Mommy Needs Jesus

Abiding to Thrive

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  • When We Try to Predict Tomorrow

    Learning to trust God with what’s ahead

    “Therefore, stop worrying about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
    Matthew 6:34

    Last week, while walking and meditating on this verse, the Lord placed a word in my spirit: forecasting.

    To forecast is to predict what is coming next.

    And without realizing it, that is often what worry looks like.

    When we worry about tomorrow, we are filling the unknown with assumptions shaped by what we have already lived through. For many of us, this happens in the middle of ordinary life, while managing households, caring for our families, and trying to hold everything together.

    Most of the time, our forecasts are not hopeful. They are shaped by past disappointments or present struggles. Slowly, that is where trouble begins.

    When We Forecast Without God

    When we try to predict our own future, a few subtle shifts happen in our hearts.

    We begin to guess instead of trust. We lean on experience rather than truth. God’s Word reminds us where truth is found.

    “Sanctify them by the truth; your word is truth.”
    John 17:17

    Our past and present circumstances are not indicators of what is to come. Struggle does not get the final word. Failure does not get to define your future. Even what you are walking through right now does not limit what God can still do.

    When we forecast this way, we can quietly leave God out of the picture. We assume we already know how the story will unfold. God reminds us that He is still writing it.

    God Is Doing Something New

    Scripture speaks directly to our tendency to look backward in order to predict forward.

    “Don’t remember the prior things; don’t ponder ancient history. Look! I’m doing a new thing; now it sprouts up; don’t you recognize it? I’m making a way in the desert, paths in the wilderness.”
    Isaiah 43:18–19

    God is not limited by what has been. Fear, strongholds, addiction, disruption, financial strain, sickness, or exhaustion do not have to define what is ahead.

    Freedom is possible in Christ.

    God is not asking us to ignore reality. He is inviting us to stop forecasting a future without Him in it and to trust that He is already at work.

    A Prayer

    Lord, I confess how often I try to predict what is coming next.
    I fill the unknown with fear and past experience instead of trust.
    Help me release my need to control tomorrow.
    Teach me to stay present with You today.
    Remind me that my story is still unfolding in Your hands.
    Amen.

    God is already in your tomorrow.
    You do not have to forecast it.
    You only have to walk with Him today.

    One day at a time,
    lifting our eyes back to Jesus,
    abiding to thrive.

  • When You Don’t Know What to Do

    Finding peace with God when the next step feels unclear

    “Answer me quickly, Lord.
    Do not hide your face from me.
    Show me the way I should go,
    for to You I entrust my life.”
    Psalm 143:7–8

    “Do not hide Your face from Your servant,
    for I am in distress.
    Answer me quickly.”
    Psalm 69:17

    Do you ever find yourself unsure of what to do next? When you are facing a decision and longing for clarity, moments like that can feel heavy, especially when they are time-sensitive. A move. A job offer. A lease that needs to be signed. A pregnancy. Choosing a school. The weight of deciding can feel overwhelming, especially when you are already carrying so much as a mom.

    For many of us, these moments happen in the middle of ordinary life. While packing lunches. Folding laundry. Lying awake after the house is finally quiet. We are doing our best to be faithful, but still wondering which way to go.

    In those moments, it can feel like we are crying out into silence. Like we need an answer now and are afraid we might miss it.

    But here is the good news.

    God is not hiding from us. He is not distant or withholding. He is present. He is near. And while some answers take time, God is faithful to give us what we need for today. Not always the full picture, but the next faithful step.

    Prayers and Fasting

    When you need guidance, start by being specific with God. Write down exactly what you are asking Him for. Name the decision. Name the fear. Name the hope. Pair your prayers with Scripture that reminds you of who God is and how He leads His people.

    You may also feel led to fast during this season. Fasting does not have to look the same for everyone. It could be a meal, a certain type of food, sugar, social media, television, or your phone. Fasting is not about punishment or performance. It is about creating space. Space to listen. Space to notice. Space to remind your heart where your dependence truly lies.

    Put in the Work

    This part is not about proving anything to God. You never have to earn His love, attention, or approval.

    This step is for you.

    Putting in the work can be as simple as surrendering your worries and laying them at His feet. It can look like obedience when God nudges you toward something small but uncomfortable. It is about choosing a posture of dependence and undistracted attention.

    That might mean getting on your knees, sitting quietly alone, opening your Bible, journaling specific prayers, listening to worship music, or taking a slow walk outside. Do whatever helps you quiet the noise and turn your heart toward God.

    Be still. Be honest. Be present.

    Peace

    Peace is often the byproduct of time spent with the Lord.

    Prayer leads to breakthrough.
    Breakthrough leads to peace.

    Peace does not always mean you suddenly have every answer. Sometimes it simply means assurance. A calm confidence that you can take the next step. That you do not have to stay frozen in fear. That God is leading, even if the path unfolds one step at a time.

    What decision are you holding right now that you need to place back into God’s hands?

    When peace comes, you can move forward trusting that He is with you.

    A Prayer for today

    Lord, I need You right now.
    I confess that my heart feels overwhelmed and unsure.
    I bring my questions, my fears, and my decisions to You.
    Help me slow down and listen for Your voice.
    Show me the next right step, even if You do not show me the whole picture.
    Teach me to trust You with my timing, my plans, and my life.
    I place my dependence fully on You.
    Amen.

    You are not alone in your waiting.
    God is near. He is speaking. And He is faithful to lead.

    One day at a time,
    lifting our eyes back to Jesus,
    abiding to thrive.

  • When God Feels Quiet

    Learning to listen without striving

    “After the fire came a gentle whisper.”
    1 Kings 19:12

    There are seasons when God feels loud and near. And then there are seasons when He feels quiet.

    Not distant. Just quiet.

    In those moments, it is easy to wonder if we are doing something wrong. If we missed Him. If we are failing at faith. Especially as moms, when life is noisy and our attention is constantly divided, we can start to believe that hearing God clearly is only for people with more time, more margin, or more spiritual discipline.

    But Scripture tells a different story.

    God often speaks in a whisper.

    Making Space

    Hearing God does not start with striving. It starts with space.

    Space to slow down.
    Space to be honest.
    Space to stop filling every quiet moment.

    Sometimes making space looks like sitting with just your Bible and a notebook. Sometimes it looks like turning off worship music and letting silence feel uncomfortable for a moment. Sometimes it looks like stepping outside or sitting alone after the house finally quiets.

    God is not impressed by noise. He meets us in willingness.

    Trusting What Is True

    God speaks in many ways. Through Scripture. Through prayer. Through the Holy Spirit’s quiet prompting. Often, He speaks more gently than we expect.

    When we are unsure whether we are hearing Him, we can always return to what we know is true.

    God will never contradict His Word.
    He will not rush you with fear.
    He will not confuse you into paralysis.

    His voice brings peace, even when the path forward is unclear.

    Abiding, Not Striving

    There is freedom in remembering that hearing God is not a formula to master. It is a relationship to grow in.

    Some days, abiding looks like clarity.
    Other days, it looks like trust without answers.

    God is not withholding Himself from you. He is present, even when He feels quiet. Sometimes the work He is doing is not in giving direction, but in shaping our dependence.

    A Prayer

    Lord, help me slow down enough to notice You.
    Quiet the noise around me and within me.
    Teach me to trust that You are speaking, even when I do not hear You clearly.
    Help me rest in Your presence instead of striving for certainty.
    I want to abide with You, right here, right now.
    Amen.

    You do not have to hear everything at once.
    You do not have to figure it all out.

    God is near. He is gentle. And He is faithful to meet you as you make space for Him.

    One day at a time,
    lifting our eyes back to Jesus,
    abiding to thrive.

  • Is It You, Lord?

    Sometimes I ask the question quietly.
    Sometimes I ask it out loud.

    Is it You, Lord?

    How do I know?

    I can get caught up in my feelings and emotions so easily. I know what I think is right, but am I actually hearing from God, or just from myself?

    I ask Him for a sign or a knowing. Sometimes it feels like He gives it to me. A sense of peace. A nudge. A moment that feels clear. And then, almost immediately, doubt creeps back in.

    What if I am wrong?
    What if I made this up?
    What if this is just my flesh, my desire, my fear talking?

    I want to be sure. I want certainty. I want a guarantee before I move forward.

    But I have learned something over time.
    I am not sure that kind of certainty is even promised this side of heaven.

    And that is usually when I decide to take a baby step.

    Baby steps still count

    A baby step sounds small, almost insignificant. But I am learning that there are no leaps of faith without a series of baby steps that led the way.

    We often celebrate the big leap. The bold obedience. The dramatic yes. But we rarely talk about the quiet, ordinary steps that came first.

    Think about something that feels like a huge leap of faith. Taking a new job. Moving to a different state. Starting something new that feels risky or uncertain.

    From the outside, it looks like one big jump.

    But usually, it started much smaller.

    A realization that what you were doing no longer fit.
    A conversation with your spouse or someone you trust.
    Updating a resume. Exploring options.
    Responding to an email.
    Having a conversation.
    Then another one.
    Then finally, a decision.

    What looks like a leap was actually built on a lot of small, faithful steps.

    Trust grows with movement

    Here is what I am learning. God often builds trust as we move, not before.

    He does not always give us the whole picture. He invites us to walk with Him, step by step, learning to trust His voice along the way.

    Baby steps are not a lack of faith.
    They are often faith in its earliest, bravest form.

    They sound like this:

    God, I am not totally sure, but I want to trust You.
    So I will take the next best step I know how to take.
    And then I will watch for You there.

    You do not have to figure out the leap today. You just have to take the next small step of obedience He is placing in front of you.

    A gentle question

    What is the next best thing you can do right now?

    Not the whole plan.
    Not the five-year vision.
    Not the leap.

    Just the next step.

    Trust often grows in motion.
    Clarity often comes after obedience.
    And God is faithful to meet us in the small steps, not just the big ones.

    A prayer

    God,
    I want to hear You clearly.
    I want to trust You fully.

    When doubt creeps in and certainty feels far away,
    help me take the next small step instead of standing still.

    Teach me to trust You one moment at a time.
    To walk with You instead of waiting until I feel completely sure.

    Meet me in the baby steps,
    and lead me where You are going.

    Amen.

    One day at a time,
    lifting our eyes back to Jesus,
    abiding to thrive

  • Glorifying God

    A few years ago, when my daughter was ten, she said something that caught me off guard.

    She told me it felt like God was demanding. Almost egotistical. Why would God want our praise and worship so badly?

    In the moment, the only thing I could think to say was that He is God Almighty, the Creator of the entire universe, and that He deserves our praise.

    But later, her words stayed with me.

    Because if I am honest, I have wondered the same thing. And I know I am not alone. Sometimes, especially in the middle of motherhood, it can feel like God is asking a lot. Worship Him. Trust Him. Glorify Him in everything. When we are tired, that can feel heavy.

    God did not give me an answer right away. He rarely does. There was no big revelation that day or even that month. He worked slowly, in His own time and in His own way.

    But over time, something became clear.

    God does not ask us to glorify Him because He is self-absorbed. He invites us to glorify Him because He loves us.

    Don’t Waste Your Life by John Piper helped put words to what my heart was learning. The author explains that God, calling us to worship Him, is actually an act of love. We were never meant to find lasting satisfaction in ourselves, our circumstances, or even the good gifts God gives us.

    Love is doing what is best for someone.
    But making self the object of our highest affection is not best for us. It is a lethal distraction.

    We were made to see and savor God. In savoring Him, we are satisfied.

    To make people feel good about themselves when they were made to feel good about seeing God is like taking someone to the Alps and locking them in a room full of mirrors.

    In creating us for His glory, He is creating us for our highest joy.

    He is most glorified in us when we are most satisfied in Him.

    We were made to find joy in Him.

    When we place ourselves at the center, we grow weary. When we chase fulfillment in things that cannot hold the weight, we end up empty. Even good things can leave us wanting more.

    Scripture reminds us where fullness is found:

    “You will show me the path of life.
    In Your presence is fullness of joy.”
    Psalm 16:11

    What glorifying God looks like in everyday life

    This does not mean adding more to your plate.

    It looks like choosing gratitude in the middle of ordinary days.
    It looks like trusting God when the answers are unclear.
    It looks like loving people well, right where you are.
    It looks like using the gifts God has given you, even when they feel small.
    It looks like worship that shows up as surrender.

    Scripture tells us, “Whatever you do, do it for the glory of God.”

    That includes the unseen moments. Changing diapers. Making dinner. Folding laundry. Sending the encouraging text. Taking a deep breath and trying again.

    There is a song by Steven Curtis Chapman called Do Everything that captures this so well. Everything really does mean everything.

    We cannot glorify God on our own. We need Him living within us to do that. And when we ask for His help, He meets us with grace. Glorifying God is not about striving harder. It is about staying close to the One who satisfies. Abiding.

    A prayer for today

    God,
    Thank You for loving me enough to invite me into joy.
    Help me stop chasing what cannot satisfy and lift my eyes back to You.

    Teach me to glorify You in the ordinary moments.
    In my home, in my motherhood, and in the quiet places no one sees.

    Help me remember that You are where fullness lives.
    Amen.

    One day at a time, lifting our eyes back to Jesus, abiding to thrive

  • Even If You Don’t

    Some days I find myself asking a question I do not always want the answer to.

    Do I trust God,
    or do I trust God to do what I asked?

    As a mom, it is easy to blur the line. We pray for our kids, our marriages, our energy, our finances, our healing. We pray for sleep. For peace. For things to feel lighter. And when they do not, disappointment can settle in quietly.

    There was a season when the song Even If by MercyMe made me uncomfortable. I did not want to sing the words. I wanted God to do what I was asking. The “even if” felt like too much surrender.

    Then one night, I woke up with the lyrics looping through my head. Not loudly. Gently. Like an invitation.

    I know You’re able and I know You can
    Save through the fire with Your mighty hand
    But even if You don’t
    My hope is You alone

    Even if You don’t.

    Even if You do not fix the thing I am carrying.
    Even if You do not change the situation right away.
    Even if You are quieter than I hoped.

    Still, my hope is You.

    I am learning that trusting God and trusting Him to do what I asked are not the same thing. That realization has been both humbling and freeing.

    When I trust God, I remember who He is.
    That He is good, even on hard days.
    That He is in control, even when I feel overwhelmed.
    That His ways are better, even when I do not understand.
    That He is God, and I am not.

    But when I trust Him mainly for the outcome, my heart feels different. I notice frustration when prayers feel unanswered. I feel the urge to take control. I realize how quickly surrender can turn into striving.

    And so I have been asking myself this, one day at a time.
    Is my hope in God, or in what I want Him to do for me?

    Another song has become a quiet prayer for me. More Than Anything by Natalie Grant puts words to what my heart needs:

    Help me want the Healer more than the healing
    Help me want the Savior more than the saving
    Help me want the Giver more than the giving
    Oh help me want You, Jesus, more than anything

    That is the prayer I keep coming back to. Not because I have mastered it, but because I need it. Especially in motherhood, where so much feels out of my control.

    So if you are tired, waiting, or quietly disappointed today, I want to ask you gently.
    Are you seeking God’s hand, or are you seeking God Himself?

    He invites us to seek Him.
    And He promises to take care of us, one day at a time.

    A simple practice for today

    You do not need a lot of time or a quiet house for this. Just a moment of honesty. Fill in the blanks with a truth for yourself.

    I know You are able to:

    But even if You don’t, You are still:

    A prayer for today

    Jesus,
    You see me in the middle of this season.
    You know what I am asking for and why it matters to me.

    Help me trust You, not just for what You can do,
    but for who You are.

    When I feel disappointed, remind me that You are still good.
    When I want control, help me open my hands.
    When answers feel slow or different than I hoped,
    help me lift my eyes back to You.

    Even if You don’t,
    help my hope remain in You alone.

    Amen.

    One day at a time.
    Lifting our eyes.
    Choosing to trust Him, even when we don’t understand.

  • From Slave to Heir

    From Slave to Heir

    The gospel does not just save us from sin; it moves us from slavery to sonship and invites us to live from a new identity in Christ. If Christ has already set us free, why do so many of us still live as though we are bound?

    We all want freedom.

    But what is freedom, really?

    True freedom is being released from our ultimate captor: death.

    So how do we walk in freedom?

    Through the resurrection of Jesus.

    His death was sacrificial.
    His burial was purposeful.
    His resurrection proved His power as God.

    And that same power now lives in us.

    Scripture shows us that the Spirit who raised Jesus from the dead dwells within believers. This is not symbolic or poetic language. It is real, living power. Yet for many Christians, it remains unused, like potential energy waiting to be activated.

    “The Spirit of God, who raised Jesus from the dead, lives in you. And just as God raised Christ Jesus from the dead, he will give life to your mortal bodies by this same Spirit living within you.” (Romans 8:11)

    This truth is the foundation of kingdom living. It begins with recognizing what has already been given to us.

    We do not have to wait until death to walk in resurrection life. We have already been raised with Christ and seated with Him now. “For he raised us from the dead along with Christ and seated us with him in the heavenly realms because we are united with Christ Jesus.” (Ephesians 2:6)

    To be dead to sin, we must be alive in Christ. To deny the flesh, we must walk in the Spirit. And to walk in the Spirit, we must belong fully to Christ.

    This requires a shift in how we think. Transformation happens through the renewing of our minds by the Word.

    “Let God transform you into a new person by changing the way you think. Then you will learn to know God’s will for you, which is good and pleasing and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

    What does this look like practically, in everyday life?

    Slavery does not mean being forced against our will. It means our wills are bound to what we love most. Kingdom living, on the other hand, means belonging to the King. We were created to serve something. When we choose to serve God, we discover true freedom.

    Our flesh tells us that being a slave to anything is bondage. Yet there is true freedom in belonging to Christ.

    Honoring Him as my Redeemer, the One who purchased me, deepens my worship and my ability to love God with all my heart, soul, mind, and strength.

    God does not leave us in the position of a slave. He advances our standing with Him, drawing us closer into relationship and inheritance. Scripture shows this progression clearly.

    We move from:

    • Servant to steward, entrusted with responsibility
    • Servant to friend, invited into intimacy
    • Servant to son or daughter, welcomed into the family
    • Servant to heir of God, a joint heir with Christ

    This progression reveals the heart of God. He does not redeem us simply to control us. He redeems us to draw us close, to entrust us with His work, and to share His inheritance with us.

    We are either slaves to sin or slaves to God. When we choose God, He frees us from one master and binds us to Himself through a greater promise: eternal life.

    Slavery does not mean being forced against our will. It means our wills are bound. We are drawn either to the rewards of sin or to the beauty of righteousness. In both cases, we do what we desire most.

    The atonement of Jesus, His suffering in the garden and His death on the cross, was the price paid to purchase us. Scripture tells us plainly that we are not our own.

    “You are bought with a price” and “You are not your own.” (1 Corinthians 6:19–20)

    The gospel is the power of God for salvation to everyone who believes.

    Jesus did not preach primarily about going to Heaven someday. He preached about Heaven coming to earth. He taught us that this is God’s will.

    We participate in this by preaching the gospel and making disciples. The gospel restores people to God, and the Spirit empowers the Church to go. Before He ascended, Jesus told His followers to go to the ends of the earth. He placed His Spirit within His people and entrusted them with the mission.

    Human language struggles to fully express kingdom truth. Because of its negative connotations, the word “slave” can be difficult to understand.

    We can only serve one master.

    Our master is either sin and death or life and resurrection. Satan or Jesus.

    We will belong to one.

    True freedom is found in choosing Christ.

    Before you move on, take a moment to ask yourself where God may be inviting you to live as an heir instead of a slave. Offer that place to Him, and take one small step of surrender today.

    A Prayer for Freedom and Surrender

    Jesus,
    Thank You for the freedom You purchased for us. Thank You that You did not just save us from something, but invited us into new life with You.

    Help us remember that the same power that raised You from the dead now lives in us. When we feel tired, overwhelmed, or stuck, remind us that we are not walking this life alone or in our own strength.

    Teach us to surrender daily, not out of fear or obligation, but out of love and trust. Renew our minds through Your Word and help us choose You over the voices of the flesh, distraction, and fear.

    Thank You for calling us not only servants, but friends, sons, daughters, and heirs. Help us live from that identity and walk in the freedom You have already given us.

    We choose You today.
    We receive Your life, Your freedom, and Your grace.

    Amen.

  • Hope or Hopeless?

    Hope or Hopeless?

    What is hope? I believe it is essential to living a life of meaning and purpose. Without it, we slowly give up. We surrender, convinced that we or our situation are too far gone. When hope fades, despair quietly moves in.

    The first time I listened to the song Desperate by Jamie MacDonald, one line came stopped me in my tracks:

    “I prayed all the prayers I can pray,
    But I won’t stop knocking ’til You open the door.”

    Those words immediately brought me to Matthew 7:7:
    “Ask, and it will be given to you; seek, and you will find; knock, and it will be opened to you.”
    This verse is an invitation to hope. A reminder that we are encouraged to keep coming to God, even when answers feel delayed.

    Psalm 121:1–2 echoes that same reassurance:

    “I lift up my eyes to the hills.
    From where does my help come?
    My help comes from the Lord,
    who made heaven and earth.”

    We cannot outrun God. He will not let us. We are His. Like a loving parent watching children on the playground, He gives us room to move and explore, but when darkness approaches, He gently gathers us close and brings us home.

    Recently, two conversations stood out to me. One was with a friend as I shared about a physical challenge I was facing. In the middle of the conversation, she said something simple yet powerful: “The good news is it’s never too late to reverse that.” Those words lingered with me.

    Not long after, a friend shared something very different. With honesty and heaviness, she said, “It’s too late for me. I’m too far gone.”

    Two people I love. Two very different places of the heart.

    The situations were not the same, but the contrast was striking. One conversation was marked by hope. The other was marked by discouragement. It made me pause and ask, how often do we decide the ending before God has finished writing the story?

    So what is your one thing? What is quietly pulling you toward hopelessness right now? My guess is you have been trying to fix it, manage it, or push through it on your own, and you are exhausted. Maybe you have reached the point where you realize you cannot do it anymore. Frustration sets in. Fear follows close behind. Hope begins to feel fragile.

    I have been there. I have lost hope. I have lost the will to try. I have lost the spark I once had. When the weight felt too heavy, I crawled into bed and tried to hide.

    Proverbs 13:12 says,
    “Hope deferred makes the heart sick, but a desire fulfilled is a tree of life.”
    Another translation says, “Hope delayed makes you sad.”

    Is that where you are today? Tired of waiting? Tired of knocking? And yet, the words of that song still ring true: “I won’t stop knocking until You open the door.” That kind of persistence is what Scripture calls endurance.

    Paul reminds us in Romans 5 that endurance produces character, and character produces hope. And this hope will not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.

    Every day, the Lord places a choice before us. We can lean into His grace or try to carry it alone. His voice is always near, gently offering us a way forward filled with hope.

    Isaiah 30:21 says,
    “This is the way. Walk in it.”

    And Deuteronomy 31:6 assures us,
    “The Lord is the one who goes before you. He will be with you. He will not leave you or abandon you. Do not be afraid or discouraged.”

    The question is not whether He is near.
    The question is whether we will stay close to Him.

    Lord, You see the places in our hearts where hope feels thin and waiting feels heavy. You know the doors we have been knocking on and the weariness we carry. Help us believe again that it is not too late. Teach us to trust You in the waiting, to listen for Your voice, and to stay close to You when answers feel slow. We place our hope in You today. Amen.

  • When Motherhood Feels Ordinary but God Is Still Near

    When Motherhood Feels Ordinary but God Is Still Near

    Abiding to Thrive

    I was lying in bed when the Lord showed me a picture.

    He asked me to remember the last time I felt truly close to Him. A moment I could not deny His presence. Maybe it was during worship when tears streamed down my face, or in a quiet moment when joy filled my heart unexpectedly. I remembered times when my heart pounded and my senses felt alive, when I felt warm, held, and completely engulfed in His love. Those moments feel sacred, and we often wish we could stay there.

    Then He asked me to picture a time when I felt very far from Him. A season marked by shame or regret. A moment when guilt weighed heavy and prayer felt out of reach. I wanted closeness, but I did not know how to find my way back. As moms, those moments often come after losing our patience, saying something we wish we could take back, or feeling like we are falling short of the calling God has given us.

    Next, He invited me to consider how I felt in the present moment. Not especially joyful or deeply discouraged. Not overwhelmed with guilt or overflowing with peace. Just here. Existing. Caring for kids, managing schedules, folding laundry, making meals, and trying to keep up. Not particularly close to Him, but not far either. Just living in the middle of ordinary life.

    And then the Lord gently showed me something I needed to understand.

    Everything I had described was rooted in feelings.

    Feelings matter, but they are not truth. They shift with exhaustion, stress, hormones, and the constant demands of motherhood. God’s Word, however, does not shift. It remains steady when we do not.

    So He brought me back to what Scripture says about His presence once we have received Him.

    “Surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age” (Matthew 28:20).

    “Never will I leave you; never will I forsake you” (Hebrews 13:5).

    “Don’t you know that you yourselves are God’s temple and that God’s Spirit dwells in you?” (1 Corinthians 3:16).

    God does not come and go based on how connected we feel. He is not closer on the days we have uninterrupted quiet time or pray with focus and clarity. He is not farther away on the days we feel distracted, weary, or spiritually dry. His presence is constant.

    This is where abiding begins.

    Abiding is not striving to feel close to God. It is resting in the truth that He is already near. When we stop chasing spiritual highs and start trusting His promises, we create space to thrive. Not because life becomes easier, but because we are no longer carrying it alone.

    Abiding to thrive often looks quiet. It looks like trusting God’s nearness while doing ordinary things. It looks like believing truth over feelings, especially on the days when motherhood feels unseen and our hearts feel tired.

    And maybe that is exactly where real growth happens.

    A Closing Prayer

    Lord, thank You that You are with me always, even when I do not feel it. Help me stop measuring Your presence by my emotions and start resting in Your truth. Teach me what it means to abide in You in the middle of motherhood, in the ordinary and the unseen moments. When I am tired, remind me that You are near. When I feel distant, draw me back to Your promises. Help me abide in You, so that I can truly thrive. Amen.