Standing in the Gap: Mother’s Day at St. Paul’s Church
This Sunday, I had the privilege of speaking at St. Paul’s Church for their Mother’s Day service, and I left incredibly encouraged by the conversations and responses afterward.
The message was titled “Standing in the Gap,” and it centered around a simple but powerful truth:
Sometimes the most Christlike thing you can do is simply show up for someone.
The message combined personal story, Scripture, and practical application as we explored how God often works through ordinary people who are willing to step into difficult spaces for others.
A Personal Story That Shaped the Message
I opened by sharing a memory from my teenage years.
At the time, I was playing basketball, and one night the team organized a father-son event. The problem was that my dad was away preaching, and in my mind, that meant I simply wouldn’t get to go.
But my mom noticed my disappointment.
She knew she couldn’t replace my father in that moment, but she also refused to let me carry that disappointment alone. Together, we reached out to a pastor friend who agreed to attend the event with me.
Years later, I still remember that moment—not because everything was perfect, but because someone chose to step into the gap.
That became the heartbeat of the entire sermon.
The Gaps People Carry Every Day
One of the core themes we explored was how many people today are quietly carrying gaps in their lives:
- gaps where support should be
- gaps where encouragement should be
- gaps where guidance should be
- gaps where family or community should be
And while Mother’s Day is a joyful day for many, it can also be painful or complicated for others. Some people walk into church celebrating, while others walk in grieving, exhausted, or feeling alone.
That’s why presence matters so much.
Aaron and Hur: A Biblical Picture of Support
The message then moved into Exodus 17 and the story of Moses during the battle against the Amalekites.
As long as Moses held his hands up, Israel prevailed. But eventually, exhaustion set in. Aaron and Hur stepped beside him and literally helped hold his arms up until sunset.
That image is powerful because it reminds us:
People don’t always need you to replace them. Sometimes they just need help carrying what they can’t carry alone.
That truth resonated deeply throughout the room.
A Challenge to Show Up for Others
Toward the end of the message, I challenged everyone with a simple question:
“Where is God asking you to step into a gap for someone else?”
Maybe that means:
- mentoring a young person
- encouraging a struggling parent
- supporting someone who feels forgotten
- consistently showing up for a friend or family member
Not perfectly.
Not forever.
Just faithfully.
Because you never know how much one moment of presence can impact someone’s life.
Honoring Mothers
Since it was Mother’s Day, I also took time to thank the mothers in the room for the unseen sacrifices they make every day.
So much of what holds families together is the quiet faithfulness of people who continue showing up even when nobody notices.
And that matters more than most people realize.
Final Thoughts from St. Paul’s Church
One of the most encouraging parts of the morning was hearing from people afterward who connected personally with the message. Several shared stories about people who had stepped into gaps in their own lives—and others talked about ways they felt challenged to do the same for someone else.
Moments like that are why I love speaking.
Not because of applause or compliments, but because honest conversations begin to happen when people realize they’re not alone.
And sometimes the most powerful thing we can do is simply be willing to stand beside someone and help carry the weight.
