Welcome to Week 2 of the #SheChoseCourage Blog Series! In today's post, we feature a special guest, Natasha Smith-Chambers, who shares her insights on courage in motherhood.
Before I became a mother, I thought courage meant standing in front of a crowd, taking risks in my career, or speaking boldly about what I believed. And yes, that is courage. But motherhood introduced me to another kind that requires waiting, trusting, and surrendering control.
Personally, courage looked like waiting on God’s perfect timing. Although my pregnancy was planned, there were specific challenges I faced that tested my resilience. I even had moments where I questioned whether I could conceive at all. My studies had been delayed, and I was trying to conceive, but it wasn’t happening.
It wasn’t until I was well into my pregnancy and nearing graduation that I remembered a distinct prayer I had made years before. I had asked God to allow me to graduate while carrying my baby. And that’s exactly what He did. I realised then that what had felt like a delay was actually divine alignment. Courage began to look like trusting God even when the path wasn’t what I had imagined, because He was honouring a prayer I had long forgotten. Motherhood didn’t just teach me courage; it revealed it in me.
Related: Embracing the Courage to Live Again
Motherhood taught me to trust God in deeper, more intimate ways. From pregnancy to the unpredictability of newborn days, I found myself clinging to scriptures like Proverbs 3:5-6: “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding.” I quickly learned that my instincts are a gift, and advocating for my child, whether in a doctor’s office or through parenting decisions, became a vital part of my divine assignment.
Gone were the days of chasing perfection. I released the pressure to be a flawless mom and embraced the grace of simply being present. Walking away from a traditional career to raise my child and create content that uplifts others required a type of courage I didn’t know I had. I had to redefine what success looked like, shifting my goals and finding fulfilment in the life I am creating.
Perhaps most beautifully, I’ve learned to prioritise legacy over approval. Every lullaby, every prayer, every hug is part of the legacy I’m building for my child. I reflect often on the sacrifices I’ve made, leaving behind a traditional career, and I appreciate both the challenges and unexpected rewards that have come with it. In all these small, sacred acts, I find myself becoming a woman of quiet, consistent courage.
Courage in motherhood isn’t always loud. Sometimes it whispers, “You’re doing your best, and that’s enough.” If you’re a mother reading this, I want you to know: every time you get back up, try again, or whisper a prayer over your child, you’re walking in courage. Keep going. You were made for this.
Visit Simply Candi Nicole and Nerline Germain's blogs to read their perspectives on this series.
Simply Candi Nicole: 10 Ways Motherhood Made Me Courageous.
Nerline Germain: Redefining Courage: How Motherhood Became My Greatest Teacher
That's a beautifully written article. Thank you for sharing your story with us.
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