Motherhood is a beautiful gift from God. What a blessing it is to be able to grow and sustain, then raise up children. While beautiful and fulfilling, it can also be overwhelming at times. As mothers we often feel inadequate and like we aren’t doing enough. Wondering if we are “doing it right” and attempting to run a household, care for the children, show up well for everyone, and also remember all the important things. It is a lot. But thankfully there are so many Scriptures for motherhood to keep us rooted in His truth.
Motherhood was never meant to be carried alone. And when I say “alone” I am not implying that husbands aren’t carrying their weight, but motherhood can feel lonely at times in the regard that you feel unseen.
God blessed us with this beautiful gift, and entrusted us with our children knowing our unique skills, faults, and hearts. Motherhood can feel all consuming, and like we are pouring ourselves out completely by the time our head finally hits the pillow at night. And maybe that’s the whole point. Maybe God created motherhood to be something that requires us to give all of ourselves and humble ourselves day in and day out so that we would need to lean on Him. In order to fill our cups back up so we can continue to pour out, we must depend on the source, which is our loving Father.
What You Can Expect to Find in Scripture
If you aren’t very familiar with the Bible, you may not know what it actually holds. But let me tell you from experience, I found great comfort when I began reading Scripture. Before, I didn’t know all the goodness that was held within the pages.
Scripture is a place of rest, reassurance and truth when our emotions feel loud. Amidst the noise and the chaos of raising children, God meets us where we are. He gives us grace daily, and every moment on those extra hard day. We don’t need to strive to get closer to God, we just need to invite Him in. His peace can exist even in the noise.
When motherhood feels overwhelming, God’s word reminds us of what is true. These scriptures can bring peace and encouragement when the days feel heavy.
Why Scripture Is So Powerful in Overwhelming Motherhood Seasons
Scripture helps anchor our thoughts in truth instead of emotions. Sometimes emotions are high and the spiral effect can begin. Swirling thoughts of what ifs and hypothetical situations that we couldn’t possibly know. That can be depleting, and no wonder we feel overwhelmed. Because we aren’t just managing the right now, but also all of the possible future scenarios. We can’t live in the future, the past and the present all at the same time. When we slow down and stay present, everything seems much more manageable. And Scripture brings us back to the present, reminds us of truth. God’s word reminds us that we are loved, seen and strengthened.
Even a single verse can shift the atmosphere of a hard day.
So if you are feeling overwhelmed, dive into Scripture. Read a verse slowly, write down a verse that stands out to you and return to it throughout the day.
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10 Scriptures for Motherhood
When You Feel Weak and Tired
Matthew 11:28 “Come to me, all of you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.”
God doesn’t just call you near when you’re at your best, He invites us in when we are weary and burdened, promising us rest.
Wow what a beautiful understanding. Like a warm embrace that you can melt into when you feel like you want to curl up into a ball. He is there to calm us, and give us rest. He gives us permission to slow down.
So the next time you feel completely tapped out, remember this verse, and allow God to carry you. When you feel like you have nothing left to give, allow God to fill up your cup. You don’t need long uninterrupted prayer and journal times to invite God into your day. I wrote a post to show you how to spend time with God even when you’re exhausted.
Prayer: “Dear God, thank you for this day. Please be near to me and strengthen me when I feel weak. Amen.”
When You Feel Like You’re Not Enough
2 Corinthians 12:9 “But he said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is perfected in weakness. ”Therefore, I will most gladly boast all the more about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may reside in me.”
God’s grace is sufficient for us. How reassuring it is to know that we don’t need to carry the guilt of imperfections. He knows that we will not be perfect, our human nature causes us to fall short all the time, but He gives us the gift of His grace, and His power is perfected in weakness.
So the next time you are feeling less than worthy, remember that God is working in you. During the times that you feel you are falling short, He is closing the gap.
Prayer: “Dear God, thank you for the beautiful gift of your grace. Help me to rest in knowing that You are all that I need. Please take away any thoughts of guilt or comparison and replace them with Your truth that I am worthy and loved by you. In Jesus’s name, Amen.”
For When the Day Feels Chaotic
Philippians 4:6-7 “Don’t worry about anything, but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus.”
Scripture reminds us not to worry over and over. To not rely on our own understanding, and to trust God. This verse reminds us that for everything to pray and with thanks (before, during and after answered prayers), humbly make our requests to God. He promises that His peace will guard our hearts and minds. And His peace surpasses all understanding. ALL. Meaning that His peace can exist in any and all circumstances.
So if your home is loud, messy, chaotic at times, just know that peace can still exist there. It is not something to put off till “one day” when the house is quiet, clean, and calm. This post helps you find peace when motherhood feels loud.
Prayer: “Thank you God for bringing your peace into my heart and my home. Remind me of your nearness and allow me to feel your presence today. Bring your peace into every moment that I face today. Thank you Lord, in Jesus’s name, Amen.”
When Anxiety Creeps In
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore don’t worry about tomorrow, because tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
This is one of those verses that is so simple and straightforward that it made me laugh at how silly we can be sometimes. God always provides. When we don’t know what to say, He gives us the words. If we are stressed about money, it somehow all works out. When we are worried about tomorrow, He already has it planned out.
So the next time you are feeling anxious about what is yet to come, bring your worries to God. And hand them over like a big basket full of stuff you were never meant to carry, because that is all it is.
We can’t possibly know what is to come, so why do we let the unknown steal our joy right now. Joy in the present moment is the only thing we have, but when we are not present, we cannot see it, feel it, and be comforted by it.
Prayer: “Dear Jesus, thank you for taking such great care of me and loving me so deeply. You have always provided for all of my needs, and I know that won’t ever change. Please help me to hand my worries and fear over to you. Take them away from me and fill me with your reminders of truth. Help me to stay present and live in gratitude for all that you have provided to me. Amen.”
When You Feel Invisible in the Work of Motherhood
Galatians 6:9 “Let us not get tired of doing good, for we will reap at the proper time if we don’t give up.”
Motherhood can feel like a thankless job so much of the time. We do so much all day long, yet somehow it feels like we didn’t get anything done or have anything to show for it. But that is not true. The work we do as mothers is holy, faithful work. God sees every moment, every effort, and He hears every whispered prayer.
So remember that although it can feel like we want to throw in the towel and give up at times, because we don’t feel like our effort is appreciated, we must not get tired of doing good. Our time will come to reap our reward. God sees every act of faithfulness. Everything you are doing matters. Even when it feels like no one sees it.
Prayer: “Thank you God for trusting me to mother my children. I know that you see all that I do. Thank you for reminding me that I do not need appreciation from those around me. Help me to work with a joyful heart in everything I do, honoring you with every effort.”
When You Need Patience
Colossians 3:12-13 “Therefore, as God’s chosen ones, holy and dearly loved, put on compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience, bearing with one another and forgiving one another if anyone has a grievance against another. Just as the Lord has forgiven you, so you are also to forgive.”
Motherhood is the ultimate test of practice what you teach. It is humbling in so many ways. So the next time you are frustrated with your children, remember what God has done for you. We want to be more Christ-like, and motherhood is the perfect refining process. It requires us to model the behavior we are trying to instill in our children. And when we remember the grace that God gives us when we fall short (daily), it helps us to do the same for our children. Doing so with a soft heart, without chastising, just as God does for us, is such a beautiful way to model God’s character.
Prayer: “Dear God, please help me to have the patience, compassion and mercy for my children just as you endlessly do for me. Humble me and allow me to lead by example and keep my heart softened. Amen.”
When You Feel Discouraged
James 1:12 “Blessed is the one who endures trials, because when he has stood the test he will receive the crown of life that God has promised to those who love him.”
Some days just feel like nothing seems to go our way. It can feel like we want to go lay in bed until the new day, giving up for today. But Scripture reminds us that trials are a blessing that build endurance. So the next time you are feeling discouraged, think to yourself, “What is God trying to grow in me that I didn’t have before?”
Prayer: “Thank you God for whatever you are trying to teach me right now. I may not understand why things feel so hard, but I know that you are working on my behalf. To grow me in ways I didn’t know I needed. Thank you for caring about me so much to know me deeply and give me exactly what I need. Even if I may not like it at the time. I appreciate your love and care. Amen.”
One little bonus verse because this is one I return to daily.
Proverbs 3:5-6 “Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not rely on your own understanding; in all your ways know him, and he will make your paths straight.”
With ALL your heart. Trust is something that can feel hard because maybe we have been let down before. But God is good on His promises. When you trust in Him with all of your heart, and in all your ways know Him, He will make your paths straight. Not easy, straight. Rely not on your own understanding. Because we do not see everything so our own understanding can send us down a wrong path. He will make our path clear and straight so that we don’t have to second guess anything. So, don’t just trust your “gut”, trust your God. Listen to Him, know Him, and He will guide you.
If You Feel Alone in Motherhood
Deuteronomy 31:6 “Be strong and courageous; don’t be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; he will not leave you or abandon you.”
Motherhood can feel isolating sometimes. Whether it be physically because its difficult to leave the house. Or emotionally because you don’t feel like you can share how you are really feeling. But you are never alone. God is always near and waiting to hear from you.
Invite Him into your day, come as you are, He will meet you there.
Prayer: “Thank you God for always being available to hear my call. I feel so alone lately. Please help me to remember that I am not alone and that I can rest in knowing that you are guiding me always. Thank you for always loving me, Amen.”
When You Need Wisdom
James 1:5 “Now if any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God—who gives to all generously and ungrudgingly—and it will be given to him.”
Motherhood has a way of truly humbling you. There’s nothing I have experienced that quite measures up to the feeling incompetent that motherhood can bring. But when we trust in the Lord and seek His guidance, it will be given to us.
We have already been gifted our natural instincts from God. But sometimes we have a hard time listening to them because the lies of society or fear of judgement from others is louder.
When we silence the lies of the world, trust our God given abilities, and open our hearts to receiving, we get answers that we can feel confident in. So the next time you’re feeling like “I don’t know how to do this”, replace it with “God will guide me through this difficult situation.”
Prayer: “Thank you God for my beautiful children. Sometimes I feel as though I am falling short in motherhood. Please place your Word on my heart and allow it to lead my parenting decisions. I trust that you know best and will guide me every step of the way. Please open up my ears to hear you and make a change in my mind so that I remember your wisdom when making decisions. Thank you for being someone I can always depend on. Amen.”
When You Simply Need Peace in Motherhood
Isaiah 26:3 “You will keep the mind that is dependent on you in perfect peace, for it is trusting in you.”
Motherhood can feel like a whirlwind. And when we become distracted by worldly things, it can feel totally out of control at times. But when we slow down and focus on what is right in front of us, rather than everything going on in the world, it becomes much more manageable. Simple and gentle faith rhythms like the ones in this post help you stay present and invite God into your day.
We were never meant to carry the weight of the world. We carry enough as mothers. Under our one roof, there is already so much for us to carry. So the next time you are feeling overwhelmed, pause, breathe, and look at the present moment only. If you’re feeling overwhelmed or stuck and you need guidance to take the first step out of survival mode, I created a free 10 Minute Survival Mode Reset to help you get started.
When we focus on the present, and trust that God is handling the rest, we can feel peace, even in the noise.
Prayer: “Dear God, thank you for graciously gifting me your peace even in the noise. I know that you are working for my good and that I am not meant to be in control of everything. Help me to remember that my focus is You and managing the things that you have blessed me with in the best way I can. All the glory to you, in Jesus’s name, Amen.”
Simple Ways to Keep These Scriptures for Motherhood Close
Keeping Scripture close, returning to it often is one of the greatest things I have done for my motherhood and my mental health. Seeing it daily, re-reading the same verses, and memorizing some have helped me stay grounded in truth. I had never been good with memorizing things. But in the beginning of my faith journey I asked God to help my memory so that I can store His word in my heart for when I need it. And my oh my, did He deliver. It is shocking to me still that I can memorize so many verses to bring up throughout the day.
Bible App for Your Phone
For the times when I think of a Scripture but can’t remember exactly where to find it, the YouVersion Bible app is great because it is searchable. Its great for so many other things too, and I make it part of my morning rhythm. I don’t check my phone in the mornings other than to see the verse of the day, the guided Scripture and the guided prayer. There are also sections for various emotions that they have compiled as well as plans for anything you might be working through. I have found this one resource incredibly helpful in deepening my faith by going through different plans based on what I am working through.
Keeping Scripture Visible
Writing Scripture out by hand is another thing I like to do. Sometimes I will write a verse or two on an index card and tape it to my computer or somewhere that I will see it frequently. It is great too because the whole family ends up seeing it and reading it throughout the day too!
I also choose a verse I want to focus on and create a phone wallpaper so that I see it every day. I have included about 15 wallpapers in my free 10 minute reset and I am regularly adding more as I find verses that resonate deeply.
Returning Over and Over
Motherhood will always have overwhelming moments, but those moments don’t have to consume you or take hold of your entire day. Returning to Scripture over and over gives us something steady to return to. Even just one verse can change the tone of a difficult day. When you keep His truth front of mind your emotions remain steady and rooted.
The more you immerse yourself in His truth, the more at peace you will be in any and all circumstances.
Return to these verses whenever you feel overwhelmed and allow Him to guide you in your motherhood.
Staying rooted in Scripture allows peace to exist in the chaos, and a devotional like this one can help you create a daily habit to read scripture every day and allow it to shape your motherhood. If you haven’t started reading Scripture because it feels overwhelming, I have a post to help you start reading the Bible without it being overwhelming.
Peace is available to you right now mama. He is near.
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