Motherhood and faith sometimes feel like oil and water—impossible to mix when your hands are full of laundry, dishes, and crying children. In our latest Coffee and Bible Time podcast episode, we dove into the beautiful and challenging intersection of spiritual growth and motherhood, addressing the lies that make moms feel inadequate, and offering practical wisdom for connecting with God in the chaos.
Lie #1: “I’m alone in this.”
So much of early motherhood is spent having a lot of quality time with one person: the baby. And that’s a good thing! Forming a bond and making sure your child knows that his or her needs will be lovingly met is a vital part of life—for both mama and baby.
But when tiring days stretch long into the night, when you’ve only had three hours of consecutive sleep, when every time your child cries your body is jolted with a shock of anxiety—it’s easy to feel like no one in your life understands what you’re going through. If your family lives far away or your partner works late nights, that feeling of isolation only grows.
But here is the truth: you are not alone.
Throughout the New Testament, believers are described as ‘the body of Christ’: the physical representatives of Jesus on earth, empowered and unified by the Holy Spirit (See 1 Corinthians 12:12-27; Romans 12:4-5; Ephesians 1:22-23, 2:19-22, 4:14-15). Christ is always with us: and when you need a hug, motherly advice, or sisterly laughter, he gave us the church.
Are there any local churches in your area that have a mom group? Are there any pastors who could connect you with some godly women who can relate to what you’re going through? Find your mom friends, and fight off loneliness together.
Lie #2: “I need to be like [insert friend, influencer, or celebrity] in order to be a good mom.”
When you have a baby, everyone seems to have an opinion on every part of it, from pregnancy to doulas to bassinets. This has probably been true since Eve’s daughters gave birth, but with social media, it’s easier than ever to be overwhelmed by what the entire world thinks you should be doing. The constant barrage of “expert” influencers who seem to have mastered sleep training, baby-led weaning, and handling tantrums can leave everyday mothers feeling woefully inadequate.
Ashley shared how she ultimately had to cut off mom-related social media content because those external voices were drowning out her own maternal instincts—instincts she believes God purposefully placed within each mother. While social media (or your well-meaning neighbor) can provide helpful tips, they can also undermine a mother’s confidence in her ability to care for her own child.
The truth? No one knows your baby like you do. Filter the input you receive, and get wisdom from people you trust, and ultimately, turn to God when you’re at the end of your rope rather than scrolling through contradictory opinions online.
Lie #3: “If I were a better person/mother/wife, I wouldn’t feel angry, frustrated, or lonely.”
We’ll jump straight to the truth here: negative emotions don’t indicate moral failure. They are signals that something is going on that needs your attention. Your emotions aren’t character flaws! What might happen if you stopped trying to suppress your emotions and instead acknowledged them, explored their roots, and addressed their causes?
Maybe you’re frustrated with your baby because you’re exhausted. Maybe you’re snapping at your husband because you’re lonely and need more adult connection. Naming these emotions allows you to take constructive action—asking your partner for help, planning a family visit, or scheduling a babysitter so you can rest.
God designed us with a full emotional range, and noticing those feelings can prevent the inevitable explosion that comes from burying them.
Lie #4: “God is mad at me because I’m not spending time with him now that I’ve had a baby.”
If you used to have a color-coordinated highlight system for your Bible study and a prayer journal organized alphabetically by name… if your daily or weekly time with Jesus has now been lost in the pile of laundry…you are not alone! And you are not a ‘bad Christian’ because your relationship with God looks different now.
Finding God’s presence in the midst of motherhood chaos requires creativity and intentionality. For new mothers especially, traditional spiritual disciplines like extended Bible study may need a temporary adaptation.
There are simple practices to help bridge this gap. Try writing a single verse on a sticky note and put it where you’ll see it throughout the day. Turn mundane activities like folding laundry into moments of prayer, or temporarily fast from social media to create pockets of mental space for conversation with God. These small acts of spiritual attention can transform ordinary moments into sacred encounters, helping you maintain connection with God even during a season when a formal “quiet time” is impossible.
Beloved sister, here is the truth: you are doing better than you think. Every diaper you change, every sob you soothe, every dish you wash or spit-up you wipe is an act of worship and love. We pray that God will open your eyes to how pleased he is with your faithfulness in this time.
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