For Mother’s Day worship, our church leadership asked me to lead with songs that used feminine language for God. I resonated with that thought. But, while I was always taught God was neither male or female, it wasn’t until my 30’s that I made the choice to use gender inclusive language for God; and it wasn’t until the last decade that I’ve been intentional to use feminine language at times in prayer.
First, I tried to find something already out there that used feminine language AND that I was capable of playing on the guitar. That proved too great of a challenge given my guitar skills. So I looked through the music I have, and tried to find one to adapt the lyrics. “Shout to the Lord” grabbed me.
For a few days, I took a list of bible verses that use feminine language and imagery for God, meditating on them, letting them marinate. Then I sat down to adapt the lyrics with these verses as a guide.
I want to name that even though I wanted to do this, even though I know all the images came directly from the bible, the first few times I sang it I stumbled over calling God “Mother”. I wish it wasn’t the case, but there are still things that keep me from fully embracing truths I believe. You might stumble over this, too. That’s ok. I still think it’s good to try.
We sing this to the same Triune God we always have—God who is beyond gender, who is beyond feminine or masculine categories.
One last thought: lists of “feminine” and “masculine” characteristics are definitely culturally defined. With the image of God as our Mother, I didn’t want to just use what our society names as feminine traits. Mothers aren’t only nurturing, they are also fierce and strong and protectors. I think we do harm to all, whether male, female, or non-binary, if we let socially prescribed traits define a gender…or our God.
Shout to our Mother
Our great God, our Mother, thank you for giving us life
leading us on, hovering strong, teaching us to walk and run
Our comfort, our shelter, fierce as a Mother Bear
let every breath, all that I am, never cease to worship you
Shout to our God, all the earth, let us sing
Her compassion and strength, let our praises ring
mountains bow down and the seas will roar at the sound of Her name
Your faithful love takes us up in Your arms
You gather us in, keep us safe in the storm
nothing compares to the strength we receive from You
Thanks to Nate Macy, we recorded the song with daughter Aubrey and me on vocals, son-in-law Nolan Koskela-Staples on bass, and Nate with the keys, drums, arrangement, and mix.
Here are the verses I was meditating upon:
Genesis 1:27 Women and Men created in God’s image
“Humankind was created as God’s reflection: in the divine image God created them; female and male, God made them.”
Hosea 11:3-4 God described as a mother
God: “Yet it was I who taught Ephraim to walk, I who took them up in my arms; but they did not know that I healed them. I led them with cords of human kindness, with bands of love. I was to them like those who lift infants to their cheeks. I bent down to them and fed them.”
Hosea 13:8 God described as a mother bear
“Like a bear robbed of her cubs, I will attack them and tear them asunder…”
Deuteronomy 32:11-12 God described as a mother eagle
“Like the eagle that stirs up its nest, and hovers over its young, God spreads wings to catch you, and carries you on pinions.”
Deuteronomy 32:18 God who gives birth
“You were unmindful of the Rock that bore you; you forgot the God who gave you birth.”
Isaiah 66:13 God as a comforting mother
God: “As a mother comforts her child, so I will comfort you; you shall be comforted in Jerusalem.”
Isaiah 49:15 God compared to a nursing mother
God: “Can a woman forget her nursing child, or show no compassion for the child of her womb? Even these may forget, yet I will not forget you.”
Isaiah 42:14 God as a woman in labor
God: “For a long time I have held my peace, I have kept myself still and restrained myself; now I will cry out like a woman in labor, I will gasp and pant.”
Psalm 131:2 God as a Mother
“But I have calmed and quieted my soul, like a weaned child with its mother; my soul is like the weaned child that is with me.”
Psalm 123:2-3 God compared to a woman
“As the eyes of a servant looks to the hand of their master, as the eyes of a maid to the hand of her mistress, so our eyes look to you, YHWH, until you show us your mercy!”
Matthew 23:37 and Luke 13:34 God as a Mother Hen
Jesus: “Jerusalem, Jerusalem, the city that kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to it! How often have I desired to gather your children together as a hen gathers her brood under her wings, and you were not willing!”
Luke 15:8-10 God as woman looking for her lost coin
Jesus: “Or what woman having ten silver coins, is she loses one of them, does not light a lamp, sweep the house, and search carefully until she finds it? When she has found it, she calls together her friends and neighbors saying, ‘Rejoice with me, for I have found the coin that I had lost.’ Just so, I tell you, there is joy in the presence of the angels of God over one sinner who repents.”