Finding Courage in Your Calling

 Emily Joan offers encouragement to rise to the unique challenge God has given to us in the calling of motherhood.  

The Church celebrates one of my favorite saints on May 30: Saint Joan of Arc. She also happens to be my Confirmation saint. Years ago, I remember studying many of the saints in preparation for the sacrament, trying my best to choose the one that I wished to emulate the most. As soon as I came upon Saint Joan’s story, I knew my search for my Confirmation saint had ended.

I vividly remember being so drawn to her story, perhaps because she was just a young girl at the time she answered God’s calling. At just 13 years of age, the same age as I was at the time, she started to experience voices from Saint Michael, Saint Margaret of Antioch, and Saint Catherine of Alexandria. These visions told her that she was to save France.

However, what I admired most about Saint Joan, and why I ultimately chose her as my Confirmation saint, was her courage. At just 17, she led the French army to victory in 1429. A few years later, at age 19, she was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431, due to her courageous refusal to deny God. My favorite quote by her is, without a doubt, “I am not afraid … I was born to do this.” Her courage and conviction in God’s plan for her life still inspires me today.

Trusting God’s Plan in Uncertain Seasons

Over the years, I tried my best to be courageous like Joan. Too often, I fell short. I remember when I first became a mother a decade ago, I was so worried about the birth, knowing I would have to have a C-section due to breech positioning. Thankfully, all went well with the delivery, but after that, challenges continued. I felt a lot of confusion as a new mother and was constantly second-guessing myself. Advice was available, but sometimes its prevalence was overwhelming. Over time, I gained confidence simply through trusting my intuition and praying for help daily.

During my second pregnancy, I also felt a lot of uncertainty about a VBAC delivery. I wrestled for weeks about what method of birth God willed me to choose. Ultimately, my second son was born an entire month early, which was a huge surprise. After 31 hours of labor, he was safely delivered via VBAC and born on May 30. I knew this was a sign from God as it was Saint Joan’s feast day! I had prayed so much to God and Saint Joan during that pregnancy and delivery for courage to endure whatever God planned for me.

My third pregnancy happened to be during the global Covid-19 pandemic. The entire change in processes, and the unknowns of it all, were very alarming at the time. This was yet another season where God and Saint Joan helped me have courage to release control to God. With God’s grace, our third son was born on November 1, All Saints’ Day.

God Qualifies the Called

“I command you: be strong and steadfast! Do not fear nor be dismayed, for the Lord, your God, is with you wherever you go.” (Joshua 1:9)

Today, I would like to say I embody Saint Joan’s courage and complete surrender to God’s will for her calling, in my own life. However, if I am being honest, many times, I wrestle with God’s plan for my life and face anxiety about the unknown. I do not do well in situations where I feel out of control. Pregnancy, delivery, recovery, and a lot of motherhood in general, are all situations where so much is out of our control. I believe God gave me the beautiful vocation of motherhood as a constant reminder and challenge for me to release control to Him.

Many times in motherhood, I do not feel equipped to face certain events. That is exactly when I lean on God, Mary, and Saint Joan for help. While I certainly don’t lead an army like Saint Joan did, I do face many challenges with my own army of future saints in my home. I am a firm believer that God’s plan is always best, and that He will provide us what is necessary to fulfill His calling for our lives. The beauty of it all is that when I feel like I don’t have it all figured out, I simply cry out to God for help. Motherhood was never meant to be experienced alone.

Still, I sometimes surprise myself in times of despair. This year has already provided some hard times for our family. A month ago, my oldest son broke his nose in a baseball accident. The result of this has been a costly (and thankfully successful) unexpected surgery, countless follow-ups, and now additional visits with specialists. I was very worried as I watched as my son was wheeled into the surgery room. With God’s help, I put on a calm and supportive face to be my son’s cheerleader that morning.

Be Courageous in your Calling

The next time you feel weak or unworthy of what God may be asking of you in this stage of your life, take a long, proud look in the mirror. You were made in His image and likeness, and you have a calling that only you can fulfill. What a miracle and blessing! In times you feel uncertain of the future, remember the countless ways God has always been there for you in the past. When you face an important decision, are at a crossroads and are unsure of which path to take, lean on the history of how God has always steered you to follow the right one in your past.

For I know well the plans I have in mind for you … plans for your welfare and not for woe, so as to give you a future of hope. (Jeremiah 29:11)

The future is always unknown to us. If you’re anything like me, sometimes that seems scary. However, despite uncertainty of what is to come, we can always find comfort knowing God’s plan always prevails. He will always steer our lives in the course that is best meant for us, in His own time.

Moms Are Prayer Warriors

While I do not have a full suit of armor like Saint Joan, I do have the incredible power of prayer. As mothers, we often are portrayed as gentle, but the truth is, we are the prayer warriors for our families! We’ve been given the strength to lead our families and guide them to defend life’s challenges as they grow up. What a glorious and magnificent calling indeed.

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Copyright 2026 Emily Joan
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