Table of Contents
Finding Your Anchor
I hear the most incessant sound, like nails on a chalkboard. I barely crack my eyes open and realize it’s my morning alarm sounding off. Let me just say, I find no other sound more obnoxious than that of my alarm when I’m running on little sleep.
Of course, I have about two seconds to turn it off before I end up waking the whole house, so I quickly shut it off and force myself to get my feet to the floor as fast as I can so I don’t fall asleep again.
With heavy eyes, I make my way to the kitchen and pour myself a strong, hot cup of coffee. One reprieve is that my house is completely silent… for now. It won’t last long.
Soon enough, my home will be filled with the sounds of little feet running down the hall, the jibber-jabber of morning cartoons, and the endearing (or not-so-endearing) symphony of my children either playing or bickering.
Usually, if I’m lucky, I get an hour to myself before all the commotion starts. In that quick sliver of time, I love diving into my Bible. Over the past four or five years, my faith has grown to be an anchor in my life. I find that studying the Word has become a source of grounding and clarity for me.
However, since my life is far from perfect, my quiet time is more often than not interrupted—by life, by work, by the needs of my children, and by the many little compounding demands that make up my day.
In fact, writing this weekly blog often takes me several days to complete because of the endless interruptions and the very minimal time I have to enjoy “me time.”
Now, if you’ve been following my message for any amount of time, you’ll know that I don’t believe in perfection when trying to balance faith and family. Perfection doesn’t exist.
All any of us can do is simply show up every chance we get. And when we do make the time, it’s not about how long we spend. Whether it’s 10 minutes or an hour, the main goal is to show up with intention, love, and a little grace for ourselves when things don’t go as planned.
The Importance of Faith in Motherhood
There is no doubt that motherhood never fails to pull everything out of us. We give it all: our strength, patience, and resilience. And just when we think we’ve given everything, we are asked to dig even deeper—just a little bit more. This is the reality, day in and day out.
Needless to say, our faith can be a lifeline in those moments when we feel like we just can’t give any more. Our faith provides the quiet assurance that we do have the strength and resilience to go a bit longer and give a bit more, because ultimately, we are not facing any of it alone.
Our faith grounds us like an anchor. It guides us like a lighthouse. It helps us feel found and saved when the enemy wants us to feel lost and hopeless.
In the knee-deep messiness of it all, God’s Word offers us the ultimate wisdom our hearts need. You won’t find this peace in just any book, and definitely not from social media reels. It comes from one place and one place only—God’s timeless truth in the Holy Bible.
Dig into these little moments, no matter how brief. Hold on to them throughout your day, and allow them to keep you rooted in His unending grace and guidance.
Let them be your strength because God’s power has no limits. Give in to the forgiveness and mercy these moments offer you, and then pass it forward to your children—knowing they are just as flawed, and at times as frustrating in your eyes, as you have been to the Lord on more than one occasion.
Making Time for Faith
Let’s talk about making time. Sounds easier said than done, right? Your typical day might feel more like a juggling act. I spend my day switching between mom, businesswoman, cook, teacher, nurse, counselor, and mediator multiple times.
So carving out regular time to be with the Lord can feel more like wishful thinking than reality.
Over the last several years on my walk with God, I’ve realized that I don’t necessarily have designated blocks of time. Sure, those are amazing when life permits, but for the most part, it’s the small moments throughout the day that make all the difference.
It’s the five minutes in between work meetings, the short prayer I say in my mind as I stir the kids’ mac and cheese, or the quiet gratitude I feel when I sneak a hug and kiss from my children after lunch before diving back into work for the rest of the afternoon.
If you’re new on this journey and don’t know how to start, are struggling to find the time, or are simply looking for more ways to remain connected to God throughout the day, here are a few simple ideas to get you motivated:
Start the Day with Prayer or Scripture
This can mean taking just five minutes to pray right after you wake up or as you sip on your coffee. A simple prayer focusing on gratitude or asking for help and guidance with something specific can anchor your mind for the whole day.
If you have time to read a whole chapter from your Bible—amazing! If not, that’s okay too. Use a daily devotional to focus on one scripture for the day.
Do this consistently every day for the next 30 days, and I promise you will see and feel an impactful difference in your mood, the quality of your interactions, and your overall sense of peace and fulfillment.
Pray During Mundane Tasks
Folding laundry? Pray. Cooking dinner? Pray. Driving the kids to their activities? Pray.
Oftentimes, these are some of my favorite moments to pray because they are simple, genuine, and deeply personal. My prayers are not fancy, but they are heartfelt and not focused on any kind of prose.
This is a simple way to bring your faith into everyday actions, turning the mundane into something truly meaningful.
If you’re having trouble figuring out what to say, here are some examples of prayers. You can use these, tweak them to make them your own, and, with time, simply speak from your heart:
Folding Laundry Prayer
“Thank you, Lord, for the gift of these clean clothes. We are so blessed to have these conveniences so that we are never cold or dirty.
None of these luxuries would be possible without You.
I thank You for my job [or my spouse’s job] that allows us to afford these clothes and appliances. We never have to know what it’s like to lack adequate clothing or shoes because of Your love and grace.
In Jesus’ name, I thank You for this gift. Amen.”
Cooking Dinner Prayer
“Thank you, Lord, for the food I am making tonight. We are never without and are blessed with abundance.
I’m grateful my family never has to know what it means to go without food, suffer starvation, or lack clean water to drink and cook with.
You are a generous God who gives us more than we need. We owe our health to You.
You nourish our bodies with food and feed our souls with the bread of life. No amount of thanks will ever be enough. We love You, Lord.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.”
Driving Prayer
“Thank you, Lord, for this moment. I am so lucky I get to take my kids to their [insert your child’s activity].
Be with them, guide them, and speak to them wherever they go. Cover them in Your divine grace and protect their souls from any negative intentions or influences by the enemy.
I am blessed to be their mother, but they ultimately belong to You. I am here to do Your will toward them.
Help me raise them to be faithful disciples who are steadfast and anchored in You and Your Word. We are so blessed to know You, God. Help us know You even more.
In Jesus’ name. Amen.”
Use Devotionals, Podcasts, and Audiobooks
Devotionals and faith-based podcasts are short but powerful ways to incorporate faith into your daily life. Devotionals don’t take more than 10 to 15 minutes of your time, and podcasts can be listened to while you get ready in the morning, drive to work, or do house chores.
They help reset your mindset to focus on the divine and how God can and should be interwoven into every aspect of your life. You can find 10 minutes in the morning or 30 minutes while commuting to work or the grocery store to listen to the Word.
My husband loves his audio version of the KJV Bible and listens to it every time he’s in the car. He swears it has made all the difference in his ability to be more rooted and committed in his spiritual journey.
Involving the Family in Your Faith Journey
One of the greatest joys you’ll find is bringing your family along with you on your faith journey. Personally, I can tell you that watching my kids pray, ask questions (especially my oldest), and start to develop their own connection with faith is an incredible gift.
My youngest has even recently started asking to go to church. My oldest has a children’s Bible with illustrations, and she loves to sit down and read it on her own.
I’m not insinuating that you should be forcing anything on them. Rather, I’m saying you have an opportunity to invite them to something so beautiful and steadfast that it will carry them through a lifetime.
If you’re looking for ideas on how to bring faith into your family, here are a few ideas you can try:
Family Prayer Time
You can pray together at bedtime, before meals, or even on the drive to school. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy.
Sometimes, it’s just about saying, “Thank you for this day.” This simple act will soon become a foundational part of their lives that will bring them peace and strength when they need it the most.
Most importantly, it teaches them to develop a personal relationship with the Lord.
Reading Together and Open Conversations
Read a children’s Bible or faith-based book together. Use this opportunity to open up a safe space for questions and conversation.
You will learn so much more about your children and the inner workings of their minds and hearts. As adults, we often forget that no matter how young, our children are people with thoughts, doubts, fears, and emotions of their own.
Sometimes, we lose track of just how much information and confusion they are trying to navigate and sort through. Teaching them to develop and draw on their faith will help them create a firm foundation to handle life’s challenges.
Celebrating Faith Traditions
From observing faith-based holidays to attending church every week, these actions help you connect as a family and with the greater community of Christ’s followers. Currently, my family and I are isolating from large crowds to help our youngest protect his suppressed immune system, so we rely heavily on our church’s ability to livestream on social media.
This means every Sunday morning and Wednesday evening, our living room becomes our church. We sing worship music together and listen to the teachings of the Word as a family.
Of course, it’s not the same as being a part of communal worship, but this proves that you can still find a way to make family worship work even in imperfect circumstances. Remember, balancing faith and family has nothing to do with forcing some perceived ideal or unrealistic perfect picture.
It’s simply about making room for our faith and inviting God into our everyday life. It’s about cradling ourselves in those moments, no matter how brief, and sharing them with those we love.
7-Day Faith & Family Balance Challenge
If you’re ready to invite more balance, faith, and peace into your and your family’s life, I encourage you to take this simple 7-day challenge. These small, meaningful steps will help guide you along your journey.
Day 1: Morning Quiet Time
Focus: Start your day with a moment of peace.
Challenge: Spend 5-10 minutes in quiet reflection or prayer before your family wakes up. If mornings are hectic, take a few deep breaths and say a quick prayer over your day.
Reflection: How did this time affect your mood and perspective as the day unfolded?
Day 2: Pray During a Mundane Task
Focus: Weave faith into your daily routine.
Challenge: Choose one everyday task—like folding laundry, doing dishes, or driving—and spend that time in prayer.
Reflection: How did this small change shift your perspective on an ordinary activity?
Day 3: Family Gratitude Moment
Focus: Involve your family in gratitude.
Challenge: Before dinner or bedtime, have each family member share one thing they are thankful for, big or small.
Reflection: Did this create new insights or bonding moments within your family?
Day 4: Scripture Together
Focus: Share a meaningful scripture with your family.
Challenge: Read a short Bible verse with your family (or share it in the car or during a meal). Briefly discuss what it means to each of you.
Reflection: How did it feel to share faith in a simple, everyday setting?
Day 5: Family Prayer Time
Focus: Spend time in prayer together.
Challenge: Have a 5-minute family prayer time. It could be at bedtime, before school, or any other time that works. Encourage your kids to share anything they’d like to pray about.
Reflection: How did this prayer time impact the mood and connection in your family?
Day 6: Faith-Based Activity
Focus: Create a memorable moment around faith.
Challenge: Choose a simple faith-based activity: read a story, sing a song, or do a small act of kindness together.
Reflection: What did you enjoy most about this time together?
Day 7: Personal Reflection and Gratitude
Focus: Reflect on the week and express gratitude.
Challenge: Take a few minutes to reflect on how incorporating faith affected your family balance this week. Write down three things you’re grateful for from the experience.
Reflection: How did focusing on faith and family this week bring balance or peace to your days?