7-Day Study for Moms to Find Strength, Purpose, and Grace in Every Season

“For you created my inmost being; you knit me together in my mother’s womb. I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well. My frame was not hidden from you when I was made in the secret place, when I was woven together in the depths of the earth. Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:13-16).

“She is clothed with strength and dignity; she can laugh at the days to come. She speaks with wisdom, and faithful instruction is on her tongue” (Proverbs 31:25-26).

When I was pregnant with my third child, God whispered something preposterous into my heart. He told me I was going to adopt one day. Nothing about my story up to that point made me believe adoption was in my future; if anything, the more pregnant I became, the more sure I was ready to be done adding little ones to our crew.

But God knows all things, and he was preparing my heart for the children I had never imagined to be mine. I was made a mom on purpose, for a purpose, and the same is true for you.

This journey of motherhood is a wild one, filled with twists, turns, heartache, mistakes, anger, joy, anxiety, and the fiercest love. God clothes us with what we need to mother our children well. He is faithful to give us the wisdom and instruction we need as we show our kids His ways, shepherding their hearts.

God saw us – He knew the plans He had for us – even before we were born. Don’t doubt your role. Don’t let comparison get you down. You are the best mom for your kids because God placed your family together by His grace.

Reflection Questions

1. Where do I struggle to believe I am enough as a mother?

2. How can I trust God to lead me as a parent?

Let’s Pray

Father,

I thank you that you know me, you formed me, and you have a purpose and a plan for me as a mother. I thank you for my children, for the gift they are to me. Thank you for all the ways you strengthen me, guide me, and provide the wisdom and knowledge I need. Forgive me for the moments I have taken this role lightly, have compared myself to others, or have not been diligent as a mother. Let your grace cover my parenting.

Amen. 

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“Do you not know? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator of the ends of the earth. He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom. He gives strength to the weary and increases the power of the weak. Even youths grow tired and weary, and young men stumble and fall; but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint” (Isaiah 40:28-31).

“Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy and my burden is light” (Matthew 11:28-30).

You really don’t understand what exhaustion is until motherhood. Sure, I had some sleepless nights in college. Maybe some days I pushed myself too hard, but nothing prepared me for the bone-deep exhaustion that accompanies motherhood. It starts in pregnancy. The way I knew I was pregnant with my second child was not through a pregnancy test; it was the onslaught of utter exhaustion that hit the moment the baby started to grow. 

As our kids age, the reasons for that exhaustion seem to expand. Worry, sickness, conflict, bad dreams, busy schedules, and on the list goes! This role requires more than we physically have to give on our own. We need the strength of the Lord when we grow weary.

As we grow tired, we are invited to come to the Lord and cast our cares upon Him. When we don’t have the answers, we bring our tears to Jesus, seeking His easy yoke. He won’t let us faint. If you are feeling burnt out, come to Jesus and ask for renewed strength.

Reflection Questions

1. What requires most of my energy in this season?

2. How can I lean on God for renewed strength on this journey?

Let’s Pray

Father,

You know my circumstances better than anyone. I ask that in this season you would provide the renewal and rest that I so desperately need. Exchange my heavy burden for your light one. Help me not to faint. I need you.

Amen.

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“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus” (Romans 8:1).

“Because of the LORD’s great love, we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

We are living in wild times as parents! With the invention of social media, expectations around parenthood have intensified significantly since our parents were doing this job. Guilt is pushing us to our limits as adults. God invites us to let go of these unrealistic expectations and parent under His umbrella of grace.

Our role as parents is to be faithful to our families, not to achieve perfection. Grace means that God can even turn our worst parenting moments into beautiful opportunities for growth in our homes. We can model for our children, show them how to apologize, and try again. Remember His mercy is new every morning. You have all the grace you need to get through today.

Reflection Questions

1. What guilt am I holding onto unnecessarily?

2. How does God’s grace change how I see myself?

Let’s Pray

Father,

I ask that you would help me let go of any unrealistic expectations I am living under as a mother. Help me to daily lean into your mercy and grace. Cover my sins with your love. Bring growth from failure. Free my heart from any shame that has burdened me as mother. Cover our home in your grace.

Amen.

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“Love the LORD your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength. These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down, and when you get up” (Deuteronomy 6:5-7).

I have prayed pray this verse over my children every night before they go to bed, as long as I can remember. My daughter calls it the bedtime song, even though I’m not singing it, but I must say it with a specific cadence she has memorized. This was the verse I chose to impart to them because it encapsulates my number one goal for my children: that they grow to be people who love the Lord with all their hearts, souls, and strength. Nothing else matters more than this.

In parenthood, our faith is caught by our kids more than it is taught, meaning how we live out our faith personally matters most. Simply put, we have to practice what we preach. And we have to pray diligently for our kids that God would capture their hearts. We cannot control who our kids become; their faith one day must become their own, but with prayer and practice, we offer them the best chance of making Jesus Lord of their lives.

Reflection Questions

1. How am I currently modeling my faith to my children?

2. How can I start praying more diligently for my children to grow to know the Lord?

Let’s Pray

Father,

Show me your ways and teach me your path. Show me the best way to follow you with a sincere heart so I can be a good model of what faith in action can be for my kids. Help me to be more diligent in my prayers for my children. I ask that they encounter you as they grow. That you would capture their hearts.

Amen.

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“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity” (Colossians 3:12-14).

Our kids know us better than probably anyone else in our lives. They see the best of us and the worst of us. Somehow, our kids have a magic ability to get on our very last nerves, pulling the beast out of us from time-to-time.

While there is grace for our failure as parents, we are striving to reflect God’s character at home as much as we can. When our patience is limited, our fuse is short, and our energy is zapped, it’s really, really hard to reflect God’s character at home.

I’ve learned the very hard way, as I’ve experienced post-partum depression/anxiety, bouts of burnout, blocked care with my adoptive daughter, and more, that when my mind and body are overrun, my ability to love my children well plummets. As a result, I’ve realized that I must be relentless in my efforts to care for my nervous system so I can be the mom I want to be.

For me keys to this include regular body movement, chiropractic care, daily quality nutrition, regular retreats, therapy (at times), regular spiritual connection (prayer, Bible Study, community), and adequate rest. Practical care of our bodies has spiritual impacts on our homes. Take care of yourself so you can be a woman who reflects God’s character in your home.

Reflection Questions

1. In what situation do you find your patience running thin the most?

2. How can you take steps to protect your mind and body so you can better love your family?

Let’s Pray

Father,

I ask that you would give me a gentle and quiet Spirit. Help me to love my people well. To embody patience and grace. Show me how to best care for myself so that I can best care for my family. Renew my strength each day.

Amen.

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“’For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the LORD, ‘plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11).

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight” (Proverbs 3:5-6).

God loves our children more than we do. It’s so important to remember that. The God of all Creation walks with your child, knows them, loves them, guides them, and has a plan for their lives.

We often carry an unnecessarily heavy burden of worry for our kids, believing that it’s in our control and our duty to ensure every part of our kids' lives is free of difficulty. We want to be God for our kids, but unfortunately, no matter how vigilant we are as parents, only God knows the plans He has for our kids' lives. Ultimately, we are called to trust God with our kids' lives. 

We faithfully pray for them rather than constantly fear for them. We trade our anxiety for the expectation that there is a hope and a future in store for our kids. We have to surrender our kids to God’s care as parents. 

Reflection Questions

1. What fears do I have about my children’s future? 

2. How can I surrender my fears to the Lord? 

Let’s Pray

Father,

help me trust you with my children. Show me how to release my worries and need to control over to you. Give them a hope and a future by your grace. Work every part of their story out for their good and your glory. Show me how to lean on you as a mother.

Amen.

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“I am reminded of your sincere faith, which first lived in your grandmother Lois and in your mother Eunice and, I am persuaded, now lives in you also” (2 Timothy 1:5).

“We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the Lord, his power, and the wonders he has done” (Psalm 78:4).

The most important work you will ever do happens within the walls of your home. Your legacy is built in ordinary moments of diaper changing, boo-boo bandaging, and bedtime story reading. Our faith is passed from one generation to the next through those random deep car ride conversations, dinnertime prayers, and before-school hugs.

We must not grow weary of the good work of mothering, as there is a reward to be gained. We have the chance to share God’s love with our kids, the ones we love the very most. Stay the course. Be diligent in the simple things so your faith can become your legacy. 

Reflection Questions

1. How can I be intentional about imparting my faith to my kids?

2. Which simple moments mean the most to you as a mother?

Let’s Pray

God,

I ask that by your grace, I would leave a legacy of faith. Give me the right words to share with my kids when they come to me with their questions. Show me how to be faithful to show up in the simple moments that communicate to their souls that they are loved. Help me find the best rhythms for our day that remind them that Jesus is at the center of our home.

Amen.

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