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For the longest time, I lived with a weight on my shoulders that I didn’t even realize I was carrying. I thought my relationship with God was a ladder I had to climb. Every morning, the same questions would loop in my head:
- Am I praying enough?
- Am I reading Scripture enough?
- Am I just… doing enough?
Honestly? Most days I felt like I was falling short. Caught between the chaotic pace of motherhood and the mental load I was carrying, my intended ‘quiet time’ shrunk into a ‘quick time’—and the guilt was palpable. I often felt like the weary soul described in Matthew 11:28, carrying burdens I was never meant to hold alone.
The Shift: Moving From Performance to Relationship
But then, I stumbled across a perspective that completely changed how I approach my faith. I realized I had it backward. I thought I was the one doing all the chasing, trying to catch up to a God who was always five miles ahead of me.
But what if I’m not the one chasing God? What if He’s been chasing me all along?
This is the beauty of the Good Shepherd. As it says in Psalm 23:6, “Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life.” That word “follow” in the original language actually carries the weight of “pursue”—God’s goodness is actively hunting us down.
He Loved You “First”
There’s a verse that has become an anchor for my soul when I feel like I’m failing as a Christian mom:
“We love because He first loved us.” (1 John 4:19)
That word first is everything. Before I ever figured out how to pray, before I stayed consistent with my Bible reading, and before I ever felt like a “strong” Christian, He loved me.
As Romans 5:8 reminds us: “But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” He wasn’t waiting for me to get my act together to start pursuing me. He started the pursuit before I even knew I needed Him.
A Message for the Exhausted Mama
I know there are so many of you reading this who feel exactly where I was. You are looking for faith-based encouragement to help you get through the day.
- Maybe you’re a new believer trying to learn the ropes.
- Maybe you’re an exhausted mama who can barely keep your eyes open for a one-sentence prayer at night.
- Maybe you feel like you’re constantly “starting over” in your faith.
If that’s you, please hear this: Your relationship with God was never meant to be built on pressure. You aren’t chasing a distant, disappointed God. You are being pursued by a loving Father. Think of Zephaniah 3:17: “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in his love he will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.”
He sees you in the chaos, in the exhaustion, and in the moments where you feel like “not enough.” He is singing over you, not scolding you.
Changing the Question: Where is God Showing Up?
This realization changed my entire day-to-day life. Instead of waking up and asking, “Am I doing enough for God today?” I started asking:
“Where is God already showing up in my life?”
Once you start looking for His fingerprints on your day—in the sunrise, in a child’s laugh, or in a moment of peace during nap time—you can’t unsee it. As James 1:17 says, every good gift we receive comes from Him. You aren’t striving to create something with God; you are simply responding to the love He’s already pouring out.
Recommended Devotional for Moms
If you are looking for a grace-based daily devotional for moms that helps you recenter your heart on His love rather than a checklist of spiritual chores, I highly recommend picking up a copy of He Gives More Grace by Sarah Walton, Linda Green, and Erin Davis. It helps me focus on His finished work rather than my own performance.
Final Encouragement
You don’t have to earn His love. You don’t have to prove your worth through a checklist of spiritual chores. You are already loved—deeply, fully, and first.
The love you feel for Him? It didn’t start with you. It started with Him loving you. Rest in that today, mama.
