Posts in the Faith category encourage Christian moms in their relationship with Jesus with Bible verses, prayers and practical tips on how to spend time with God as a busy mom.
Additional faith content includes the Bible verses section, which is full of posts with Bible verses to encourage Christian moms on their faith journey.
A short devotional of encouragement for Christian moms
“But he said to me, ‘My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.’ Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”
2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)
I can be a bit of an overachiever. In school, getting good grades was important to me. I could tell you my GPA and class ranking pretty much every day of high school my senior year. I carried that attitude into college and beyond.
Now as a mom, the same attitude pops up. I’m not competing with other moms as much as I’m competing with myself to be the absolute best mom I can be for my children. I love them so completely that I want the best for them.
Yet, I fall short and mess up. I have times of weakness where I get frustrated or selfish. I don’t say or do the right things. Just like when I’d get a lower grade in school, I can be hard on myself for not getting it right.
Fortunately, God knows this. I’ve seen His power in my weakness time and again. Sometimes it’s in big ways and other times it’s in little ways.
For example, one evening when my children were preschool and toddler age, I was too overwhelmed and exhausted for dinner. I fed them Froot Loops — not even healthy cereal. I was beating myself up about it.
Then I noticed their faces. They were utterly thrilled and thought it was such a treat. They gave me grace. I needed to give myself grace. God blessed me that I was able to even feed them!
Sometimes in our weakness and struggles, we need to give ourselves some grace, turn it over to God and just hang on. He is there in the midst of all of it!
And He doesn’t expect us to be overachievers. He just wants us to be who He made us to be.
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for knowing me so completely and giving me grace even when I mess up and fall short. Help me to give myself grace and lean into you. Give me your strength, power and encouragement when I feel so weak. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Scriptures for encouragement on your motherhood journey
You ever have one of those overwhelming days when you question whether you’re even cut out to be a mom? I sure have. This was a challenge as a new mom getting used to motherhood, but even now it remains a challenge in having children in middle and high school.
The truth is being a mom is hard work. The challenges of motherhood abound from organizing schedules, dealing with laundry, making sure everyone is fed, encouraging our children’s spiritual walk, staying on top of homework and on the list goes.
The good news for us overwhelmed moms is God’s Word has a lot of encouragement for us. I’ve pulled together some of the top Bible verses to encourage your mama heart right where you are.
(Find the link to download the free reading plan at the end of the article.)
The power of the Word of God for moms
I know as a busy mom that getting in time for Bible study is hard and sometimes downright impossible. Some seasons are a bit easier, and some are a lot harder.
I remember the early days as a first-time mom and feeling overwhelmed. I could barely keep up with my personal hygiene, let alone Bible study.
God reminded me time and again that He knew I was a struggling mom, He was with me every step of the way and I needed to give myself grace.
One of the best things I found for those times — and even now as a mom of older kiddos — is simple Bible reading plans. Just reading one or two verses a day gets my mind focused on my Heavenly Father — exactly as it should be!
Practical ways for moms to get in Bible study time
When you’re an overwhelmed mom, even coming up with ideas to read a verse or two a day can seem impossible. I get that! Here are some of my best suggestions for helping work it into your schedule.
Pray about it. Seriously! I have many times asked God to show me how to best use my time, including how to work in Bible reading time.
Try habit stacking. For example, I pray as I brush my teeth. I read my Bible as I eat breakfast or as I dry my hair.
Listen to the Bible instead. If you aren’t a reader, check out the great audio options in the YouVersion Bible app.
Use a simple Bible reading plan (like the ones I have for you for free!) that you can stick with.
Find a Bible translation that you understand and get the most out of.
Ideally, you can spend the entire month reading through 30 of the most inspiring Bible verses to encourage moms. But, I also know there are hard days when you just need encouragement fast.
So, I’ve pulled out a list of 5 of my favorite verses of encouragement for the difficult times. Read and re-read the following Bible verses whenever you’re struggling and need extra encouragement.
Isaiah 41:10
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
This is one of my very favorite Bible verses of all time. I first learned it in my third grade Sunday School class, and it’s gotten me through so many rough days and hard times.
At first, I was drawn to the first part of the verse to not fear, but as I got older and learned the entire verse, I can no longer pick a favorite part.
Because as a mom, I need the reminder that God is with me, that He will strengthen and help me, and He is holding me tightly.
Prayer: Dear God, calm my heart today and remind me you are always with me so I don’t have to be afraid. Strengthen and help me in all that I am doing. Lord, I ask that you uphold me firmly in your hand. Thank you for being the God of all comfort I can always turn to. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Philippians 4:13
“I can do all this through him who gives me strength.”
One thing we need as mamas is strength. This verse is a terrific reminder of God’s strength and the power of the Holy Spirit to bestow His strength upon us.
From the middle-of-the-night feedings and struggles of new moms to the middle-of-the-night anxieties of moms with teens, God is there to strengthen us.
Just after my youngest was born, I was getting very little sleep. I was averaging around two hours a night at best.
I cannot tell you now how I managed. It is definitely beyond my own understanding. I just know that God was always faithful to give me strength for each moment.
Prayer:Dear God, I have so many tasks before me. I can feel so easily overwhelmed by them. Give me your strength to get through every moment of my day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Matthew 11:28-29
“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.”
There is nothing more restful than the peace of God, which is what this verse is reminding us of. One of the biggest reasons I get exhausted and overwhelmed is not giving my worries and burdens to God.
Yet, here Christ Jesus Himself is telling us to come to Him when we are too tired to keep moving forward. He will bear our burdens and give us perfect peace and rest for our souls as only God’s unfailing love can do.
It’s incredibly comforting to me to remember that I don’t have to carry all my burdens alone.
Prayer:Dear God, I am weary and burdened. I need your rest today. Teach me and help me to learn from you. Remind me of your unconditional love and provision. Strengthen me as only you can. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Psalm 46:1
“God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.”
Knowing that God is there for us and will strengthen us whenever we face trouble is incredibly comforting and encouraging. Even better is that He is there to help us no matter the trouble from struggles with potty training to sending your kiddo off to college.
I love picturing an image of God holding me in his arms when I’m weary and overwhelmed. I imagine being surrounded by God’s love and filled with his strength.
This verse reminds me of that. Even when I am struggling and don’t feel like I’m doing a good job as a mama, God is right there with me.
Prayer:Dear God, thank you for being our refuge and strength always. Lord, lift me up today and strengthen me. Help me through all of the troubles I face. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Jeremiah 29:11
“‘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.'”
The truth of motherhood is that sometimes we lose ourselves. We get so busy taking care of others that we slowly ebb away.
But, mama, God hasn’t forgotten about you. He has plans for your life — and they are good plans!
He knows you are doing the good work of raising your children. He sees your sincere faith and your mother’s love that pours into her children every single day.
Our loving God knows motherhood is a high calling, and He doesn’t take it lightly.
He sees you. He wants to give you hope and a future. These days won’t last forever. Eventually, you’ll get back to being a version of yourself.
You won’t be exactly as you were before motherhood, because motherhood changes us in our inmost being. We evolve and grow, just as God planned for us.
Prayer:Dear God, thank you for having plans for my life that are good. Some days right now, it’s hard to see them. Remind me of the hope and future I have in you. Give me greater joy as I go through my day. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A free reading plan
The Bible is filled with so many other related Scripture quotes to encourage and uplift us. This simple reading plan will take you through 30 such verses by reading just one or two a day.
Download the PDF and print it out or use it on your phone or other device — whatever is easiest for you.
The PDF also includes reflection questions for each week’s topic. The weekly topics include the following:
Strength in God
Peace in God
Hope in the Lord
Rest in God’s love
God’s promises
Grow in prayer
The reading plan also includes a prayer for the months relating to encouragement for moms. Sometimes even knowing what to pray and putting thoughts together is hard in the middle of motherhood.
You’ll also find a page to list prayers and praises for the month. This is a great way to keep a prayer journal and be able to look back later and see how God has been working in your life.
H3: Additional ways to grow in faith
Sometimes you might find yourself with more time. Or maybe you’re like I am with older kiddos in school.
There are some other great ways to meditate on these verses.
Read the verse out loud multiple times, emphasizing the words in different ways each time.
Pick a verse a week (or month) and memorize it.
Write the Bible verse by hand.
Dig deeper and find out the full context of shorter Scripture quotes.
Involve your whole family by having a verse of the week for everyone.
A final word of encouragement
When it comes to Bible study and getting into the Word of God, we need to make it a priority while also giving ourselves grace.
The truth is some days are just harder to find a moment of quiet time than others. I recently had one of those days myself with a sick child. The next day, I had more time and got caught up.
Your motherhood journey isn’t one you were meant to go on alone. Get into God’s Word, feel His presence and find encouragement!
If you’re looking to connect with other Christian moms like you, be sure to check out our private Facebook group, Christian Moms with Grace, where we have daily discussions to encourage one another along the way!
Don’t miss these other encouraging posts for Christian moms:
Comforting Scriptures for when you need inner peace
In modern society, we talk about living in times of war or peace. Peace in the Bible, however, isn’t about the absence of conflict but is about the presence of something – or Someone – who brings wholeness and wellbeing.
Fortunately, there are many Bible verses about peace of mind that can encourage us and remind us of God’s perspective on peace. They remind us we can have God’s peace regardless of what is going on around us in the world or in our daily lives.
As a mom, sometimes I have longed for literal peace and quiet, but this goes deeper to peace of our soul, hearts and minds. And that is the perfect peace that only comes through God’s presence in our lives.
Knowing that Biblical peace comes from the presence of God coincides directly with the Fruit of the Spirit. We can only live out and display the Fruits of the Spirit by walking with the Spirit – walking with God. And God is the one whose presence gives us true peace of mind.
So, simply striving to walk with God and live out the Fruits of the Spirit through the power of the Holy Spirit leads to peace. Having peace with God not only leads to living in connection with Him, but also living in harmony with others — including our own families.
Sources of great peace
As we talk about the concept of peace and God’s promises for times of trouble, we have to turn to the Word of God to find out the sources of peace available to us.
Unsurprisingly, the words of Jesus teach us a lot about peace.
Jesus talked about peace often with His followers. Those messages apply to our lives today.
During His final dinner with His disciples before His Crucifixion, Jesus told them about the coming of the Holy Spirit – or Comforter – who would follow Him.
Jesus was assuring His disciples that though He wouldn’t always be physically with them, they could have peace and rest in the Holy Spirit and in knowing Jesus was stronger than anything the world could throw at Him.
These things remain true for us today.
Thieves of peace
Just as we have sources of great peace, we also battle thieves of peace. I’m sure you’re as familiar with them as I am.
We don’t have to look far to find strife and struggle in the world around us. It’s everywhere.
Envy and selfish ambition steal our peace. And both these things have a root in our own desires.
I’ve struggled with looking at someone else and thinking their life was so easy or what they had was better than what I had, even though I worked harder. During those times, I’ve never felt peace.
However, when I instead focus on God and His wisdom, I feel much more peace and goodness. Simply keeping our minds on heaven will instill in us traits very closely related to the Fruits of the Spirit like being considerate, submissive, full of mercy, producing good work, being impartial and being sincere. It all starts with keeping our focus on God.
Bible verses about peace of mind
“Peace” appears in the King James version of the Bible 429 times. While wordings differ from one translation to another, this is still a high number no matter what.
The good news is there are more verses about “peace” than there are days in the year. Our Father knows we need reminders constantly of His peace.
(Find a link near the end of the post to download these verses as a PDF.)
“But the fruit of the Spirit is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control; against such things there is no law.” — Galatians 5:22-23 (ESV)
The verses preceding these tell us of the desires of the flesh before explaining the good fruits that come from God and the Holy Spirit. Walking in step with the Holy Spirit and His fruits strengthens us in our relationship with God and with those around us.
I am a better wife, mother, friend, daughter and person when I am walking in the Fruit of the Spirit.
“Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful.” — Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
God’s Word reminds us that we serve a God of peace who has called us to live peaceful lives as well. Part of living in peace is being thankful.
As we focus on the blessings of God — in both hard times and good times — we have more peace from our Heavenly Father.
“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.” — Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)
Trusting in God gives us peace and assurance. We can relax in Him and feel His peace.
In this verse from the Old Testament, Isaiah is talking with the Israelites about their future and the work God would do in them if they followed Him. These words explain well how to have peace individually.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” — John 14:27 (NIV)
Christ Jesus uses these words to remind us that through our Heavenly Father, we are able to have peace beyond what is possible in the world.
Even when we are in stressful situations and dealing with a worried heart, Jesus gives us peace and a reminder that He is on the throne and in control.
“I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.” — John 16:33 (NIV)
I love God’s promise here that He is always with us. We can have peace through God the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit even in the midst of trouble.
Jesus doesn’t gloss over the fact that life is hard, and we’ll face trials. But He does encourage us to keep going because He is greater than anything we face.
“For where you have envy and selfish ambition, there you find disorder and every evil practice. But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere. Peacemakers who sow in peace reap a harvest of righteousness.” — James 3:16-18 (NIV)
After being pure, wisdom from heaven is peace-loving. It goes against envy, selfish ambition and evil practices, which are certainly the opposite of peace.
Instead, these verses tell us living and sowing in peace will have great results in our lives. As Christian moms, we most want to sow faith in peace with our children so that later we can rest in the effect of righteousness as they walk with God themselves.
“Moreover, we have all had human fathers who disciplined us and we respected them for it. How much more should we submit to the Father of spirits and live! They disciplined us for a little while as they thought best; but God disciplines us for our good, in order that we may share in his holiness. No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.” — Hebrews 12:9-11 (NIV)
Discipline is hard on both sides. As a parent, I must really love and be invested in my children to discipline them. I must put myself and my own needs aside to do what’s best for them.
Growing up, I had to endure discipline from my own parents. I can look back on that now and be thankful, but I can assure you I didn’t feel so thankful at the time! Sometimes God needs to discipline us and work in our lives so that in the end we can have peace.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7 (ESV)
Living a life filled with God’s peace in a chaotic world sounds awesome. It also sounds challenging and perhaps unattainable. But just like with all the Fruits of the Spirit, God gives us instructions for how to best live them out.
By praying, submitting to God and giving Him thanks, we receive His peace which is beyond our own understanding.
“The Lord turn his face toward you and give you peace.” — Numbers 6:26 (NIV)
This verse is part of a blessing the Lord gave to Moses to use for the Israelites — His chosen people. I can think of no greater blessing than to have God turn his face toward me and give me peace.
Indeed, as believers we can enjoy God’s favor and peace. In turn, that gives us strength to be the people — and moms — He has created us to be.
“Therefore, since we have been justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ.” — Romans 5:1 (ESV)
The Apostle Paul is reminding us in this verse that our very Christian faith allows us to have peace with God. Jesus came so that we may be connected closer to the Father and understand more fully God’s love for us.
He is truly a God of hope who longs for us to have peace in the middle of struggle.
“Consider the blameless, observe the upright; a future awaits those who seek peace.” — Psalm 37:37 (NIV)
In Jeremiah 29:11, God tells us that He has a hope and a future for each of us. This verse follows right along those lines.
When we pursue peace, we are assured of a future and hope with God.
“For he himself is our peace, who has made us both one and has broken down in his flesh the dividing wall of hostility.” — Ephesians 2:14 (ESV)
Jesus broke down all the walls dividing people. No longer was faith and God just for a select few. The arrival of Jesus showed that God is for all of us.
Jesus Himself is our peace just in knowing that through Him we have favor with God.
“They must turn from evil and do good; they must seek peace and pursue it.” — 1 Peter 3:11 (NIV)
Not only can and will God give us peace, but it is OK for us to pursue it through Him. And one of the ways we do that is by turning from evil to do the good things of God.
When we are living lives for God, we can more easily have His peace no matter what is going on.
“Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times and in every way. The Lord be with all of you.” — 2 Thessalonians 3:16 (NIV)
What a powerful way for Paul to end his letter to the church of Thessalonica. This blessing is one we can pray for ourselves and pray over our families.
“God, give my family and me peace at all times and in every way. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“If it is possible, as far as it depends on you, live at peace with everyone.” — Romans 12:18 (NIV)
We want to live with God’s peace within ourselves, but for peace in our whole spirit, we must do our best to live at peace with everyone as well.
One small way to do this is focusing on the positive attributes of those around us instead of the negative ones. One small attitude shift can make a difference in how we respond to others.
“Finally, brothers, rejoice. Aim for restoration, comfort one another, agree with one another, live in peace; and the God of love and peace will be with you.” — 2 Corinthians 13:11 (ESV)
In order to live in peace with others, Paul tells us to work on our relationships. If there is division, seek restoration. Comfort those who are hurting.
Doing such things allows for the peace of God to rule in our lives in every way.
“The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace.” — Psalm 29:11 (NIV)
This verse can also easily become a pray for ourselves and our families.
“Lord, give my family and me strength. Bless us with peace. In Jesus’ name, Amen.”
“For to us a child is born, to us a son is given; and the government shall be upon his shoulder, and his name shall be called Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.” — Isaiah 9:6
This Bible verse often gets relegated to the Christmas season and we don’t dwell on it so much outside of December. But, of all the names given to Jesus, one of them is the “Prince of Peace.”
Peace was important enough to God that he even emphasized it in the attributes of His own Son!
“In peace I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.” — Psalm 4:8 (NIV)
When I’m dealing with anxiety, one of the times I notice it most is when I’m lying in bed with no distractions. Resting and sleeping are hard to do when we are anxious and upset.
Praying and asking for God to give us His peace in these times is more than OK. I have often pictured myself literally resting in His arms to have peace to sleep.
“‘Though the mountains be shaken and the hills be removed, yet my unfailing love for you will not be shaken nor my covenant of peace be removed,’ says the Lord, who has compassion on you.” — Isaiah 54:10 (NIV)
Finally, this verse is reassuring and promising. It reminds us that even when the world around us seems to be crumbling — and we all have seasons like that — the God is not shaken.
He has not forgotten us and is waiting for us to lean into and on Him. God will give us peace beyond what we can understand when we need it most.
Want to learn more about the Fruit of the Spirit? Be sure to check out these numerous resources!
A short devotional for unappreciated Christian moms
“Knowing that from the Lord you will receive the inheritance as your reward. You are serving the Lord Christ.”
Colossians 3:24 (ESV)
Being a mom is hard and constant work. We are constantly on-call and have very limited time off ever.
In fact, if we wrote a realistic job description for a mom and offered the position to someone with a salary of $0, people would laugh in our faces.
And then add in that our children don’t often think to thank us or give us rewards, so to speak, for all the things we do, motherhood is a pretty thankless job most of the time.
However, in addition to serving our children, we are also serving God as mothers to the children with whom he’s blessed us.
While we may feel a bit downtrodden and wonder if the things we are doing really matter that much in the grand scheme of things, God says we’re doing exactly what we’re supposed to be doing.
We can trust that even if we don’t get rewards here on earth, one day we will in heaven. That’s an encouraging reminding to keep going and being the Christian mama He has created you to be!
Prayer:
Dear God, thank you for the promise of reward in heaven. Encourage me and strengthen me to keep going and trust you have a plan for all I do, even when it seems tedious and thankless. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
A short devotional for Christian moms to manage doubts
“When my spirit faints within me, you know my way!”
Psalm 142:3
In the earlier days of motherhood, I’d have moments of being overwhelmed or even surprised by the fact that I was the one in charge. As a new mom, so many things are overwhelming.
I questioned every decision and worried I’d do the wrong thing. I imagined my daughter one day talking with a therapist about how all her problems started back when she was 4 months old, and her mom let her grab a pair of scissors from the floor.
Even now, my children are older as a tween and teen. I still question my decisions and worry I’m doing the wrong thing. Navigating parenthood is hard.
Through all of my struggles so far, though, God has been right there. I have lost track of how many times I’ve prayed in the midst of difficult conversations with my children and pled for His wisdom and words to come out of my mouth.
I don’t always know the way. In fact, I sometimes think I may even be turned completely around. But, thankfully, I do know and can trust in the One who not only knows the way by created it just for me.
Prayer:
Heavenly Father, I thank you for having a plan for my life. I ask that you continue you to guide me and show me the right way to go in all that I am doing and facing as a mom and in general. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Find more encouragement for feeling overwhelmed as a mom in these posts:
A short devotion for Christian moms about finding joy in God
“And my God will meet all your needs according to the riches of his glory in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:19 (NIV)
One of the lessons all parents invariably teach their children is the difference between needs and wants. It’s easy to get caught up in our wants, even as adults.
I have thought about how often God tries to teach us those same lessons. He wants us to have good things – nice things, even. But He promises to supply our needs, not all of our wants.
When my children have pleaded with my husband and me to buy something they want, I’ve often pointed out to them how much I buy them: food, shelter, clothes.
That challenges me as a child of God. How often I have pleaded with Him for things I want to make hard times go away, to heal a loved one, to provide a financial blessing and on the list goes.
Yet, I know I haven’t just as often thanked Him for providing for my needs. Ouch. That’s hard. In the moments we stop to thank God for His provision, we find contentment. Getting past our “wants” leads to more joy in God.
Prayer
Dear God, help me to see your hand at work. Show me the ways you’ve met my needs that I haven’t noticed before. Thank you for your faithfulness to take care of me always and even providing some of my wants. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
A short devotional for Christian moms about anxiety
“When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”
Psalm 94:19 (NIV)
When you are consumed with taking care of everyone else, like we moms are, your emotional and mental health can suffer. If you already had struggles before having children that compounds even more.
I’ve struggled with anxiety for years, but I didn’t have a name for it until more recent years. I’ve learned more about how to deal with anxiety as a Christian.
And I have also learned God is with me every step of the way; He has good plans and unconditional love for me. I need His help every day.
Along with physical strength, mental strength is just as important to be the amazing mother God created us to be. Thankfully, the Holy Spirit can minister to our hearts and soothe our anxieties.
Prayer:
Lord, when I have anxiety great within, I ask that you console me and bring me joy. Strengthen me mentally and emotionally. Give my mind rest. Help me show my childrenwhat good mental healthcare looks like. Remind me always of your goodness and presence in my life. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
Encouragement for Christian moms to find God in the midst of hard times
“Jesus wept.”
John 11:35 (NIV)
This Bible verse is often a favorite for church-going folks to joke about being a favorite memory verse because it’s so short. But, as I’ve read the story in which this verse is found, I’ve been overwhelmed by its impact.
Jesus was on His way to raise Lazarus from the dead. He knew that was what He was going to do. Yet, when He encountered Lazarus’ sister, Mary, He was so moved by her grief that He wept with her – even knowing her grief was about to turn to rejoicing.
Sometimes we can think of God as a judgmental Father, but He is so much more than that. He is compassionate and empathetic. He hurts when we hurt. When your mama heart is breaking, He aches with you – even knowing the future and the way He’s planning to move.
I find comfort in a God who is with us every step of the way no matter what comes or how broken we feel. That is a God I want in my own life and in my children’s lives. He is one we can trust to turn to who understands and sees us completely.
Prayer:
Father, thank you for your love and compassion. Thank you for being present even — and especially — when we are hurting. I ask that you wrap your arms around me and remind me of your presence and goodness. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
I recently had a conversation with a loved one about anxiety and faith. We talked about whether someone can have anxiety as a Christian.
What does that look like? What does that say about our faith?
We weren’t the first people to discuss this, and I know we surely won’t be the last. But, it did get me thinking about a message many Christians need to hear:
You aren’t alone in your anxiety. Feelings of anxiety don’t mean you love Jesus Christ any less.
If you’ve been in church for any amount of time, I’m sure you’ve heard sermons and lessons on how worrying is a sin. Being anxious is a sin. Persistent anxiety means we have a lack of faith in our Heavenly Father.
I know what God’s Word says about anxiety, but I also know that it remains a struggle for so many of us.
So, can you be a Christian and have anxious thoughts at the same time? The short answer is absolutely!
But I think we need to go a bit deeper. I don’t have all the answers or any sort of theological degree. I can only share my experiences, struggles and feelings with anxiety as a Christian.
The physical component of anxiety
Having some anxiety is normal and helpful. It’s helped keep humans alive for so many years because we respond to danger and take less risk.
However, some of us get stuck in that mode even when no threat is apparent. That’s when we shift to an anxiety disorder.
Like other mental health struggles, anxiety often needs more intervention than just trite advice. And anxiety disorders are rampant.
Statistically speaking, about 30% of adults are dealing with an anxiety disorder at any given time. That’s up nearly 10% from 20 years ago.
Statistics on how the Christian population compares to the general population in regards to anxiety disorders isn’t available.
But, let’s say the Christian population does have less anxiety, we’re still talking about a minimum of 20% of adults.
Meaning if you are at a church with 300 attendees on a Sunday morning, then 60 people around you are dealing with an anxiety disorder.
So, quite literally, all congregations have members dealing with anxiety disorders.
However, we also must remember the physical component to anxiety. Certain medical conditions can cause anxiety, including diabetes, chronic pain, heart disease and thyroid problems.
Outside of other health conditions, anxiety can come from a chemical imbalance in our brains, traumatic events, ongoing stress or being genetically predisposed. None of those things can be controlled.
I also want to acknowledge the God’s power of healing here. I have seen Him do miraculous things and heal people. My firm belief is we can pray for and receive healing from anxiety.
However, I also know God’s will isn’t always healing on earth. God isn’t any less faithful for not healing someone of anxiety. And it doesn’t reflect his or her faith in any way.
A few years ago, my husband and I were discussing a difficult situation that worried us. My husband is incredibly great at compartmentalizing. He also does well with leaving his worries with God.
We were talking about how we handled our worry differently. He mentioned that he trusted God would take care of the situation. I realized I didn’t completely believe that.
Let me explain. I prayed about the same situation and knew that God would work in and through it. However, I didn’t believe it would necessarily work out positively.
My husband’s faith was in God’s work to resolve the problem. My faith was that no matter what happened with the outcome, Christ Jesus would be with me and give me the peace of God.
Neither of us were wrong, but my approach certainly leaves room for anxiety.
I like to think I was just being realistic and not thinking negative thoughts. But, I think more than anything, my perspective came from my anxiety struggles.
While my husband could list off all the things that could go wrong, he was able to not fret about them because they hadn’t happened (and might never happen).
On the other hand, my mind can get an a runaway anxiety train thinking of all the possible outcomes while still trusting God won’t leave me.
Logically, I know God is in control, but anxiety isn’t logical. One of my worst times of much anxiety was right around when my oldest daughter was born.
We went on vacation and took her with us onto a large dock with a floating restaurant. I was nearly paralyzed with anxiety because I could just see her stroller going off the dock and into the lake.
In my head, that’d just be it. She’d drown.
In reality, we had her nowhere near the edge. And had the stroller somehow gone in, my husband or I would have been in the water right afterward to get her to safety.
But reality doesn’t often factor into anxiety issues.
Moving forward in faith with anxiety
Since anxiety disorders are like any other physical or mental illness, if we aren’t healed of them, then we need to figure out how to manage them and move forward in spite of them. We can move forward in both practical and spiritual ways.
1. Pray.
Everything should start with prayer, even managing anxiety as a Christian. You can definitely pray for healing (and I encourage you to), but you can also pray for God’s help handling your anxiety.
I do this quite often. I ask God to help me stop thinking about something I’m dwelling on. Or I pray that He helps me to know if a worry is something I need to act on or just have peace about.
For example, when it’s the middle of the night and I hear a slight noise that gets my mind reeling with all the bad things it could be.
We have Biblical instruction for doing this very thing, and what I love most is that God promises us peace. While I’ve had my fair share of anxious moments that increase my heart rate, I have also felt the peace and presence of God come over and still me in the midst of it.
Related Bible verse:
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
Philippians 4:6-7 (NIV)
2. Find a Bible verse to comfort you.
The Bible has so many verses about the peace and comfort of God. It reminds us of His presence in our lives.
Find a verse that speaks to and calms your heart. (If you don’t have one, ask God to help you find one.) Memorize it and repeat it as often as needed in everyday life.
For me, that verse is Isaiah 41:10 (see below). I learned the first part of it in third grade and it has stuck with me. I’ve repeated it to myself so many times through the years in different situations and at different times.
I’ve used the second part of the verse as a breath prayer. God’s Word is powerful. It truly can cast out fear!
Related Bible verse:
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
Isaiah 41:10 (NIV)
3. Listen to encouraging music.
Music can minister to us in so many ways. God has spoken to me so many times through songs, even songs I’ve heard and sung for years. Christian music is a part of my life.
While it can encourage and uplift me, it also stays in my head. Sometimes a song stuck in my head is just what I need to hear at just the right moment. My anxiety and faith battle in song lyrics!
Recently, I was having a difficult time and kept thinking, “I’ve never felt more alone than I do right now.”
Every single time I thought that, “Jireh” from Elevation Worship and Maverick City popped into my head with, “I’ve never been more loved than I am right now.”
It helped me turn my focus around to God’s love and the truth, which I definitely needed to do.
Related Bible verse:
“Let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.”
Colossians 3:16 (NIV)
4. Monitor what you watch.
I’ve learned to be careful what I watch. Watching TV news only increases my anxiety. It’s so negative and so dismal. It can add a variety of thoughts to my head that I don’t need.
But so can fictional television shows and movies. I’m a sensitive person and always have been.
I remember watching a scary movie in fourth grade at a slumber party and can still recall scenes from that movie to this day.
I am not into the murder shows, police shows, medical dramas and so many other things because they only increase my anxiety.
Another one of the biggest issues that many of us face are navigating social media. Seeing only the best parts of others’ lives increase our anxiety symptoms and stress.
The best thing I’ve found to have less anxiety from social media is taking a break from it when I’m struggling most. Or if I start scrolling and find myself getting upset, then I close the app and move on to something else.
Unsurprisingly, the truth of God in the Bible talks about this very thing. The Apostle Paul admonishes us to be careful what we watch for a reason!
Related Bible verse:
“Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
5. Think through worst-case scenarios.
This one totally sounds counterintuitive. I sometimes get easily sidetracked and anxious thinking of all the worst-case scenarios.
But, years ago my husband challenged me to think of the worst-case scenario of my worries. Then, he said, come up with the solution.
Often that helps ease my anxiety because I have a plan. And I love having a plan!
If I come up with the worst-case scenario (and my brain is good at that), I think of what would happen if that scenario came to pass.
This works also because it makes me start thinking more practically and realistically – the opposite of how anxiety makes me think.
Related Bible verse:
“Suppose one of you wants to build a tower. Won’t you first sit down and estimate the cost to see if you have enough money to complete it?”
Luke 14:28 (NIV)
6. Talk about it.
Persistent anxiety is good at lying to us. It can make problems seem so much bigger than they are and increase the feeling of worry for no good reason.
When I have trouble dealing with something or moving on from it, it helps to talk about it with someone I trust.
For me, that’s my husband. Often just saying the words out loud help my anxiety and faith meet as I realize what I’m worried about isn’t such a big deal.
We weren’t made to bear our burdens alone. Along with being able to go to God, we also need to have people who we can turn to and trust when our burdens weigh us down.
Saying a worry out loud to good Christian friends or loved ones is a powerful tool that removes at least some of anxiety’s power.
Related Bible verse:
“If either of them falls down, one can help the other up.”
Ecclesiastes 4:10a (NIV)
7. Distract yourself.
I’m not advocating for denial here, but distracting yourself from your thoughts is a good way to help in the midst of the struggles with anxiety as a Christian. Find healthy ways to distract yourself or ground yourself in the moment.
I have a coloring app on my phone that I find soothing and often use to unwind and relax.
I’ve also tried some mindfulness and grounding techniques when my anxiety starts to get away from me. For me, this is just stopping my thoughts and shifting my focus to what I can see, feel and hear.
Sometimes what we need most is just a break from our anxious thoughts.
Related Bible verse:
“A person can do nothing better than to eat and drink and find satisfaction in their own toil. This too, I see, is from the hand of God.”
Ecclesiastes 2:24 (NIV)
8. Believe you CAN improve.
A major lie anxiety likes to tell us is that we will always feel this way — or at least feel this way for a long time. We don’t have hope for the future and have no reason to try and do better.
I’ve been down that path both with anxiety and my other health issues; I get it. I still have days where I think this is the best it gets.
But I am continuing to learn that a bad day, week or even month doesn’t mean it will always be bad.
The first step toward making progress is allowing yourself to believe –truly believe– that you can improve. And then you must remind yourself that you are worth the work.
I’ve learned I need to embrace these two concepts when I get stuck and need to move forward. I’m thankful for my husband who also gently pushes me to not just accept “this is how things are.”
Even if your anxiety isn’t healed or isn’t just a phase, you can always learn new ways to help manage it. Try new and different ways to manage your symptoms.
Don’t stop trying. Let me reassure you that God made you. You are worthwhile.
The good news is He doesn’t make junk, my friend.
You are worth the effort needed to improve. Tiny baby steps forward are still steps forward. God has plans to give you a future and a hope!
Related Bible verse:
“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 (NIV)
9. Get professional help.
A negative way anxiety and faith can overlap is by trying to convince you that since you have faith you don’t need help. Go back and read the section about the physical component of anxiety.
You can try helping yourself. Sometimes that works! But, sometimes it doesn’t because you need more help than you can give yourself.
Think of it like treating yourself when you’re sick. When you first start feeling a scratchy throat, you might drink more liquids and go to bed early.
However, if you wake up the next day with a swollen throat and a fever, you know you need to see your doctor and be checked for strep throat.
Treat your anxiety the same way. Try things to help yourself, but if it stays the same or gets worse, seek help.
You can start seeking professional help with your family doctor who can suggest mental health professionals in your areas. Consider cognitive behavioral therapy.
Be able to talking about anti-anxiety medication.
There is no shame in seeking help from a medical professional or counselor. God has given us knowledge and resources. We should not be ashamed to use those resources!
Related Bible verse:
“Plans are established by seeking advice; so if you wage war, obtain guidance.”
Proverbs 20:18 (NIV)
(Additional note: I left in this entire verse, because we are waging a war on anxiety. It applies!)
10. Focus on who God Is.
When we’re dealing with anxiety, we can feel like everything is shifting. Everything is murky, and nothing makes sense.
That’s all the more reason to focus on who God is. He is unchanging, faithful and true. That’s incredibly comforting with or without anxiety.
I remember distinctly a Sunday morning during a really bad time in my life. I’m not sure what the sermon was about that morning.
I was too distracted first by my worries but then by the cross at the front of the sanctuary. God’s Holy Spirit spoke into my heart and reminded me the God loves me and sent His Son to die for me.
When you aren’t able to cling to anything else, you can cling to God’s love. Shift your focus onto who He is and allow God’s presence and comfort to flow into you.
Related Bible verses:
“As for God, his way is perfect: The Lord’s word is flawless; he shields all who take refuge in him.”
Psalm 18:30 (NIV)
“This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.”
Encouragement for Christian moms to speak up for their kids
“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute.”
Proverbs 31:8 (NIV)
When my daughter (my oldest) was a newborn, I felt in my gut that something was wrong with her. She would cry and curl into herself like her stomach hurt.
As an exhausted and desperate new mom, I called the pediatrician to get in. Her usual doctor was out, so we saw a different doctor. I explained what was going on and how it seemed like her stomach hurt.
The pediatrician looked at my husband and me and told us that babies can’t talk so we don’t really know when or if they experience pain. We were flabbergasted. Of course, we know based on how they react!
It was preposterous to us and also beyond frustrating. Fortunately, my husband figured out that our daughter was having trouble sucking and we were able to learn how best to feed her. Her usual pediatrician returned and soon she was well fed and happy.
We spoke up for her when she couldn’t speak for herself. That’s our job as parents. Even once our children are old enough to use words and communicate all sorts of messages, we are still their biggest and best advocate.
Sure, they need to learn to speak up for themselves and have a chance to do so, but they are also learning and growing. It’s OK to be the squeaky wheel when you need to be in order to get your children help.
That day in the doctor’s office with our daughter was only the first of many, many times we’ve advocated for our children. One of the greatest gifts we can give our children is to let them know we are with them, on their side and fighting for them.
Prayer:
God, thank you for always being on my side and fighting for me, even when I don’t see it. Give me wisdom and strength for how to best advocate for my children who you’ve blessed me with. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
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