How do I spend time with God when the kids need 100% of my time?
Realize you NEED time with Him
How Do I Spend Time with God When the Kids Need 100% of My Time?
This question deserves its own chapter—because it’s not just about fitting in a “quiet time,” is it? It’s about your soul feeling parched while the needs around you never stop pouring in.
I remember those days. I struggled hard to have a consistent time with the Lord when my kids were little. Looking back, I used to think that if I had just been more organized, maybe I would’ve done better. But the truth is, many mornings I opened my eyes and the day was already sprinting ahead of me. I had no plan—just needs to meet and fires to put out. And by the time my head hit the pillow at night, I was exhausted and emotionally numb.
My mindset didn’t help either. I felt completely tied to my babies and toddlers—like their every cry required my immediate attention. I was on high alert all day, every day. I never went outside if I had a baby sleeping. I never left them, not even to take a walk. Without realizing it, I had made my children my idol. They filled my thoughts constantly. Even my prayers, when I did pray, were only about them.
This wasn’t the first time I’d gone down that road. Years before, I made my husband my idol—hanging on his every word, letting his opinion matter more than God’s. I even prayed about him more than I prayed to God. Eventually, I saw the sin in that and repented. But then I did it again, with my kids. I let the very gifts God had given me take His place in my heart.
It’s no surprise that I ended up spiritually dry, emotionally spent, and physically drained.
One day I realized I couldn’t remember the last time I had actually prayed. Maybe a month? Maybe longer. I’d been so caught up in homeschooling, cooking, cleaning, and diaper duty that I honestly believed I didn’t have time to pray. And when someone asked me about it, I said just that: “I don’t have time to pray.”
But then a wise and Spirit-filled woman from Africa told me lovingly—but firmly—that the real issue in our home was prayerlessness.
I didn’t want to hear that. I didn’t want to admit there was anything wrong, especially with me. Pride is still something I battle. But more than that, I was offended by the idea that I should do more when I already felt like I was doing all I could just to keep things afloat.
Looking back now, I can’t believe I felt that way—but I did. I had let my thoughts become so consumed by my kids that I lost all perspective. And I was starving for God’s presence without even realizing it.
Friend, if you’re in that place—I don’t judge you. I’ve been you. And even more importantly, God doesn’t judge you either.
When I finally turned my heart back toward Him, I felt nervous, even embarrassed. I wondered if God would even want to hear from me again. I kind of sheepishly came to Him with a, “Hey... remember me?” attitude.
But what I felt in return floored me. He wasn’t disappointed. He wasn’t cold or distant. I could feel His joy. It was as if He said, “Welcome back. I’ve missed you. I’ve been waiting.” I expected frustration or correction. What I got was warmth. Delight. Love.
It reminded me of the prodigal son. I wasn’t rejected—I was embraced.
One day, not long after that, I was driving alone (a rare luxury in those days!) and asked God, “Do You have anything You want to say to me?” I felt Him begin to speak, but I only caught the first part: “I d— — — — you.” I knew it started with a “d” but couldn’t make it out. “Desire”? No. That wasn’t it. I kept guessing. Then suddenly, I heard it clearly in my heart:
“I delight in you.”
I was undone. Delight? Really? That word pierced right through my worn-out mama heart.
I asked, “Why would You delight in me? What did I do to deserve that?” But that’s the beauty of God’s love—we don’t deserve it. And we don’t have to. We are His children. And just like I delight in my babies simply because they’re mine, He delights in us simply because we’re His.
He began to show me what I had never truly believed deep down: I didn’t have to earn His love. I couldn’t work for it. I couldn’t lose it. I already had it. Just by being His child.
God used my own motherhood to reveal more of His heart. He reminded me of how I cheer when my baby takes her first steps—even if she wobbles and falls. That’s how He feels when I take steps toward Him, no matter how small or shaky. He’s proud. He’s delighted. He’s near.
And as the years passed, He gave me even more revelation. One day, my son said something that made my heart stop. He told me, “God made us just so He could love us.”
I blinked. “Wait, what did you say?”
He said it again, and it hit me like a wave. God didn’t create me so I could do things for Him. He created me so He could love me. That’s it. That’s the whole reason.
And that’s the message I want you to carry in your heart:
You were made to be loved.
And your purpose is simply to love Him back.
That’s why prayer and time with God become so sweet—not because they’re duties on a to-do list, but because they’re where we get to sit with the One who loves us more deeply than we can understand.
Gentle, Grace-Filled Ways to Connect with God
So how do you actually spend time with the Lord when you’re in a season where your kids need everything from you?
Start small. Let it be simple. Let it be sweet.
Try this:
Keep a basket by your favorite chair with your Bible, a pen, a notebook, and a devotional.
Make it a spot you look forward to—add a candle, a cozy blanket, your favorite tea or coffee.
If you can, get up before your kids do. Even 10–15 minutes can nourish your soul.
And if your child wakes early, don’t see it as an interruption. Invite them in. Read your Bible aloud to them. Tell them what you’re learning. Pray with them. Let them see you spending time with God—and teach them, gently, that this is important.
It doesn’t have to be quiet. It doesn’t have to be long. It just has to be real.
Remember, God is not looking for perfection. He just wants you. And He’s not keeping score. He’s simply inviting you to come sit with Him—right in the middle of the mess and the noise and the sticky breakfast dishes.
He delights in you.
Come as you are, mama.
There’s grace for you here.
Chapter 3 of Dear Struggling Homeschool Mom, I See You!
Buy it now on Amazon!