Experiencing God’s presence in motherhood can be difficult and sometimes even seem impossible. How can we see God, hear His voice, or experience His presence with us amid the mundane tasks that come with raising little ones?
Where is God in this season when the days are long?
But if we look close enough, we might just see Him and feel Him all around us. Let’s not miss that.
The Monotony of Motherhood
My eyes open at the first sound of my baby whimpering. I check the time. It’s five minutes too early.
I breathe deep… another day. I roll out of bed, head downstairs, and mix the bottle. I scoop my baby into my arms as he looks up at me longingly with his little hands raised high.
I satisfy him with a meal, change his diaper, then sit him down, hoping for a few minutes to change clothes myself, splash some water on my face, and grab some coffee.
And so, the “sleep, eat, play” cycle begins and repeats itself all day. If it’s a good day, I may find a small window of time to wash clothes, clean up a bit, or run some errands.
But I may not. I may find myself in sweats with a messy house and no dinner cooked, rocking my crying baby all day with tears of my own streaming down my face.
This is motherhood.
Finding God in the Mundane
Is it possible to find God here, in this daily grind of housekeeping and caring for little ones? Can I really hear God’s voice in the mundane tasks of folding clothes or cleaning up spills?
In these ordinary moments, I believe that He is actually waiting to meet with me… right where I am… in each and every moment of the day.
Might it be true that He has not left me alone, but instead is right there with me in all these little cracks of life?
God is in fact, whispering to me through the cries of my six-month-old. He is pursuing me during feeding or playtime through a squeal or a wild laugh.
As I watch my child nap peacefully and sit down for a few moments to myself, He is drawing me near in that moment to rest my head on His shoulder.
He is breathing life into me through my baby’s warm breath on my chest. He longs to show me the depths of His beauty directly through the kaleidoscope of color in my baby’s eyes.
What does this tiny, helpless child have to offer from the standpoint of God’s glory?
The truth is this feeble, weak, and all dependent boy in my arms is the Lord’s mighty work shining through in full display; constantly reminding me of the wonder, the awe, the miracle, and the majesty of our Lord.
So, when my child cries and I hug him tight and catch his tears, I am reminded that I too have freedom to cry out to our Lord. When I do, He will hold me close in His strong arms and carry me.
And when I am star-struck in the wonder of my child’s eyes, I am reminded to shout for joy and praise to the Lord for the beauty of His creation.
And when my baby squeals with delight at the sight of my face, I am reminded to find that same delight as I seek my own Father.
And when my baby lies down to sleep, I am reminded that the Lord invites me to fully rest in Him so that He can give me all the strength and energy I need.
And when I am nourishing my child, I am reminded of the One who gives me my daily bread- everything I need for that day.
God pursues me so clearly through this season of motherhood, if only I will seek Him in each small moment.
The next time I question where God is in these mundane days, the answer is simple.
He is here. He is all around me. He is in everything. And in every moment.
There’s nowhere else I need to search to find Him. He is right here, revealing Himself to me through the life of my child.
He is right here drawing me near and wanting to meet with me. And with you.
Kaitlyn Fiedler lives in Greenville, SC with her husband and son. She is pursuing her MA in Christian Counseling from Gordon-Conwell Theological Seminary. She enjoys naps, exploring small towns with her family, and getting lost in a good book. She blogs for women at A Beautiful Belonging, and she also loves to share her life with you over on Facebook and Instagram!
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