Where Does a Mother’s Fierce Love Come From?

There’s something sacred about the heart of a mother. The way she keeps watch at night, steps in without hesitation, and loves with a depth that defies exhaustion. Her love is strong, persistent, and willing to sacrifice everything for her children. But where does that kind of fierce, unwavering love come from?

Maybe it’s because a mother’s heart reflects the very heart of God.

Psalm 91 reveals a picture of divine love that feels familiar to any mom. It opens with this invitation: “Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.” God isn’t distant or cold—He’s a shelter. A covering. A safe place. Isn’t that what a mother longs to be for her children?

When danger threatens, a mother becomes a protector. So does God. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge” (Psalm 91:4). There’s imagery here of a parent shielding their young, refusing to let harm come near. The same way a mother instinctively throws out her arm to guard her child in a sudden stop—God reaches to shield His children in life’s sudden storms.

But His love isn’t just reactive—it’s present, persistent, and always near. “He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble” (Psalm 91:15). Isn’t that what a child needs most? Not always a solution, but the comfort of knowing Mom is there. Likewise, God assures His children: I’m with you. I hear you. I’ll never leave you alone in the dark.

A mother carries her child’s burdens deep in her own soul. She rejoices when they rejoice and weeps when they suffer. God does the same. He knows every cry, every fear, every step. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him… I will deliver him and honor him” (Psalm 91:14-15). These are the words of a parent who can’t stand to see their child hurt and steps in to help—exactly what mothers do daily.

So maybe that fierce love mothers carry isn’t just human. Maybe it’s divine. A reflection of the very heart of God.

Because just like a mother’s heart beats for her children, God’s heart beats for His.

1. How have you experienced or witnessed a mother’s protective love in your life? In what ways does that love reflect the kind of protection described in Psalm 91?

2. Psalm 91:4 says, “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge.” What does it mean to find refuge in God? How have you experienced that in a season of stress or fear?

3. How does it change your perspective to view God as a parent who is both powerful and deeply nurturing? Why do you think God chose to reveal Himself this way?

4. Verse 15 says, “He will call on me, and I will answer him.”
   How easy or hard is it for you to believe that God listens and answers when you cry out? What helps you grow in that trust?

5. What’s one way you can reflect God’s heart to others this week—whether in friendship, service, or prayer? How can your daily choices express the same kind of love we see in both a mother’s heart and God's?