Homemaking Is a Ministry
Over the past two years, I’ve slowly gotten into homemaking.
Now, it’s sort of “my thing.”
I didn’t see it coming, but somewhere along the way, I began to realize the eternal, beautiful, godly, glorious significance of Biblical homemaking.
I began to see that this is much more than cleaning toilets. Godly homemaking is the intermingling of craft and work for the purpose of cultivating a space to nurture our families and ourselves for God’s glory. Home is God’s idea. It’s a blessing from Him to the people He created. It is to be a place of safety, belonging, community and met needs.
“My people will live in safety, quietly at home. They will be at rest.” Isaiah 32:18 (NLT)
“God sets the lonely in families, he leads out the prisoners with singing; but the rebellious live in a sun-scorched land.” Psalm 68:6 (NIV)
As women, regardless of our marital, parental or employment status, we were made to do this. It’s in our very nature. At the core, the satisfaction of homemaking runs deep.
As I’ve risen up into my role as a homemaker, I’m looking an sounding a lot like my mother and grandmothers. It takes a certain level of maturity to be open to that… I mean, they always seemed so “other” than me. And I was hipper (at least in my own mind –way too cool to bake pies and mop floors.) 😉
…until God awoke me to the fact that all those big, fancy, smart things I had envisioned to do with my life in worldly arenas were as fleeting as the wind.
And those big, fancy, God-things I envisioned doing? Perhaps the impact would be lasting, but the oh-so-fun acknowledgement of people makes that reward fleeting as well (Matthew 6:1-6).
As I read the Bible, I saw that, in contrast, the quiet, barely-acknowledged diligent laboring of home, when done whole-heartedly unto God and for His glory, is truly a pursuit with eternal rewards, an inheritance from the Lord.
“Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters, since you know that you will receive an inheritance from the Lord as a reward. It is the Lord Christ you are serving.” Colossians 3:23-24 (NIV)
I realized, simply put, that…
homemaking is a ministry.
Because of that, I can feel good about pulling back from other types of ministry in order to fully attend to the needs of my home in this consuming season of life (with three little children, fully at home).
My two big kids with playing one of their best friends. 🙂
Titus 2:4-5 says,
“And so train the young women to love their husbands and children, to be self-controlled, pure, working at home, kind, and submissive to their own husbands, that the word of God may not be reviled.” (ESV)
My work, my purity and devotion to my family, hold God’s word up in honor. Homemaking matters.
I know that my role in the kingdom of God as a homemaker, wife and mother is no less important than the more glorified ministry roles I could perhaps possess –more humble, yes, but no less significant.
1 Thessalonians 4:11-12 says,
“and to make it your ambition to lead a quiet life: You should mind your own business and work with your hands, just as we told you, so that your daily life may win the respect of outsiders and so that you will not be dependent on anybody” (NIV)
As we diligently complete the work God has given us, we point to His truth.
What’s more, God has entrusted me with three little people.
These children are mine (and my husband’s) to raise and mold and care for during the short years we have them at home. This is a gift and a weighty responsibility!
Most likely, I will have more influence over their lives than any other lives I touch during my brief years here on the earth. That’s to be taken seriously. If I don’t scale back now and take time to disciple and shepherd them, when will I?
Not to mention the way I support and love and care for my husband, which is another key purpose of the home.
Today, I hope you recognize the eternal importance of homemaking. I hope you see that, no matter how trivial the daily tasks may feel, this matters.
How would your thinking change if you embraced the ministry of homemaking? Tell me in the comments section!
Do you ever wonder how some women make running a home look so natural?
I certainly have!
However, after many years of watching my friends who do this well, and after much trial and error, I’ve boiled it all down to 3 essential daily habits. With these 3 habits in place, a home can function pretty well! Without them, it will be perpetual catchup.
While I used to feel like a failure as a homemaker, I know feel a sense of success and satisfaction.
I’d love to share these 3 simple (secret) daily habits with you. If you focus your energy into establishing them, I believe you will achieve the same breakthrough in your homemaking that I did.
Can I share my secrets with you?
New to this community? Start here, friend.
After a long, tiring day of mommying, this was refreshing. Thank you for the encouraging insight. I was really inspired by the thought of of I don’t scale back now and pour into these precious souls, when will I?? Such a pivotal thought.
Love this so much! I’m a homemaker, but I come from a legacy of working women. Back to my great grandmother even, all worked outside of the home. I respect them and growing up with that legacy, I never thought I’d be a Homemaker. But here I am and God has grown me so much! I love it now! Unfortunately my family views me as “unemployed”, not a homemaker. So I wanted to tell you I really found a lot of encouragement in your post, since I’m going against the expectations my family has for me and choosing what God has for me instead. It’s hard in this day and age, but God’s opinion of me matters more than what others think. Thanks for validating that for me 🙂
This was so great. I just recently became a homemaker (was previously a director of my own department) and struggled with it a lot. Until God began working on me in this area. Home making being a ministry is profound! I’m slowly learning it is the most important thing I could do. We don’t have kids yet but God is still preparing me. ❤️
I so enjoyed this read. I am feeling uplifted and empowered, being a wife and mom to 2 kids.
Thank you so much. This was an answer to one of my prayers
Hi, I’m happy to see a woman that really understands the importance of a woman being a homemaker write such a well written article. I’ve been a homemaker since I’ve been married for 18 years now. I’ve homeschooled for 13 years now. I have 5 beautiful blessings and I take my job very seriously. I’m not just raising children, but missionaries that one day will be fulfilling their purpose. My heart’s greatest desire is that my children live for God and do what God designed them in the womb from the very beginning to do. I’ve had the opportunity to see my husband become the man that God designed him to be by guiding me how to pray for and encourage him. Great article! Keep up the good work!
Hi, I’m happy to see a woman that really understands the importance of a woman being a homemaker write such a well written article. I’ve been a homemaker since I’ve been married for 18 years now. I’ve homeschooled for 13 years now. I have beautiful blessings and I take my job very seriously. I’m not just raising children, but missionaries that one day will be fulfilling their purpose. My heart’s greatest desire is that my children live for God and do what God designed them in the womb from the very beginning to do. I’ve had the opportunity to see my husband become the man that God designed him to be by guiding me how to pray for and encourage him. Great article! Keep up the good work!
Thank you for this! I’m a new stay at home mom, I have a wonderful 7 month old baby boy! I seriously thought staying home would be a breeze and it turns out taking care of a baby, especially for the first time, is daunting and demanding. It’s so encouraging to be reminded that the time is short and the work is so significant! Lol and wow… it is work!
There were a few years at the start of my parenting journey that I struggled to know what my role was. Once I was able to wrap my head around the fact that motherhood was a ministry, things became so much better for me. I often think about the boy who shared his lunch with Jesus. I think about who made his lunch– probably his mother. She was just doing her job taking care of her child but by doing so blessed thousands of others.
I just wanted to say your blog post is exactly what I needed. I literally prayed for God to help me find more insight in this area and your post came long to me. So thank you for making the time to write this because it has been one helpful post (and from the comments you’ve done more than just help one person).
I love reading your articles! I agree with the importance of homemaking. But what if you don’t have children and do not plan to (for various reasons)? I feel I cannot justify staying home when theres no kids. What would I do all day? It wouldn’t take much time to keep our home of 2 clean and picked up. Something I’m struggling to understand lately.
So if homemaking is a way of serving others and honoring God, do you think it’s a bad idea for Christian stay at home moms to hire housekeepers?
No, I don’t! I think we have so much freedom in Christ, and every family situation is different.
Woukd you support your daughter if she wanted to be a scientis and cure cancer?
Yes, I would.
This post is right on the button for me!!! I concur with the fsct that we ate first called to be stewards of our own homes.having been in monistryfrom 15 years old until very recently,I absolutely absolutely believe in times n seasons and that homemaking is no less significant than being in a visible ministry space…my husband n I were having this very conversation with frends today and a few hrs later i have stumbled on ur chat…its unbelievable. Our kids r in our homes for such a limited period of time and I am unapologetic about them being my first priority.making memories with the, investing in them n bebbying available for thenm by far outweighs other duties. I have realised that there are times wen christians get very caught up in the visible tangible ( to the public) work of the ministry which is good but shud not ever be held in higher esteem to what others choose to do that may be invisible for this season. We are planting and nurturing our own little gardens n when they are older others will enjoy their fruit. At the same time I will not prescribe my perspective to everyone…but only to say that whatever u r doing in the Kingdom be FULLY PERSUADED that that is what u ought to be doing..furthermore ministerial activity or engagement is not static but a dynamic process through the life stages…it changes.so ladies do only what you hear the Father say to u n ur household because at the end of it all it is Him not man that u will be accountable to
So true!
I appreciate your perspective. I’ve been a stay at home mom for three years straight now (three not in school yet), and it’s gotten…”old.” It’s way easier than being a working mom–did that, too–and I appreciate my role. I guess the longer I do it, the more I see home making as a requirement–something all women (and when it comes to raising children, men, too)–have to do as responsible adults. Cooking, cleaning, managing schedules, etc. That’s the work I do. It makes my family’s life easier, and that’s good. But no matter how much what I do is about other family members, focusing only on that and making it “too important” in my life feels very selfish. Funny how that works, huh? It’s selfish to expend all of my energy on my own home, my own prodigy, my own spouse, our own goals, our own meals, our own needs, etc. For me, there has to be something else that I do. Not so that people will notice me–that is not why I give my time, talents and resources. But to make God happy and not be “all about me.” That’s where I’m at right now, at least.
I have been a homemaker since 2001 and love being home with my children. My oldest is 30 and second is 23 and baby is 12, plus we have a foster son that is 4 months. I have homeschooled all my children starting late in the life of my oldest. I am now homeschooling my son who is 12. I know that God put me at home for my kids when my oldest were little, but never considered it a ministry. I just knew that raising them up in the admonition of the Lord was what I was created to do. It has been my joy to be a homemaker, not always keeping the best home, but as I age it is different. However, from now on I will share this with other stay at home mothers to encourage them as well as this has encouraged me. I too was perusing through Pinterest I found you. Thank God for you!!
Janya, that is wonderful! Thank you so much for stopping by, and God bless you!
Oh my goodness, we are kindred spirits. I loved this post. It was as if you looked right into my heart and pulled out what was there and put it in writing. Thank you for this beautiful reminder that taking care of your home and your family is in itself a wonderful way to glorify God.
All of it and all the men in this life I really enjoy it! Found your podcast on Podbean if anyone needs this info it was fulfilling, awesome and made my day!
I may have to start a podcast of my own! God is so good!
Thank you so much for posting this! I am a 26(almost 27 but let’s just say 26) year old mommy of 3 kiddos. I am blessed to be a stay at home mom. They are ages 10m-5yrs. I just started homeschooling this past year. I love my role as a mom and I have a wonderful husband who works to provide for his family, and I am so thankful for that. But I truly feel that I have failed as a wife and as a mother….. I hope that with Gods help I can make 2018 a year of growth to better myself and to work harder in my role as a mom and wife. we only get one chance to raise our little people and that chance flies by very very fast:(….. again, thank you SO much for posting this!!!!
That is so wonderful Leann!! May God bless you in the new year as you seek Him!
Thanks so much for this post. Am a stay at home mom living in Uganda. I was at a point in my life where i was complaining and thinking perhaps getting back into formal employment would make me feel more fulfilled. Your post has however encouraged me. Thank you very much.
Love this!!! “Home-making” or “managing the home” can take on so many different forms, but it is indeed a ministry and the highest ministry for a mother short of the wife ministry (which really includes it)!
Amen!
Hi Katie,
I just found your article while browsing through pinterest for some home keeping inspiration.
I must preface this comment by saying that while your article is centered so vastly around The Lord and His Word; I, mysef as a Hindu, found elevation within your words.
My life/path and faith may never resemble that which you follow… however I think it important to thank you!
Thank you for opening my eyes to why home making is such a vital part of a happy and successful life.
My husband and I currently do not have any children but plan to start a family shortly. I work a full time job outside the home and often find mysef resentful of the “burden” of housekeeping that I find upon my shoulders as soon as my feet hit the floor in the mornings.
However, you’ve opened my eyes to see that a well kept home is my way of fulfilling part of my calling. You’ve brought me to realize that if I can spend my day busting my tail for someone else’s vision; I can certainly bust my tail a little harder to serve my small but hopefully growing family to the best of my ability.
Once again thank you for your words.
With love,
An inspired and enlightened reader
Katie,
This a beautiful blog, and a beautifully written article. I now have older and younger children, but I still struggle with the balance between work and home. My husband and I agree that if I have to make a choice, I choose home. But sometimes I don’t recognize the neglect to my home and kids until we’re already in crisis mode. Thanks for the encouragement and inspiration.
Thanks for sharing this. Sometimes we too hit “crisis mode” and you never know that others go through the same thing. We strive to keep God at the center, but sometimes, lots of times, laundry isn’t done, cooking isn’t done, and things go off the wall and we enter “crisis mode.” Thankfully, Jesus brings us to right back to Him, the Rock.
Thank you for this post, Katie! I happened to find this today as I was searching for something else. I’ve been a full-time stay at home mom since before my first child was born, and this past year we’ve added the extra job of homeschooling. I appreciate your words so much because while I have never wanted a career outside of our home, I sometimes throw myself a pity party because it seems like the accolades are all for the women who have chosen to work outside the home, and use childcare to raise their children, etc. This is NOT to bash on that choice, but rather to comment how good it is to be reminded on why I decided that I needed to be home with my children. Homemaking truly IS a ministry!
That is so fun to hear Laura. I’m glad you were encouraged. I remind myself of this often. It is a humble calling in many ways, but so holy! God bless you!
Thank you for sharing! It took me a long time to come to terms with my calling as a SAHM. It nv felt like a calling to me bcos I always tot God calls people to do greater things. But slowly, I realised home ministry is equally great!
Needed to read this today.
Amen!
I wanted to comment on these sweet wonderful words that you have made on your site here. I do want to ask though it many women can still feel the calling to be a homemaker when their children are grown. I work part time but love being in my home and cooking and providing a Christ centered home for others to come to and for my husband Thank you
Yes, I certainly think so! That is wonderful Kim! God will use your home to bless your husband, and also as a tool for hospitality.
Thank you Katie! And I love your name, that’s my newly married daughters names. She is 21 and. Married an amazing young man and they serve the lord together in our home church. My son is 17 and a senior and will start college this year. I am thankful to hear so many women love their true calling of being a homemaker and loving it!! My daughter is preparing her way to be able to do that when they start their family. So exciting to see that she sees the importance of me doing it with her and her brother and wanting to also.
I love that! This heritage is a sweet gift from God for your faithfulness. God bless you!
This is exactly what I needed to read today. God Bless you and your heartfelt blog.
I know I am a little late finding this post, but I had to comment because this is exactly what I needed to read. We just had baby #4 on Thanksgiving (4 boys 4 1/2 and under!) so life is a just little hectic. 😉 I started staying home with my kids in July. I often have to remind myself that we made the decision for me to stay home because I was tired of feeling like my boys were sacrificing for my career and I felt like God had been telling me through circumstances that I needed to be home to raise my family. However, I do miss working and it is too easy to get wrapped up thinking about missing out on one thing or another when I stop remembering that raising a family/homemaking is absolutely a calling! Of course it’s not going to be easy, but I am so thankful to be able to do it. Thank you for being encouraging and reminding me that God wants us to be intentional in this area. It really changes my perspective to realize that being a homemaker glorifies Him!
I love that Ashley! I am reading an awesome book right now called The Mission of Motherhood by Sally Clarkson. I highly recommend it if you need more encouragement and vision in this area. Maybe you could read it in all that spare time you have, ha! I hope things are going well! I know that is a struggle, but God is glorified as you persevere and rely on His grace.
I need this! God bless you !
This was such a great article. Thank you for sharing your heart on this matter. I do believe homemaking is the highest calling and so many mommas/wives/women need support and encouragement. Thank you for letting the Lord use you in this way!
Thank you Hannah!
Oh my gosh, I LOVE this! It’s so true! Thank you for such a great reminder to all of us moms who have hard days. It’s such a good point to feel better about doing the daily things in our homes. 🙂
I’m so thankful to have found your blog! My husband and I made the decision for me to come home with my daughter about 4 months ago. I truly enjoy being home with her. I value being a stay-at-home-mom and value the importance of family. I know that what I’m doing right now matters in a such vast way. Thank you for sharing this great post!
Thank you Katie for writing about this. I came across this article in your blog while looking around on Pinterest. The timing couldn’t have been better. I was beginning to wonder what my purpose is and feel being a homemaker is my purpose.
Katie,
I loved your post, I stayed home when my kids when they were young and then started working full time at their elementary school. When my son went to middle school last year I was very fortunate to quit my job and transition him through his first year of middle school. He did fine and then my husband lost his job this summer and felt I needing to go back to work. I’m a coach at an elementary school and feel such a calling to be home with my kids again. I have a junior and a 7th grader and teenage years are tough. My husband did get a job but the pay is not as good as his last job. Would you please keep me in your prayers as I try to figure out how to tell my husband I want to come back home to be a full time mom. Now I just feel so wore out as a coach that I feel like I give the kids at school my best and my kids at home only get the leftovers. Please pray that God shows me what I should do.
Thank you so much
Christy
Taking time to pray for you right now Christy!
Dearest Katie,
Your words are so beautiful and speak such truth to my heart! I quit my career to take on “staying at home”! Through my 5 years at home my heart has changed as God has shown me my place and my talented ability to care for the ones he created just for me! It’s refreshing to know other Godly women are out there putting their faith and family before other worldly things! I do feel judged and alone at times because my views are “old fashioned” but through scripture I’ve learned that God is making me wiser! So comforting to read your blog! I look forward to reading more! Thank you!
Danielle, that is so encouraging to hear! May God bless you as you find your calling within your home. I’m only just beginning to understand the power of that.
it is SO refreshing to hear young woman embracing this idea. I remember feeling guilty for being so fulfilled mothering, homemaking. My parents didn’t believe I could “possibly” find it rewarding. But I did! And now that my girls are 17 and 20? I don’t regret one moment. Keep it up girl, God bless you
That’s awesome! Thank you so much Christa!
Great words, Katie! My husband and I don’t have children yet, and between my different jobs I sometimes have a hard time balancing homemaking along with them. I love that you identify it as a ministry-it’s so easy to forget that! Thanks for the encouragement!
You are so welcome! Thank you for stopping by and commenting! I’m interested to read your recent post your blog looks lovely!
What a great post! I am a “homemaker” too. I say that loosely because I grew up in day-cares. My parents both worked full time, so I am having to learn all that goes into homemaking on my own. Each day has a new challenge but changing how we look at those challenges is a huge help. Thanks for showing us all how to look at those challenges.
I can relate to that as well. Learning to run a home hasn’t come naturally to me, despite the fact that my mom was pretty amazing. She did work outside the home and I don’t, plus she’s a harder worker naturally. It’s truly a calling.
I love this idea of ministry being raising my family! I’m a full-time working mom and have struggled with wanting to stay-at-home (but knowing it’s not possible for our situation). I can minister to my children by showing them balance between work and home-life, what it means to be present at home, and how to ask for God’s grace when I don’t get it right. Being a stay-at-home mom may not be in the cards for me, but ministering through homemaking doesn’t require that I’m home all day. Thanks for this wonderful reminder!
I couldn’t agree more Rachel! God has SO MUCH that He wants to do in and through your home. (Not to mention everything He wants to do in and through you in your work place!) I pray that He blesses you as you ingest these truths and thanks for sharing!
I love this! I needed to read this tonight. Looking at homemaking as a ministry changes everything…it really does! You do things more intentional for sure.
I agree! I feel so much more fulfilled, yet also called to a higher level of excellence, now that I have learned to see it this way. May God bless you in your ministry of homemaking!
Thank you for sharing this post. I have felt overwhelmed and “less than” in my homemaking journey of late. Being refreshed in the importance of “My Ministry” is exactly what I needed to hear. Thank you again.
You are so welcome! Thank you for sharing that, it’s encouraging. May God bless you on this journey!
Thank you for writing your post about Homemaking being a ministry. I have been a stay at home mom for the last 6 years and have been struggling lately with feeling burnt out. The past two years have been the hardest. I never really looked at homemaking as being a ministry. You really brought a new perspective to me. I always just considered myself a stay at home mom and honestly looked down on the word homemaking. But now that I understand the word homemaker and that is what God wants and has called me to be then it is the title I am going to proudly wear! I can be a homemaker with God’s help and guidance. Thank you for the encouragement and inspiration! 🙂
Michelle, that is so fun to hear!! Thank you for sharing. I pray that God blesses you in this role and continues to build your vision for homemaking as you seek Him and walk in obedience! Bless you!
I enjoyed your post so much! So glad I stumbled upon your blog. i’m going to have fun reading through some of your posts and poking around on your site! 🙂
Thank you so much Katrina!! I look forward to getting to know you more!
Yes! I loved this.I have been through seasons of acknowledging my role as homemaker and seasons of rebelling against it. Every once in a while my heart starts focusing on what other big grand things I think I should be doing to please God outside of my home. It isn’t long before I realize that I usually want to go those things for my glory, not His.
YES! That is sooooo me too. Thank you for sharing!
This is so perfect for me. I am struggling after falling ill and I to give up my work recently. I feel so lost because I really love my job. I keep trying to define who I am. We have a daughter with cerebral palsy and i almost bit someone’s head off when they asked if i was her full time carer! My husband teases me and calls me ‘house wife”. He loves that face that I am home. I should be happy because we are fortunate to live on one income but I feel lost. I kept looking online for jobs. Thanks for sharing this x
Taking time to pray for you right now Shelly. I know God has a good plan. My transition from working to being at home was a bit rocky. It took a while for me to find new friends in the same situation to share life with. My encouragement to you would be, ask God to show you a potential friend and invite her over! That may seem irrelevant, but that scary step (which lead to community) was what made all the difference for me in the long run.