a number of Christian ministries and publications including Desiring God and The Gospel Coalition. She lives with her husband and two sons in sunny South Florida.
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Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews
August 14, 2019
Each page is filled with gospel truths and encourages me to seek Christ in each moment. The multiple examples she gives of how the gospel applies in each area of motherhood is soothing to the soul. Love the prayers that are written at the end of each chapter.
January 29, 2021
One of the best devotional books for moms I've read. Fox once again does a great job discussing the gospel and how to live out one's motherhood in a gospel-context without it being overly specific to moms of a certain-age kid or SES. Scripture passages and discussion questions were worth taking the time to do and the sample prayers could be used again and again. Well done.
January 30, 2020
One of the things I most appreciate about Christina Fox's writing is how the starting point for all of her topics is the gospel -- the sufficiency of Scripture, the glorious and deep well of doctrinal truths drawn from God's word, the immeasurable greatness of God. This is not to say she engages in ivory tower theological discourse, disregarding the real and painful dilemmas of life on this earth or the challenges and stumblings that come with motherhood. Christina writes with transparency about her own fears and failures, doubts and trials and afflictions. But her focus is on the vastness of the gospel and the promises of Christ, and she examines how faithful and Spirit-empowered obedience to God's word unveils the perspective we need to face life's daily struggles. We are so inclined to start with the struggles and end with whatever Christianesque plug we can find to fix the problem. Christina puts things in the right order.
In Sufficient Hope, you'll find:
* A chapter about the mercy of forgiveness and the grace of sanctification to help moms rightly wrestle with sin and guilt.
* A chapter about how Christ-mindfulness and a heart posture of leaning on him provide all the energy, strength, and perseverance needed for each moment of every day.
* A chapter about what it means to settle our identities in Christ -- a balm for the mom who agonizes over the loss of whom she used to be, and for the mom without a purpose when the kids move on.
* A chapter on joy sufficient in Christ to remind us how to silence the "if onlys" we whisper to ourselves.
* A chapter on the singular cure of regeneration when we despair over our children's sins.
* A chapter on suffering as an expected condition of Christianity, pointing us to Jesus's suffering as a context when we or our children face suffering and trials.
* A chapter about sovereignty and the peaceful and divine nature of Christ to combat worry about the future; the sufficiency of Christ to refocus our attention away from the distractions of a world in rebellion; the good and perfectly timed providence of Christ to wage warfare against shattered expectations, bitterness and despair; the world-upending cross of Christ to dispel a sense of helplessness; the redeeming work of Christ to give meaning to seemingly mindless tasks of motherhood (or life, in general).
Sufficient Hope starts with what the Bible says about the most important things you need to know about Jesus, sin, salvation, faith, repentance, the nature of God, the power of the Spirit, the transforming work of regeneration -- and the broad application of these truths to every aspect of life. No matter where you are or what sphere or season you find yourself in, Christina Fox demonstrates how they are unchangeable and effective for everyone.
In Sufficient Hope, you'll find:
* A chapter about the mercy of forgiveness and the grace of sanctification to help moms rightly wrestle with sin and guilt.
* A chapter about how Christ-mindfulness and a heart posture of leaning on him provide all the energy, strength, and perseverance needed for each moment of every day.
* A chapter about what it means to settle our identities in Christ -- a balm for the mom who agonizes over the loss of whom she used to be, and for the mom without a purpose when the kids move on.
* A chapter on joy sufficient in Christ to remind us how to silence the "if onlys" we whisper to ourselves.
* A chapter on the singular cure of regeneration when we despair over our children's sins.
* A chapter on suffering as an expected condition of Christianity, pointing us to Jesus's suffering as a context when we or our children face suffering and trials.
* A chapter about sovereignty and the peaceful and divine nature of Christ to combat worry about the future; the sufficiency of Christ to refocus our attention away from the distractions of a world in rebellion; the good and perfectly timed providence of Christ to wage warfare against shattered expectations, bitterness and despair; the world-upending cross of Christ to dispel a sense of helplessness; the redeeming work of Christ to give meaning to seemingly mindless tasks of motherhood (or life, in general).
Sufficient Hope starts with what the Bible says about the most important things you need to know about Jesus, sin, salvation, faith, repentance, the nature of God, the power of the Spirit, the transforming work of regeneration -- and the broad application of these truths to every aspect of life. No matter where you are or what sphere or season you find yourself in, Christina Fox demonstrates how they are unchangeable and effective for everyone.
August 30, 2019
Motherhood is challenging. I see the struggles my wife faces on a daily basis and wonder how moms do it! Motherhood is often thankless and exhausting work. Yet mothers are not hopeless, even in their helplessness. Christina Fox’s Sufficient Hope: Gospel Meditations and Prayers for Moms is a powerful, gospel-centered reminder to mothers that Jesus needs to be front and center in their lives and work as mothers. Her message to mothers is simple: “Christ is to be first and foremost in our lives.”
Sufficient Hope isn’t written simply to give moms tips to survive motherhood. Fox’s aim is to draw mothers to exalt God in their hearts above their schedules, activities, and to-do lists. She makes clear that “this book is about the gospel’s sufficiency to give moms hope in their motherhood” because the demands and pressures of life often seem to choke out every bit of hope you have.
That pile of laundry will still stare you down as you walk by, but Christ’s glorious grace will remind you that you’re worth more than folded clothes. The kids will still cry and beg for your attention, but you’ll be reminded that dwelling with Christ helps you love them when your energy is sapped and you just need a nap. Jesus will be your hope even on good days where your head feels above water for a few moments.
Most importantly, Sufficient Hope will remind you that the ultimate aim of motherhood is to draw closer to Christ and point your children to the eternal hope that keeps you going every day. If you’re looking for a book that’s light on Scripture and heavy on lifehacks, tips, and ideas, this isn’t the book you’re looking for—but please still pick it up!
Each chapter opens with a quote from an excellent pastor or author to stir up your thoughts and give you something to ponder. Saturated with scripture, Sufficient Hope, points beyond Fox’s experiences to her Anchor—Jesus Christ. Each chapter ends with some application questions and extended study followed by a gospel-saturated prayer to help mothers seek the Lord and cast your anxieties on Him.
Fox is engaging, practical, and uses plenty of illustrations to help you see that she is in the trenches of motherhood with you. She’s not the supermom type who writes only from success. She struggles, too, and she’s willing to let you know that. She’s also willing to share what God showed her in those tough moments.
Grab a copy for yourself, your wife, or a mother who needs to be reminded of the hope found in Jesus Christ! You won’t go wrong!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
Sufficient Hope isn’t written simply to give moms tips to survive motherhood. Fox’s aim is to draw mothers to exalt God in their hearts above their schedules, activities, and to-do lists. She makes clear that “this book is about the gospel’s sufficiency to give moms hope in their motherhood” because the demands and pressures of life often seem to choke out every bit of hope you have.
That pile of laundry will still stare you down as you walk by, but Christ’s glorious grace will remind you that you’re worth more than folded clothes. The kids will still cry and beg for your attention, but you’ll be reminded that dwelling with Christ helps you love them when your energy is sapped and you just need a nap. Jesus will be your hope even on good days where your head feels above water for a few moments.
Most importantly, Sufficient Hope will remind you that the ultimate aim of motherhood is to draw closer to Christ and point your children to the eternal hope that keeps you going every day. If you’re looking for a book that’s light on Scripture and heavy on lifehacks, tips, and ideas, this isn’t the book you’re looking for—but please still pick it up!
Each chapter opens with a quote from an excellent pastor or author to stir up your thoughts and give you something to ponder. Saturated with scripture, Sufficient Hope, points beyond Fox’s experiences to her Anchor—Jesus Christ. Each chapter ends with some application questions and extended study followed by a gospel-saturated prayer to help mothers seek the Lord and cast your anxieties on Him.
Fox is engaging, practical, and uses plenty of illustrations to help you see that she is in the trenches of motherhood with you. She’s not the supermom type who writes only from success. She struggles, too, and she’s willing to let you know that. She’s also willing to share what God showed her in those tough moments.
Grab a copy for yourself, your wife, or a mother who needs to be reminded of the hope found in Jesus Christ! You won’t go wrong!
I received a free copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.
June 3, 2019
Being a mother is incredibly hard and some days we find ourselves struggling for hope and encouragment. Mothers, fathers, and children struggle with sin and the brokenness of living in this world and often those hardships and struggles are what fill our minds and hearts. In this book by Christina Fox, she points moms of every stage to the hope found in the gospel. The work Jesus has accomplished on our behalf and His continual intercession for us each day is the place where we find hope in the journey of motherhood. I love how Christina shares a variety of struggles we face as moms and specifically applies the gospel to those struggles. By doing this, I found "Sufficient Hope" to be not only full of encouragement but practicality as I was able to see how I could bring the hope Jesus offers to so many aspects of my motherhood. I also appreciated her chapter on how to see the beauty of the gospel on the good days. While those seem to be a little less frequent as the struggling days are so often, there is beauty in seeing Jesus at work in the good. At the end of each chapter, there is a few discussion questions and a prayer to pray that I found incredibly helpful in understanding more of what was said in the chapter and helped give words to what I desired to say to God. This book is one I know I will be passing along to others at baby showers and to moms of every stage who need encouragement!
I received a digital copy of the book in advance for an honest review of this book.
I received a digital copy of the book in advance for an honest review of this book.
January 14, 2021
Jesus Christ our Hope
I picked up this book because the author said something like, “I can’t make my life work for me.”This book was what she learned after realizing that. The good news of Jesus Christ (and not our works) is our hope in every aspect of our lives. She walks us through applying the gospel as mothers, and it’s just really helpful. Especially the questions she asks and scriptures she points to at the end of each chapter increased my understanding and my faith. I went back over my highlights after finishing and was helped all over again. This is a worthwhile read!
She sums it up well with this: “In all our helpless situations, Christ is our hope. He has redeemed us from our sin and given us his righteousness. Through our faith in his perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, we are made right with God. And as Paul reminds us, if God has given his own Son to rescue us from sin, how can he not also give us all things (see Rom. 8:32)? If God has given us Christ, how can we think he won’t meet us in our daily struggles and challenges? How can we think he would leave us to drown in motherhood? By providing for us when we were at our most helpless—when we were trapped in sin and separated from God—Christ proved that he is our hope.”
I picked up this book because the author said something like, “I can’t make my life work for me.”This book was what she learned after realizing that. The good news of Jesus Christ (and not our works) is our hope in every aspect of our lives. She walks us through applying the gospel as mothers, and it’s just really helpful. Especially the questions she asks and scriptures she points to at the end of each chapter increased my understanding and my faith. I went back over my highlights after finishing and was helped all over again. This is a worthwhile read!
She sums it up well with this: “In all our helpless situations, Christ is our hope. He has redeemed us from our sin and given us his righteousness. Through our faith in his perfect life, sacrificial death, and glorious resurrection, we are made right with God. And as Paul reminds us, if God has given his own Son to rescue us from sin, how can he not also give us all things (see Rom. 8:32)? If God has given us Christ, how can we think he won’t meet us in our daily struggles and challenges? How can we think he would leave us to drown in motherhood? By providing for us when we were at our most helpless—when we were trapped in sin and separated from God—Christ proved that he is our hope.”
June 4, 2019
SUFFICIENT HOPE provides much needed Christ-centered encouragement for mothers. This book reminds us of the importance in keeping our primary identity in Christ and the hope of the Gospel. It points continuously to the sovereignty of God in our lives despite failed expectations, interrupted plans, discontentment, exhaustion, and our many failures as mothers. Each chapter concludes with scripture references, reflective questions, and a prayer specific to that chapter’s topic.
As a mom to 5 children, both biological and adopted, I appreciated the author’s inclusion of adoption as a path to motherhood. I gifted this book to my mother. It would make a great gift for an expectant mother as well.
I received an advance digital copy of this book and was happy to provide an honest review.
As a mom to 5 children, both biological and adopted, I appreciated the author’s inclusion of adoption as a path to motherhood. I gifted this book to my mother. It would make a great gift for an expectant mother as well.
I received an advance digital copy of this book and was happy to provide an honest review.
June 12, 2019
It’s the second day of summer break. I am behind on a couple of projects, and my four kids are already fussing. I feel overwhelmed and stressed. How providential to now read Christina Fox’s new book! This book is a gentle reminder that my gaze needs to be turned to Jesus, not myself. He is the only one who can meet my needs. I also love the prayers that help soften my heart toward the Savior. I highly recommend this book.
January 20, 2020
This was a great devotional. It’s hard to make time for reading when you have a five month old, but this book was worth it for the encouragement and refreshing truth it gave me. Each chapter, while focused on a different topic, always comes back to the truth of the gospel. I need to remember to pick this back up for a re-read in a few years when my little one is older. A number of the later chapters in the book are geared towards motherhood with kids older than a baby.
May 27, 2019
This book was just what I needed during a few dark weeks. Every chapter spoke to my heart as a mother, wife, and friend. Christina Fox has produced a thoughtful, well-written book that encourages women to go to Christ in their times of need and of joy. I wish I had the resources to buy this book for every young mom I know!
June 4, 2019
If you’re a mom with children still in the home, read this book to gain true hope for every season and circumstance. If you’re a mom whose children have left the nest, read this book to gain wisdom for mentoring younger moms. This book indeed is full of wisdom and hope that every mother needs to navigate the daily challenges of motherhood.
April 22, 2021
So helpful and relatable!! Helped point me to the gospel no matter what is going on in my day.
Displaying 1 - 12 of 12 reviews