Parenting and faith.
Can you grow closer to Jesus in the chaotic environment of everyday parenting?
Is spiritual growth possible with little to no silence or solitude in your home, sleep deprivation, children sucking the life out of you, and intimidating piles of laundry demanding time or energy you don’t have?
Methodist author Lydia Sohn says, “Children are the biggest time-sucks God has ever created. They’re blessings, no doubt, but big-time-suck blessings.” You may empathize with Lydia’s sentiment. Amidst the hustle and bustle of being a mom or dad, the likelihood of pursuing something soul-refining, faith-forming, and life-giving often seems like an unrealizable dream.
Growing closer to Jesus isn’t only for those who have the time to sit quietly and meditate; it’s also for parents absorbed in the everyday demands of caring for their children. Share on XBut take heart. There is a way forward – a spiritual pathway designed just for you. Growing closer to Jesus isn’t only for those who have the time to sit quietly and meditate; it’s also for parents absorbed in the everyday demands of caring for their children.
Spiritual life for mums and dads.
God wouldn’t be God if He were absent during the season of diapers, dummies and drawer locks. You don’t have to wait until your children are older to connect with Jesus meaningfully. His grace is sufficient, and your spiritual growth is possible, even at your parenting wits’ end. Your extremities are God’s opportunities – He uses your caregiving experiences to provide the character-building, faith-illuminating health and growth you long for.
It’s a matter of perspective. Stop seeing parenting as a barrier to intimacy with Christ and start seeing it as a unique opportunity to press into Him. After all, what could be more illuminating, faith-forming, revealing weaknesses, humbling, and defining of virtue than the constant practice of self-sacrifice and selflessness that comes with parenthood?
What could be more illuminating, faith-forming, revealing of weaknesses, humbling, and defining of virtue than the constant practice of self-sacrifice and selflessness that comes with parenthood? Share on XA lesson from Brother Lawrence.
The 17th-century monk Brother Lawrence, who worked in a monastery kitchen, is known for his capacity to continually practice God’s presence. He saw what some would consider drudgery as an opportunity to discipline his mind, worship God, and pray for others. As he said, “The time of business does not with me differ from the time of prayer; and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, while several persons are at the same time calling for different things, I possess God in as great tranquillity as if I were upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.”
If Brother Lawrence could pray continuously while handwashing countless dishes in an ancient abbey – you can undoubtedly practice a conscious, thankful awareness of God’s presence while vacuum-cleaning, folding laundry, and making meals in a modern home with all the conveniences of today’s technology.
Shifting your perspective.
Little changes are catalysts for meaningful transformation. Find the sacred in the present. Shift your perspective from viewing the obligations of parenthood as obstacles to seeing them as opportunities to practice Christ-consciousness, immerse yourself in your season of life, and cherish even the smallest moments of every moment with your family.
Little changes are catalysts for meaningful transformation. Find the sacred in the present. Share on XGod is with you regardless of how much or how little time you can find for reading and reflecting on His Word! That’s not to say you shouldn’t engage with God’s Word whenever possible. Be as consistent as you can be. Yet recognize that He’s nourishing and loving you, albeit differently from how it was before you had children.
With the advantage of hindsight, I’m sure of this. Your spiritual growth isn’t determined by how many hours you can spend fellowshipping, celebrating, praying, or serving the Lord. In the sacramentality of everyday parenting, you can find Jesus when you look for Him in the trivial and humdrum moments of your day.
Hold onto this verse of Scripture: “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.
You may lack opportunities or awareness to reflect on it, but spiritual growth occurs during struggle, sacrifice, and strain. Share on XAlthough you may sometimes feel overwhelmed and exhausted, you are being shaped, refined, and purified. You may lack opportunities or awareness to reflect on it, but spiritual growth occurs during struggle, sacrifice, and strain. Don’t despair. Your children may push you to your limits, but rest assured, God uses your circumstances (when you allow Him) to strengthen your walk with Him.
What are your preferred ways to connect with God amid the chaos of parenting? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.
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Summary
Spiritual growth amid the chaos of parenting. This article provides encouragement and practical advice for nurturing faith in the everyday moments of raising children. Parenting and faith can coexist, even in the mayhem of daily life, when parents embrace their caregiving role as an opportunity for spiritual growth rather than a barrier. Drawing inspiration from Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century monk who practiced God’s presence in the mundane, the constant demands of parenthood, such as cleaning and caregiving, are reframed as opportunities to find sacred moments and grow closer to God. Parents are reminded that God’s grace is present, even when life feels overwhelming. By shifting their perspective, parents can connect with Christ amid parenting challenges, finding purpose in their sacrifices and struggles.
© Scripture Union, 2025
Soli Deo Gloria
