Growing up, Becky Thompson of Oklahoma had three things on her future to-do list: marry a pastor, become a mom and be a fellowshipper to her Christian congregation.
"I mean, some girls grow up dreaming of what they want to be, and I grew up dreaming of what God might use me to do to advance his kingdom," Thompson writes in her new book, "Hope Unfolding: Grace-Filled Truth for the Momma's Heart." "I had encountered God at a very young age, and I wanted to see other peoples lives transformed by an encounter with Jesus as well. More than anything else, I wanted to be that person who led others to him.
Having a relationship with God came naturally for Thompson. Feeling her own father's love helped her understand God's love at an early age.
After marrying the love of her life, Jared, who was not a pastor but a pipeline welder and volunteer firefighter, and while raising her 6-month-old son in her in-laws' basement, Thompson saw no obvious way to share her faith and became discouraged.
Only a few short years later, however, Thompson had the opportunity to influence not only her community but also millions of women around the world.
Thompson grew up in a family of journalists, but she had never been a writer. Yet after starting a fashion blog titled Scissortail Silk in 2013, Thompson had the impression that she needed to post about more than just clothes. She began writing about spiritual moments from her everyday life and found others were interested.
Her blog following grew, and after she published a post titled "To Wives: Before You Were Mommy," Thompson's readership jumped from 1,000 views per month to 1 million monthly views.
"My secret is that I write to myself," Thompson said. "I write these letters to the mom in Chick-fil-A, and I was the mom in Chick-fil-A. Oftentimes they are just the truth that I need to hear and things that I wished someone had told me or what I hear the Father say specifically to my heart. I believe that his love is not biased, so if I need to hear that truth, then I know there are other moms who need to hear it as well. I began to write as I began to listen to what God was saying to me."
Thompson's readership continued to grow as she wrote about mothers who experience miscarriages, mothers who feel overwhelmed, mothers who take their families to church and mothers who want to improve their marriages.
Comments and emails flooded Thompson's inbox as women around the world expressed gratitude for her words of encouragement. At the end of her first year of writing, Thompson's blog had visitors from almost every country.
Thompson read about the struggles of these visitors, their concerns and fears. As she began to pray for them and to reflect on her own life, Thompson recognized several lies that women tend to believe.
"I dont think that anybody else is harder on themselves than a woman," Thompson said. "We buy into those lies often: I need to try harder. I need to do better. If I did this, then I would be more confident. If I did that, then my kids would respond differently. If I could show my husband I loved him, then maybe we wouldnt fight as much. If I was a better friend, then maybe I would have more friends. We put a lot of what is going on around us on ourselves. We try to control it. We hold the weight of our world around us on our own shoulders, and we try to carry it all, and I feel like God is continually coming alongside us and saying, 'Let me carry it for you,' and 'Ive already taken care of this for you.' There is a completion in the work of Christ that allows us to stand firm and stand strong."
Thompson's desire to continue sharing these messages grew. When a publishing company contacted her in the summer of 2014 about writing a book, she knew it was the direction she needed to go.
On March 17, 2016, Thompson released her book, "Hope Unfolding."
"I had just thought, If I have something to say and this many people are interested in it, maybe God could use this in a different way, in a different area,'" Thompson said.
Like her blog, Thompson's book addresses struggles women may experience: making comparisons, feeling lost and coming to terms with derailed dreams. Most of all, Thompson shares her own thoughts and experiences that help draw her and her family closer to God. The following are excerpts from Thompson's book:
"It really is, its all him," Thompson said. "Hes the one who reveals himself to us. Hes the one who is continually speaking to us."
As Thompson shares messages of inspiration with women around the world, she is also inspired by the simple moments in her own life. While sitting on her porch with her family recently, doing nothing in particular, Thompson was reminded why motherhood is important.
"It was just the simplicity of nothing spectacular happening but everything important in the same place," Thompson said. "What I love the most about being a mom is being trusted to care for their hearts and then understanding Gods love for me in a whole new way as I pour out my love on my kids."
"I mean, some girls grow up dreaming of what they want to be, and I grew up dreaming of what God might use me to do to advance his kingdom," Thompson writes in her new book, "Hope Unfolding: Grace-Filled Truth for the Momma's Heart." "I had encountered God at a very young age, and I wanted to see other peoples lives transformed by an encounter with Jesus as well. More than anything else, I wanted to be that person who led others to him.
Having a relationship with God came naturally for Thompson. Feeling her own father's love helped her understand God's love at an early age.
After marrying the love of her life, Jared, who was not a pastor but a pipeline welder and volunteer firefighter, and while raising her 6-month-old son in her in-laws' basement, Thompson saw no obvious way to share her faith and became discouraged.
Only a few short years later, however, Thompson had the opportunity to influence not only her community but also millions of women around the world.
Thompson grew up in a family of journalists, but she had never been a writer. Yet after starting a fashion blog titled Scissortail Silk in 2013, Thompson had the impression that she needed to post about more than just clothes. She began writing about spiritual moments from her everyday life and found others were interested.
Her blog following grew, and after she published a post titled "To Wives: Before You Were Mommy," Thompson's readership jumped from 1,000 views per month to 1 million monthly views.
"My secret is that I write to myself," Thompson said. "I write these letters to the mom in Chick-fil-A, and I was the mom in Chick-fil-A. Oftentimes they are just the truth that I need to hear and things that I wished someone had told me or what I hear the Father say specifically to my heart. I believe that his love is not biased, so if I need to hear that truth, then I know there are other moms who need to hear it as well. I began to write as I began to listen to what God was saying to me."
Thompson's readership continued to grow as she wrote about mothers who experience miscarriages, mothers who feel overwhelmed, mothers who take their families to church and mothers who want to improve their marriages.
Comments and emails flooded Thompson's inbox as women around the world expressed gratitude for her words of encouragement. At the end of her first year of writing, Thompson's blog had visitors from almost every country.
Thompson read about the struggles of these visitors, their concerns and fears. As she began to pray for them and to reflect on her own life, Thompson recognized several lies that women tend to believe.
"I dont think that anybody else is harder on themselves than a woman," Thompson said. "We buy into those lies often: I need to try harder. I need to do better. If I did this, then I would be more confident. If I did that, then my kids would respond differently. If I could show my husband I loved him, then maybe we wouldnt fight as much. If I was a better friend, then maybe I would have more friends. We put a lot of what is going on around us on ourselves. We try to control it. We hold the weight of our world around us on our own shoulders, and we try to carry it all, and I feel like God is continually coming alongside us and saying, 'Let me carry it for you,' and 'Ive already taken care of this for you.' There is a completion in the work of Christ that allows us to stand firm and stand strong."
Thompson's desire to continue sharing these messages grew. When a publishing company contacted her in the summer of 2014 about writing a book, she knew it was the direction she needed to go.
On March 17, 2016, Thompson released her book, "Hope Unfolding."
"I had just thought, If I have something to say and this many people are interested in it, maybe God could use this in a different way, in a different area,'" Thompson said.
Like her blog, Thompson's book addresses struggles women may experience: making comparisons, feeling lost and coming to terms with derailed dreams. Most of all, Thompson shares her own thoughts and experiences that help draw her and her family closer to God. The following are excerpts from Thompson's book:
- "Motherhood is lonely. Do you ever feel lonely? Friend, it's not just you. Because even on the days when you feel as though you have done it all by yourself. Even on the hard days when you just want help and there is no one to ask. Even on the days when you just don't know how you're going to keep going, the Lord has been with you and will continue to be with you" (Page 80).
- "The Lord wants to be a part of our parenting, and I think more than anything he wants us to entrust our parenting to him. He wants us to trust him to lead us as we turn and lead our children" (Page 199).
- "Remember the two that made the family. Let the Lord lead you both together. Because when the days are endless and the hours short, it will be only his love that keeps you together. It will only be his mercy that gently guides your hearts as one. Hold tightly to one another, and even more tightly to the Lord. There is no greater adventure for you to experience and no greater gift than to walk through parenthood with your best friend" (Page 95).
- "No matter how overlooked or forgotten you believe you are, what you are doing in this season of your life has significance. This time is not simply a waiting period until you get to whatever comes next" (Page 47).
"It really is, its all him," Thompson said. "Hes the one who reveals himself to us. Hes the one who is continually speaking to us."
As Thompson shares messages of inspiration with women around the world, she is also inspired by the simple moments in her own life. While sitting on her porch with her family recently, doing nothing in particular, Thompson was reminded why motherhood is important.
"It was just the simplicity of nothing spectacular happening but everything important in the same place," Thompson said. "What I love the most about being a mom is being trusted to care for their hearts and then understanding Gods love for me in a whole new way as I pour out my love on my kids."