Raising teenagers in today’s world can feel like spiritual warfare.
Maybe that's because the vast majority of the time, it is.
There’s so much noise—from social media, school pressures, cultural confusion—and sometimes we feel like our voice is the last one they want to hear.
But mama, your voice still matters.
And even more importantly, your example matters.
When you prioritize Bible study, you're not just feeding your own soul—you're modeling what it looks like to stay rooted in truth.
Your teens need to see that faith isn’t just something you just talk about on Sundays. It’s something you fight for daily.
Deuteronomy 6:6-7 encourages us:
“And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children.”
That teaching doesn’t stop when they grow taller than us. (If it did, I would have stopped when my kids were in elementary school. If you know me, you know. #shortgirlproblems)
Set the tone in your home by making Bible study visible and normal.
Let your teen see you reading the Word, journaling, or praying.
Invite them to read with you—maybe once a week over breakfast, during dinner, or before bed.
Ask what they’re struggling with and offer Scripture that speaks to it. They may roll their eyes at first, but seeds are being planted.
Here are a few ways to stay grounded and pour truth into your teens:
- Have a personal Bible reading plan and share what you're learning (not sure where to start with a personal reading plan? Email me or comment below and let's chat so I can help you create one!)
- Ask your teen to join you for one verse or one short devotional each week
- Listen to worship music whenever you're in the car together
- Text them Scripture or encouragement (they’re already on their phones!)
- Pray for them—and with them—regularly
- Start a blessing journal you share with your teen where you both write answered prayers, gratitude, or where you saw God at work that day
- Create a Scripture scavenger hunt by hiding index cards with verses or prayers in their backpack, shoes, bathroom mirror, or car
- Do a service project together (like at a food pantry or helping a neighbor) to spark faith conversations in real-life moments
- Build a worship + testimony playlist together and include a few audio clips of you sharing prayers or stories of God’s faithfulness
- Set up a family group chat for spiritual encouragement to share verses, prayers, or reminders of God’s truth throughout the week
- Celebrate spiritual milestones (like baptism, finishing a Bible study, or stepping out in faith) with a special meal or small gift
- Host a faith and food night by inviting your teen’s friends over for pizza and a short devo, prayer, or testimony time
This season requires perseverance, but it’s holy work. Don’t give up.
Galatians 6:9 promises,
“And let us not grow weary of doing good, for in due season we will reap, if we do not give up.”
Stay rooted so you can guide them well. We can't be the moms our kids need apart from Christ. This season requires intentionality in abiding in Him.
If you’re in the trenches of motherhood with spit-up on your shoulder, three hours of sleep (on a good night), and a toddler clinging to your leg, I see you.
And I want you to hear me loud and clear: you are not failing if your Bible study doesn’t look like it used to.
This sacred season of motherhood—yes, even in its exhaustion—is one the Lord sees.
He’s not asking for quiet time perfection. He’s inviting you into communion, however messy or short it may be.
Isaiah 40:11 says,
“He will tend his flock like a shepherd; he will gather the lambs in his arms; he will carry them in his bosom, and gently lead those that are with young.” (emphasis mine)
What a sweet picture of His gentleness with mothers.
Maybe right now, your study looks like meditating on one verse all day.
Write it on a sticky note and put it on your bathroom mirror or the fridge. Use feeding times or nap rocking as moments to pray that verse or ask the Lord to help you understand it more deeply.
Listen to an audio Bible while folding laundry or playing blocks on the floor (bonus: your kids hear it then too!).
Hang Scripture verse cards in your home where you’ll see them often.
Music counts too! Sing hymns over your home and your heart while loading or unloading the dishwasher.
Quick wins for this season:
- Pick one verse a day and meditate on it (work on memorization, look up the context and make sure you understand the author's intention and meaning so you meditate on truth rather than opinion or incorrect interpretation)
- Use audio Bibles—play it in the background while you’re nursing or changing diapers
- Stick Scripture cards around the house for bite-sized truth
- Pray Scripture during feedings or even during midnight wake-ups (have you seen my Titus 2 or 1 Peter Prayer Cards?)
Most importantly: give yourself grace.
God is not grading your Bible study. He simply desires for your heart to prioritize Him. Even five minutes with the Lord can change your entire day when it’s done in faith.
Let Matthew 11:28 remind you that Jesus beckons you:
“Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.”
If you feel like you're reading for a more structured Bible study, reach out to me! I have been praying over the idea of offering customized Bible study plans, based on your style of learning, the time you have available, and what you'd like to study. This would also be an opportunity to learn new Bible study methods to help you dig in deeper.
In the meantime, check out the other digital tools available, and let me know what ONE thing you'll do today to prioritize God in your day!
Mother’s Day can feel like a bright spotlight on our pain.
For some, it’s the ache of empty arms after miscarriage or infertility.
For others, it’s the sting of estrangement from children or a mom, or the hollow space left behind by a mom who has passed.
And for still others, it's the unbearable grief of losing a child.
If that’s you, sweet sister, I want you to know: God sees you. He is near to the brokenhearted (Psalm 34:18), and His Word is a balm for the soul.
I’ve had seasons where Mother’s Day brought tears instead of joy. And if I’m honest, I'm in one of those seasons now.
It carries some guilt, because do I have a wonderful mom and beautiful children to celebrate, but there are other pains in my motherhood journey that often leave me feeling like the wind has been knocked out of me.
Sometimes I feel like I don't belong in these celebrations—like I'm on the outside looking in.
But Scripture reminds us that our identity is never defined by a role or a title.
Womanhood is not defined by whether or not we have children, and whether the relationships we have are thriving or broken.
Our worth is not determined by what we’ve lost or longed for. It’s rooted in Christ alone.
Psalm 139:13-14 reminds us that we are fearfully and wonderfully made—knit together by a Creator who never makes mistakes.
In those hard moments, turn to the Psalms.
David didn’t hold back in his grief. He wept, he questioned, he lamented—and God met him there.
Psalm 13 begins with, “How long, O Lord? Will you forget me forever?” but it ends with, “I will sing to the Lord, because he has dealt bountifully with me.” That’s the tension we live in—honest pain, yet anchored hope.
If Mother’s Day hurts this year, let yourself grieve. Sit with the Lord and let His Word comfort you.
Isaiah 66:13 says,
“As one whom his mother comforts, so I will comfort you.”
What a precious promise. You are seen, loved, and not alone.
Here are a few verses to cling to this week:
- Psalm 56:8 – “You have kept count of my tossings; put my tears in your bottle.”
- Lamentations 3:22-23 – “The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end.”
- Romans 8:18 – “For I consider that the sufferings of this present time are not worth comparing with the glory that is to be revealed to us.”
And here's an action step for you to try: grab a pen and paper, and write out your own Psalm to the Lord. Cry out to Him your deepest anguish, give him the full force of your grief, and let His comfort wash over you.
Let your heart rest in His goodness—even when it aches.
There’s no greater picture of forgiveness than the cross.
As Jesus hung there, suffering for our sins, He spoke words that still shake me to the core (Luke 23:34):
"Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do"
If Jesus could extend that kind of mercy in His darkest moment, what does that mean for us in our everyday lives—especially in marriage and motherhood?
Forgiveness is hard. When your husband says something hurtful, when your kids push every button you have, when a friend disappoints or hurts you—it’s easy to hold onto resentment.
But sweet friend, withholding forgiveness, hanging on to that resentment and the bitterness that results, only keeps you in bondage.
Jesus didn’t just forgive to be nice; He forgave to set us free. And He calls us to do the same.
In marriage, forgiveness is crucial.
Regardless of how wonderful your husband may be, he will mess up—just like you do.
Choosing to forgive, rather than keeping score, creates an environment of grace where love can thrive.
A practical step? Instead of rehashing past wrongs, choose to focus on solutions and moving forward together.
I know what you might be thinking: "What if he just keeps doing the same thing over and over again?"
That's an entirely different topic, but let's touch on it real quick.
If it's a true sin issue where he is unrepentant, like looking at porn, cheating, getting drunk every night, abuse, or other things that are clear-cut sins, I would encourage you to seek wise, godly, biblical counseling. There are different nuances within each of those issues that go deeper than I can discuss in a blog post.
If it's a personal conviction - or even just personal preference - issue where you don't want him to do something (or TO do something) that he doesn't keep up, I would encourage you to seek God and ask if this is a situation where He is asking YOU to change. Your husband's convictions will likely be different from your own on many topics. You may feel convicted about living a clean, toxin free lifestyle; he may not feel convicted to prioritize that.
Listen, I will be real with you and say this one is a STRUGGLE for me. While it doesn't necessarily require me to forgive my husband, it DOES require me to continue treating him with respect, honor, and love, despite any aggravation I may feel because he's not doing the things I feel convicted that he should be doing.
If you're experiencing anything like that, please reach out to me - I would be honored to walk through this with you and offer any biblical wisdom or godly counsel that I am able.
As moms, we can also model forgiveness for our children.
When they see you forgive quickly and extend grace, they learn to do the same.
A simple way to practice this is by apologizing when you lose our temper or forget to follow through on something, showing them that grace isn’t just something you talk about—it’s something you live.
This also gives them an opportunity to practice forgiveness themselves.
And I can hear another question you might be asking: what if the other person hasn't asked for forgiveness?
Romans 5:8 tells us:
"but God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us."
You didn't ask for forgiveness before Christ gave His life for you.
There are so many others who have been offered forgiveness in Christ that have not asked for His forgiveness - yet it is still extended, available to them, offered freely.
The forgiveness you give FREES YOU from bitterness, resentment, anxiety, anger, and the actual physical manifestations of those things that can wreak havoc on your body and ruin your ability to live out God's will for you.
Let's deal with another question: does forgiveness require me to reconcile?
If the other person is unrepentant in their sin, and maintaining a relationship with them puts you in a situation that is dangerous (emotionally, physically, spiritually), then NO - you are not required to reconcile. Reconciliation takes two people works towards a shared goal of unity in the relationship.
If the other person is repentant and actively desiring reconciliation, and you see fruit of the repentance in their life indicating that a relationship with them could be safe, then I would encourage you to prayerfully consider reconciling with them. Depending on the severity of the sin committed against you, this is absolutely something you will need to seek God's guidance in.
The cross teaches us that forgiveness is powerful. It breaks chains, heals wounds, and brings peace.
As a response to our Easter celebration two weeks ago, focusing on Christ's resurrection, let’s ask God to soften our hearts and help us walk in the freedom that comes with forgiving as we have been forgiven.
Throughout this month, we've talked a lot about spring cleaning: our hearts, our marriages, our quiet time.
But how in the world do you find the time to DO any of that spring cleaning in the first place?
Most women - wives, mothers, and single women alike - often find themselves at the mercy of their calendars and to-do lists - that are often based on other people's priorities.
Our homes aren’t the only things that need a little spring cleaning—our schedules and boundaries do too.
Let me ask you something (and be honest with yourself here): Have you ever felt too busy to spend time with God?
You want to dive into Scripture, you want to pray more intentionally, but life just keeps piling up?
Between marriage, kids, errands, work, and all the little things that need your attention, quiet time with the Lord keeps getting pushed to “later”... except later never seems to come.
If you're too busy for God, you're taking on tasks and responsibilities that He hasn't asked of you.
God Never Asked You to Do It All
Somewhere along the way, we started believing that being a good wife and mom means saying “yes” to everything—every volunteer opportunity, every social event, every late-night task we could’ve asked for help with.
But God never called us to exhaustion. He didn’t design us to be so busy serving everyone else that we have nothing left for Him, for our husbands, or even ourselves.
Jesus Himself had boundaries. He didn’t heal everyone who asked. He stepped away from the crowds to pray.
He rested.
And if the Son of God didn’t try to do it all, why do we? (Tough truth: it's often our pride and need to control that makes us feel like we can and should do it all.)
If your schedule is packed, if you feel stretched thin, if you don’t even know when you last had an unrushed moment with the Lord—it’s time to declutter your commitments.
Spring Clean Your Schedule & Priorities
I want you to take a look at everything on your plate right now. Write it down if you need to. Then ask yourself these questions:
- Did God call me to this, or did guilt, pressure, or people-pleasing put it on my plate?
- Is this bringing my family closer together, or pulling us apart?
- Is this drawing me closer to God, or distracting me from Him?
- Is this an accurate indication of what I say I prioritize, or does it compete with everything I want to prioritize?
- Am I resting and restoring my energy, or am I running on empty?
If your schedule is so full that you don’t have time to pray, to study Scripture, to truly connect with your husband, or to just breathe—something has to change.
Not everything needs to stay on your calendar. Some commitments are good, but may not be God’s best for this season. It’s okay to say no.
Boundaries Aren’t Just for Others—They’re for You, Too
A lot of times when we talk about boundaries, we think about setting limits with other people. And yes, that’s important!
But boundaries aren’t just about saying no to others—they’re also about saying yes to what matters most.
I'm sure you've heard the saying that when you say yes to one thing, you're saying no to something else.
What do you need to say no to so that you can:
- Say yes to daily time with the Lord—even if it’s just 15 minutes before the kids wake up.
- Say yes to date nights with your husband—your marriage needs intentional care.
- Say yes to rest—rest that refuels you, not just mindless scrolling on your phone.
- Say yes to quiet evenings at home instead of overloading your schedule.
When you clear out the clutter and protect what truly matters, you’ll find more peace, more joy, and more of God’s presence in your everyday life.
What Needs to Change?
So here’s my challenge to you, sweet friend: Take some time this week to “spring clean” your boundaries.
Pray over your commitments. Ask God to show you what needs to stay and what needs to go. And then, be bold enough to make the changes He’s calling you to make.
God never asked you to do it all. He just asks you to walk with Him. And trust me—when you clear out the clutter, you’ll have so much more room for His peace, His wisdom, and His joy.
Need a little guidance? Grab your FREE guide, "From Overwhelmed to Aligned: A Simple Worksheet to Free Your Schedule & Focus on What Matters" to help you reflect on your current schedule and make space for what you know God is actually calling you to prioritize right now.
I’d love to hear from you—what’s one boundary you need to reset this season? Let’s chat in the comments! 💛
