The Secret to Finding Quiet Time with God as a Busy Mom
C. Silver
6/29/20265 min read
There was a time when I believed a "real" quiet time looked like waking up before sunrise, sitting in a perfectly clean house with a hot cup of coffee, an open Bible, a journal full of beautiful handwriting, and at least an hour to spend with the Lord.
Then I became a mom.
Suddenly, quiet mornings were replaced with cereal spills, laundry piles, sibling disagreements, forgotten appointments, and little feet hitting the floor before I even had a chance to finish praying.
Maybe you've been there too.
You love Jesus. You want to spend time with Him. You know how important it is.
But every day seems to end with the same thought:
"I'll try again tomorrow."
If that's you, I want to encourage you with something that completely changed the way I viewed my time with God.
The secret to finding quiet time isn't finding more time.
It's learning to faithfully meet with God in the season you're in.
Quiet Time Was Never Meant to Be Another Thing on Your To-Do List
As Christian moms, it's easy to turn our relationship with God into another checkbox.
Read the Bible. ✔️
Pray. ✔️
Journal. ✔️
Devotional. ✔️
But God isn't asking you to complete a spiritual checklist.
He's inviting you into a relationship.
Jesus reminds us in John 15:5 that apart from Him, we can do nothing. He doesn't invite us to perform for Him—He invites us to remain with Him.
That changes everything.
Instead of asking,
"How long was my quiet time today?"
Try asking,
"Did I intentionally spend time with my Father today?"
Those are two very different questions.
Let Go of the Picture Perfect Quiet Time
Social media has given us a beautiful—but often unrealistic—picture of what spending time with God should look like.
The spotless kitchen.
The aesthetic Bible.
The color-coded journal.
The expensive coffee.
The peaceful silence.
Meanwhile...
Your toddler is asking for a snack.
The baby is crying.
Someone can't find a shoe.
The dog just barked at the delivery driver.
And suddenly you're wondering if you're failing spiritually because your life doesn't look like the Instagram version.
Friend, you're not failing.
You're living the season God has you in.
He isn't surprised by the noise in your home.
In fact, He called you into this season knowing exactly what it would look like.
Jesus Often Met with the Father, But It Didn't Always Look the Same
Throughout the Gospels, we see Jesus intentionally spending time with His Father.
Sometimes it was early in the morning.
Sometimes it was after ministering to crowds.
Sometimes it was during moments of grief.
Sometimes it was before making important decisions.
The pattern wasn't a specific hour on the clock.
The pattern was intentional dependence.
Our lives may not allow for an uninterrupted hour every morning, but we can still cultivate hearts that continually turn toward God throughout the day.
Start Smaller Than You Think You Need To
One of the biggest mistakes we make is believing we need an hour to have a meaningful quiet time.
If you only have ten minutes...
Start there.
If you only have five...
Start there.
Read one passage.
Pray one honest prayer.
Meditate on one verse.
Write one sentence in your journal.
Faithfulness grows one day at a time.
Don't underestimate what God can do with a few intentional minutes surrendered to Him.
As Zechariah 4:10 reminds us, we shouldn't despise small beginnings. The Lord delights in faithful obedience, even when it seems small.
Look for Holy Moments Instead of Perfect Moments
Some of the sweetest conversations I've had with God haven't happened in complete silence.
They've happened while washing dishes.
While folding laundry.
While watching my children play outside.
While driving.
While waiting for water to boil.
Motherhood is full of ordinary moments.
God loves meeting us there.
Instead of waiting for life to become quieter, invite Him into the life you're already living.
Those ordinary moments often become holy ones.
Practical Ways to Find Quiet Time as a Busy Mom
Not every season looks the same, and that's okay. Here are a few simple ideas that can help you create space for time with the Lord:
Wake up just 10–15 minutes earlier
You don't need to lose hours of sleep. Even a few extra minutes can create a peaceful beginning to your day.
Keep your Bible where you'll actually use it
If you spend most mornings at the kitchen table, keep it there. If you often sit on the couch during nap time, leave it nearby. Make it easy to reach for God's Word.
Pray while you work
Prayer doesn't have to happen only when you're sitting still. Invite God into the ordinary rhythms of your day—while cooking, cleaning, driving, or folding laundry.
Involve your children
Let your children see you reading your Bible. Invite them to pray with you. Your quiet time may look different in this season, but you're also modeling what it looks like to seek the Lord.
Release the guilt
Missing a day doesn't mean you've failed.
God isn't waiting with disappointment.
He's waiting with open arms.
His mercies are new every morning (Lamentations 3:22–23).
Every day is a fresh invitation to draw near.
The Real Secret
So what's the secret to finding quiet time?
It's realizing that God isn't asking for perfection.
He's asking for your heart.
Your quiet time doesn't have to be long to be meaningful.
It doesn't have to be quiet to be holy.
It doesn't have to look like anyone else's.
It simply has to be a moment where you intentionally turn your heart toward the One who loves you more than you can imagine.
Friend, if all you can offer Him today is five interrupted minutes and an honest prayer, don't believe the lie that it isn't enough.
Bring Him what you have.
He has always been more interested in your heart than your schedule.
A Prayer
Heavenly Father,
Thank You for meeting me right where I am. You know the demands of motherhood, the responsibilities on my shoulders, and the longing in my heart to spend more time with You. Help me let go of unrealistic expectations and draw near to You with joy instead of guilt. Teach me to recognize Your presence in both the quiet and the chaos, and remind me that every moment surrendered to You is never wasted. Draw me closer to You each day and help my children see a genuine love for You reflected in my life.
In Jesus' name, Amen.
Keep Growing
If this article encouraged you, here are a few next steps to continue your journey:
Read next: Bible Study for Moms (coming soon)
Read next: Scripture Journaling Guide (coming soon)
Read next: Summer Morning Prayer Tips (coming soon)
Visit: The Grow Library for free faith-building resources and printables.
Explore: The Grow Guide for trusted tools that support your faith, homeschool, and home.
Listen: The Grow Podcast for encouragement you can take with you throughout your day.
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