When Motherhood Made Me Feel Far from God — This Brought Me Back

When I first became a mom, I felt like I lost some of my connection with God.

My baby only ever napped in five-minute bursts 😵‍💫, I was juggling multiple jobs, no one warned me exclusive breastfeeding was basically a full-time job, I had no support, and postpartum recovery had me sitting on ice packs for months while navigating postpartum depression.

The long, soul-soaking prayer dates I once cherished felt like a dream from another life.

I didn’t realize how common it was... young motherhood can make you feel far from God, especially when life’s noisy and demanding.

One Day...

...while bouncing my fussy baby and trying to read my Bible on the kitchen counter as I passed by, I heard the Holy Spirit whisper:

“Kelsi, you can receive as much of My presence in 2 minutes as you can in 2 hours.”

And wow, something deep in me exhaled.

God wasn’t grading me on spiritual productivity. I didn’t have to earn His love, approval, or even rest based on how much time I sacrificed to get it.

He wasn’t disappointed.

And as much as I craved His presence... He was already near.

I didn’t need a retreat to be revived. I just needed to turn toward Him.

This was my new daily bread — unexpected, simple, sustaining. And it carried me.

☕️ Simple Moments = Sacred Presence

The Bible says: “Come near to God and He will come near to you.” (James 4:8) — but what if He’s already here, waiting for you to notice?

His presence doesn’t just minister to my need — it helps me embrace what is right in front of me.

I began enjoying my baby in the sweet moments… and learning about God’s patient, parental love in the hard ones.

While nursing in the quiet hours 🤱🏼, I’d sense Him speaking to my heart: “I’m not in a rush with you. I delight in caring for you. Just rest here.”

And something in me softened. I realized He adored me even without the strong, capable version of myself I thought He wanted.

💬 When Tiny Prayers Move Mountains

Prayer always moves the needle. It’s impossible to talk to God and for nothing to happen. He hears. He moves. He answers every time we call.

Abiding isn’t about trying harder — it’s about noticing Jesus already near.

He’s your Advocate. He’s your Resting Place. He’s your Daily Bread.

“In Him we live and move and have our being.” — Acts 17:28

When you pause to abide, clarity rises and you remember:

"My help comes from the Lord." — Psalm 121:2

You don’t need a two-hour quiet time to feel close to God (though I’ll always cheer for carving out that deep, intentional space).

Sometimes, one honest, heart-wide-open moment (or bathroom break with a toddler yelling on the other side... all my young mamas know what's up) of awareness is all it takes to shift everything. 💥

No striving. No hoops. Just Jesus.

And once you start tasting His life-giving goodness? You’ll crave more. 💕

💛 From Survival to Fulfilled

Yes, I eventually found my way back to my own longer, lingering times with God. But it was the messy, 2-minute, laundry-pile prayers that taught me something deeper:

His presence isn’t reserved for the polished moments.

He meets us in the real ones — in traffic, in tears, while nursing, while doing dishes, while wondering if we’re doing any of it right.

“Pray without ceasing.” — 1 Thess. 5:17

This isn't just pressure. 👆🏽 It’s an invitation. A lifeline. A way of breathing with God in the middle of it all.

It’s not about getting it all together. It's about leaning in right where you are.

Because He’s already there, too. 💛

The more I "mature" in Christ — through mentorship, guidance from the Word, emotional healing, all of it — the more I realize it all comes down to this: finding Him in the here and now. 💕 It's where His faithfulness flows and mine begins to grow.

And joy? It’s right here, too. In this day the Lord has made — wrapped in imperfection, but still brimming with magic. 🪄

So try it throughout your day. Watch how wonder starts to rise right in the middle of the chaos.

His presence has a way of turning ordinary moments into holy ones.

Turns out two minutes really can change everything. 🌿

Right there with you,

Kelsi