The other day, I was frantically working to cross chores off my to-do list before our friends came over. The dishes needed to be done, laundry put away, miscellaneous substances wiped off the counters … all the things.
My 5-year-old asked to help me with the dishes, and without hesitation, I quickly shooed her away and told her to play in her room. She didn’t say much and just pranced off in her princess dress without a word.
As I scrubbed the dishes, a wave of guilt washed over me. I told myself, “She just wants to be included.” So I wiped my hands on my shirt and went to find her. She was quietly playing with her dollhouse. I could have let her continue playing independently, but that looming thought stayed in the back of my mind. “She just wants to be included.”
Knowing it would slow down my productivity, I told her that I love spending time with her, and I’d love her help with the dishes. We spent the next 30 minutes talking, giggling, and happily wasting way too much water.
Without fail, it feels as though something like this happens every day. I struggle to balance my priorities and to-do list while also being a loving and present mom for my daughter.
It can feel exhausting balancing my own emotions, my child’s, and the expectations I have of myself as a mother.
Don’t get me wrong, there are plenty of times when I tell my daughter to go play while I finish up a project. But the guilt usually lingers in some form. It can feel exhausting balancing my own emotions, my child’s, and the expectations I have of myself as a mother. I want to be productive, but I also want to be present. I want to be intentional, but I can’t be intentional about everything. If I think about it too long, I can get swept up in a never-ending spiral of “if this, then that” thoughts.
5 Example Prayers for Moms
People joke that there’s no rulebook when it comes to parenting. In fact, I’d argue there are millions of opinions on how to raise your children. But the only opinion that has stood the test of time is our heavenly Father’s, who is all too familiar with the emotions that encompass parenting. That’s why prayer for me is a lifeline when it comes to motherhood and raising children.
Here are some of my favorite example prayers for moms who love this life stage and are also completely exhausted.
A Prayer for Moms and Motherhood
Dear God, thank You for the gift of being a mother. Thank You that You have called our family to steward the lives of our children. I pray, God, that You would help me to raise these children according to Your will and Your Word. Help me to love them the way that You love me, with patience, grace, peace, and joy. Give me words to speak in the hard moments, wisdom when I need it, and strength through it all. I pray You would help me to provide them with a safe place to learn, love, and grow. May You be glorified in the way that I show up as a mom. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A Prayer for Moms Who Are Running on Empty
Dear God, I need You right now. This moment feels hard, and I don’t know how much strength I have left. I’m exhausted, but I want to keep going. The heaviness I feel, I lay at Your feet, God. The burdens I’m carrying, I ask You to carry them alongside me. I trust You to help me through this exhaustion. Please show me the areas where I can ask for help. I pray that You would provide the resources I need, whether they are financial, physical, or emotional, God. You are a good God, and I ask for Your comfort and strength in this moment. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A Prayer for Moms Who Need Patience
Dear God, I ask for patience. I am overwhelmed by the interruptions and constant needs of my children. Help me to be slow to anger and frustration. Redirect my thoughts and remind me what is true about my situation. I pray You would fill me with a heart of kindness and self-control. Help me to have grace for myself and for my children. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A Prayer for Moms Who Feel Like They’re Not Doing Enough
Dear God, I come to You with a weary spirit, feeling as though I’m not doing enough. Help me to remember that this is the day that You have made. Help me to rejoice and to be glad in it. God, I pray You would help remove any thoughts of comparison and insecurity from my mind and heart. Thank You for seeing me, even in the moments when I feel unseen. I pray You would help me prioritize the things I have to do, ask for help, and have the energy to tackle what You have planned for today. In Jesus’ name, amen.
A Prayer for Moms to Enjoy This Season (Without Burning Out)
Dear God, thank You for the gift of motherhood. I pray You would help me to run at the pace You have planned for me. Help me know when to slow down. Give me discernment to know how to hold both joy and boundaries simultaneously. Fill me with the desire to be present for my children, without needing to be perfect. God, I ask that You would pour out Your presence within our home. Provide me with confidence as a mom that can only come from You. In Jesus’ name, amen.
Remember: No One’s Perfect
No matter how hard we try, we’ll never be perfect as parents. Thankfully, perfection isn’t our goal. It’s faithfulness in whatever God has asked of us in the moment.
Motherhood isn’t all or nothing. It’s stewarding the moments in front of us to the best of our ability.
Sometimes, the dishes can’t wait. Other times, we can stop what we’re doing and give our children our full attention. Motherhood isn’t all or nothing. It’s stewarding the moments in front of us to the best of our ability.
We Need God’s Help
As parents, we will never be able to take away our child’s need for a savior. And the same is true for us. So if you happen to get a little short, make a wrong decision, or just feel too exhausted for another round of playing tag, please hear me: It’s going to be okay.
What matters is how we humble ourselves before God, acknowledging our need for His presence and grace in our lives. If we need to make something right, we can apologize. And at the end of the day, we can let go of the shame and guilt. Having a hard day doesn’t mean you’re broken; it means you’re human.
Remember, God’s power is made perfect in weakness.
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. That is why, for Christ’s sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong. 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 NIV
“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.” Matthew 11:28-29 NIV
When you are at the end of your rope, filled with exhaustion from the demands of motherhood and life, take a moment to remember you aren’t alone in your parenting. God is your guide, filling you with direction. He is your rock, providing you with the strength you need to keep going. He is your comfort, providing you with the grace to forgive yourself when you don’t get it right. He is your peace when your home feels filled with chaos. He is exactly what you need, when you need it.
So don’t wait to invite Him into each moment—pray.