Prayer Before Work: Starting Your Work Day With a Shot of Grace
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Being a Catholic mom isn't an easy job—whether you have one child or a whole herd of them. We are constantly juggling the demands of work (in or out of the home), home, and family life - all while keeping the faith alive and well in our homes. Finding the strength we need to get through each day can be hard. But don't worry—you’re not alone!
Today, I’m sharing with you ten ways you can find strength in the faith. Sure, most of these are things you already “know,” but the point of this post is to provide you with a friendly reminder to actually do them. Because if I know one thing extremely well, it’s how busy and tiring being a mom can be, and how easy it is to put off prayer, faith practices, or spiritual exercises for later—only to forget in the chaos of the day, or to fall asleep when you start to pray!
The first way to find strength in your faith is through prayer. When you feel overwhelmed, talk to God for a few moments. Tell Him what is on your heart and ask for His guidance. As a Catholic mom, you already know that prayer is a powerful tool that can help you get through anything life throws your way. But making time to pray and praying throughout your busy day can help infuse a shot of grace into your day and give you the strength to face the challenges of your day. There are also many great devotions that Catholic moms can participate in, such as the Rosary, the Stations of the Cross, or adoration of the Blessed Sacrament. These devotions will help you to grow closer to God and to find strength in His love.
Another way to find strength in your faith is by turning to scripture. The Bible is full of stories of hope, courage, and encouragement. And what better way to find strength than to read the words written by God himself? When you are feeling lost or alone, read a few verses from your favorite book of the Bible, or pray for guidance to find a new passage to read and reflect on. If you have time, praying via Lectio Devina is also a powerful, reflective practice.
A third way to find strength in your faith is by seeking out Catholic community. As a military family far from familiar friends and family, I can’t express enough how important this is! Look for a mom’s group at your local parish and join it if you can. If they don’t have one, start one! Also, don’t underestimate the power of a good online Catholic community. I’m a member of many Catholic mom groups on Facebook, and have made many online mom friends that way! It’s also a nice bonus to see more wholesome, Catholic content in your newsfeed.
A fourth way to find strength in your faith is by turning to the Saints. I like to find Saints who have something in common with what I’m going through in life. Some of my favorite mom Saints are St. Zelie Martin and St. Gianna Beretta Molla. Read their stories and ask them to intercede for you!
A fifth way to find strength in your faith is by letting yourself feel God's love. We can often get so caught up in the busyness of life that we forget to stop and feel God's love. Take a few moments each day to reflect on how much God loves you and the beauty in His creation around you. Allow His love to fill you up and give you the strength you need to get through each day.
A sixth way to find strength in your faith is by celebrating the sacraments. When we partake in the sacraments, we receive God's outpouring of love, grace, and strength. Obviously, as Catholics, we know the importance of receiving the Eucharist every Sunday, but also make sure to make time for reconciliation. Attending adoration is also great for drawing closer to Jesus and finding strength through Him.
A seventh way to find strength in your faith is by turning to the mother of Christ, our beautiful Blessed Mother! I wrote another post with five powerful Marian prayers for moms that you can read here. Sometimes when things are especially hard with my toddlers, I try to think of Mary and how Jesus was a toddler once too. I imagine that there were times when he didn’t want to eat his dinner or woke up in the night. She wants to help us and intercede for us, so I try to remember to lay my struggles at her feet daily!
An eighth way to find strength in your faith is by serving others. Yes, as moms our entire job revolves around serving the needs of our children, but there is also something beautiful about stepping outside of our homes to serve those in need. If you can, involving your children is also a great opportunity to instill this value in them while doing something together for others.
A ninth way to find strength in your faith is by practicing gratitude. It can be easy to take our blessings for granted. But when we stop and think about all the good things in our lives, we can't help but be filled with gratitude. Each day, take a few moments to reflect on the things you are grateful for. You can include this in your verbal prayer time, such as before meals or before bed with your entire family, or you can keep a gratitude journal for this specific purpose. I’ve created this printable gratitude journal that you may like as a way to cultivate the habit of daily gratitude!
A tenth and final way to find strength in your faith is by remembering that you're not alone. There are millions of other Catholic moms out there who are walking the same path as you. When you feel like you can't go on, remember that you are part of a great family of believers and that you’re walking with the communion of Saints every day! You are never alone in this journey.
If you are struggling with your faith, don't be afraid to reach out for help as well. Many resources are available to Catholic moms looking for guidance and support, here online and through your local or surrounding parishes.
I hope these ten ways that Catholic moms can find strength in their faith have provided some encouragement and reminders for what to do when you’re feeling alone or overwhelmed. Use these tips to help you get through the tough times and to stay strong in the faith. Remember, you are not alone - we are all in this together!
Do you have any other tips for finding strength in your faith? I would love to hear them! Please send me an email at andrea@sparklewithgrace.com.
Andrea is a military wife + busy mom of four young children. She’s a big fan of coffee, Jesus, and glitter- but not necessarily in that order. Andrea is a boars-certified health and wellness coach and has a heart for supporting Catholic moms who want to care for their health without sacrificing their faith or family. Through Fiat Wellness, she helps women build sustainable habits rooted in grace, not extremes. You can learn more about her work at https://fiatwellness.co.
Andrea is also a freelance writer for hire who specializes in creating compelling content and copy for small businesses, bloggers, and solo entrepreneurs. You can learn more about her writing services by emailing her at hello@fiatwellness.co.
Andrea is a cradle Catholic and a certified SoulCore instructor, and the opportunity to write about her faith here on Catholic365 is truly a blessing. When she’s not snuggling babies or chasing toddlers, you can usually find her curled up with a good book or elbow-deep in her latest craft project. Her favorite place on the internet to hang out is Instagram, you can find her there@fiatwellness.co. If you’re not on social media but would still like to connect, please feel free to email her at hello@fiatwellness.co. God bless!
