May naturally turns our hearts toward motherhood. For many, it’s a sweet celebration; for others, it’s a tender reminder of grief or complicated stories. But wherever this month finds you, I believe there’s a bigger conversation we need to have:
Every woman — no matter her season of life — is called to nurture the next generation.
A few weeks ago, I sat with a group of my female students during a casual class conversation that turned deeper than I expected. We were talking about the value of human life, but as the discussion unfolded, it shifted into something more personal: “What does it mean to be a woman today?”
Their answers were heavy. They spoke of womanhood in terms of loss — of what they believed they would have to give up one day if they became mothers. They talked about how culture had shaped their thinking: motherhood meant losing your freedom, your identity, your dreams. They referenced postpartum depression, anxiety, trauma, and the countless stories they’ve heard online about the hardships of motherhood.
It struck me that these young women have grown up in what many call the therapeutic age — an age where personal feelings are the highest authority and personal happiness is the ultimate goal. In this view, anything that threatens individual comfort is often seen as a burden to be avoided. Even something as beautiful and God-given as motherhood has been reframed through the lens of fear, loss, and brokenness.
Don’t get me wrong — it’s good that we can now name the struggles women have always faced. It’s healthy to recognize postpartum depression, anxiety, and the cost of nurturing.
But if we stop there, we miss the whole story. Motherhood — and even more broadly, spiritual motherhood — is a part of God’s good design to bring life, nurture faith, and build His Kingdom.
We need spiritual mothers, aunts, big sisters, teachers, and wise neighbors. Women who will sit with the next generation and not just tell them about the struggles, but also about the beauty — the joy, the purpose, the meaning that comes from laying down your life for the sake of another. And make no mistake: Gen Z is longing for this kind of voice in their lives.
According to Barna Group’s study Teens and Jesus, 77% of teenagers globally say they are at least somewhat motivated to learn more about Jesus.¹ Even more, nearly half (47%) of U.S. Christian teens say they want guidance from adults on how to follow Jesus in their daily lives.¹
At the same time, this generation is facing profound internal battles. A 2024 medical review found that anxiety and depression are the two largest mental health issues among Gen Z, with 9 out of 10 individuals diagnosed with a mental health condition experiencing anxiety, and 8 out of 10 experiencing depression.² It seems that whenever Gen Z is mentioned, it’s often in connection with rising rates of anxiety, depression, and isolation — all while being more connected and resourced than any generation before.
They don’t need perfect mentors. They need faithful women who will be present.
-
- They need someone to ask good questions.
- To sit in the awkward silences.
- To encourage them when they can’t see the bigger story yet.
- To tell them the truth about who they are — made in the image of God, created with dignity, worth, and calling.
Titus 2 paints this beautiful vision for us: “Older women are to teach what is good, and so train the young women…” (Titus 2:3–4).
This kind of spiritual motherhood requires more than good intentions; it calls for intentional pursuit.This kind of mentoring isn’t about having a spotless life story or a shelf full of Bible study certificates. It’s about faithful women being willing to step into the slow, steady work of building relationships.
It’s about inviting a younger woman to coffee and dreaming with her about her future.
It’s attending a game or dance recital and saying the words “I’m so stinking proud of you” and celebrating her God given gifts.
It’s about sending a text on test day or just to remind her she’s prayed for.
It’s showing up for the hard conversations, celebrating the small wins, and pointing them back to the goodness of God again and again. It’s about remembering that consistency over time shapes souls far more than one-time grand gestures ever could. It asks us to be available, attentive, prayerful, and willing to walk slowly with someone else — even when it’s inconvenient, even when it costs us something.
You don’t have to have it all figured out to start. You just have to be willing to open your life, your time, and your heart.
You don’t need a degree, a formal title, or a perfect story to be a spiritual mother.
You just need to be willing to pour out what God has poured into you.
To bring your faithfulness, your love, your presence.
This Mother’s Day, whether you are a biological mother, a mentor, a neighbor, a teacher, a sister, or a friend, remember:
The next generation needs you.
-
- Your wisdom.
- Your faithfulness.
- Your voice.
Let’s be the generation of women who don’t just name the hard things — but also reclaim the joy, beauty, and purpose of what God has entrusted to us.
Sources:
¹ Barna Group, Teens and Jesus Research, 2023
² National Library of Medicine, “Mental Health Issues in Gen Z,” 2024
Posted on May 2, 2025
Jacki C. King is a respected and beloved Bible teacher, author, and dedicated ministry leader. Her passion involves guiding women toward a deep love for Jesus and His Word, encouraging them to embrace their mission in their homes, workplaces, and communities. She is the author of "The Calling of Eve: How Women of the Bible Inspire the Women of the Church" (Tyndale 2022). A proud native Texan, Jacki serves alongside her husband Josh, who serves as Lead Pastor of their local church, and their three boys. She holds a bachelor's degree in Biblical Studies and Ministry to Women from Criswell College, and a Master of Arts in Theological Studies from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary.
Connect with Jacki on Twitter and Instagram at @JackiCKing
More from Jacki
