Last Updated on January 5, 2026
Let’s be real. Motherhood is a blessing, but it can also bring unexpected challenges, including a motherhood identity crisis. Here’s how you can embrace motherhood while still holding onto your God-given identity.
After the birth of my first son, I realized how quickly a baby can take over your life. At the time I was a stay-at-home mom, because in my mind, that’s what every good mother should be!
But sleepless nights, breastfeeding struggles, and the desperate need for alone time left me exhausted and wanting to give up. When postpartum depression set in, I didn’t even know how to name what I was feeling. I loved my child, but I just wanted to be my old self again.
I’m not alone. A 2023 Pew Research Center study found that 88% of moms say parenting is the most or one of the most important parts of who they are. But what happens when that identity feels shaky?
Maybe you’re a new mother still on maternity leave, trying to find your new normal. Maybe you have school-age kids and feel a loss of identity while carting them to practices, lessons, and church activities.
Or maybe you’re an empty nester, wondering who you are in this next season.
If you’re having a motherhood identity crisis right now, know this: you’re not alone. God has more for you, and there is hope.
Here’s 7 ways to hold onto your identity as a mom while staying rooted in who He created you to be.
7 Practical Ways to Hold Onto Your Identity as a Mom
Motherhood is life-changing. It’s full of both joy and challenges as you try to hold onto your identity. Here are y practical ways to embrace motherhood while staying true to who God made you to be.
1. Find balance between parenting and personal growth
Make space for both your children’s needs and your own.
One of the biggest challenges of motherhood is finding a balance between our responsibilities as a parent and our own personal growth.
It’s easy to get so caught up in taking care of our children that we neglect our own needs and desires. Be God also created us as individuals with our own unique talents, interests, and goals for a reason.
To find this balance, start by setting aside some time each day to focus on your own personal growth. This can be as simple as spending daily time reading God’s Word, enjoying a good book, taking a walk, or taking an online class for something you’ve always been interested in.
You can also try to involve our children in your activities, such as reading to them or teaching them a new skill. Prioritizing our own spiritual and personal growth can help us become better mothers and role models for our kids.
2. Ask for help without shame
Counselors, pastors, and friends can walk with you.
There is absolutely no shame in getting help if you feel you’re going through a motherhood identity crisis. Reach out to a counselor or therapist if you need a listening ear. Ask you spouse to take the kids for a day if you need to reset and have some quiet.
Do a babysitting exchange with a friend so you can get some date nights in with your spouse. If you’re struggling as a parent, talk with a trusted pastor or leader at your church who has been in your shoes. There’s a lot of wisdom you can get from others. Don’t be afraid to ask for it when you feel nothing else has helped!
3. Weave faith into your everyday motherhood
Let God’s Word and prayer guide your parenting journey.
As Christian moms, we want to raise our kids with a strong foundation of faith. The best way to do that is by making faith part of daily life—reading the Bible together, praying as a family, and keeping church a regular rhythm.
But it’s not just about routines; it’s about modeling faith in the everyday moments. Show love and kindness, offer forgiveness when mistakes happen, and point out God’s blessings with gratitude.
When your children see faith woven naturally into your words and actions, they’ll begin to build a faith of their own that can carry them through every season.
4. Build a supportive mom community
Surround yourself with women who encourage and understand you.
Holding onto your identity is tough when you’re balancing all-the-things, but a supportive community can make all the difference. Here are a few ways to find one:
- Start at church – join a small group, Bible study, or prayer circle where you can share struggles and wins with other moms.
- With little ones – try library story times or local play groups.
- With older kids – connect with parents at sports, school, or church events.
- Find encouragement online – join our free MomLife Today Facebook group right here. We’d love to meet you!
- Volunteer – serving in church or community activities not only helps others, it fills your soul too.
No matter where you plug in, choose a community that reflects your faith and values.
5. Keep pursuing your hobbies and passions
Hold onto the activities that make you uniquely you.
In addition to our spiritual growth, it’s important to continue pursuing our personal hobbies and interests. Whether it’s painting, writing, or playing an instrument, these activities can provide a much-needed outlet for creativity and self-expression.
When you make time for your hobbies and things you loved before kids, you’ll be able to continue nurturing your own interests and passions, even in the middle of motherhood.
6. Set spiritual goals that help you grow
Strengthen your faith with intentional steps toward God.
Motherhood is such a great opportunity for us to be stretched and grow in our faith.
There are so many lessons that God will teach us through our kids, if we’re willing to listen.
So why not prioritize your spiritual growth and set personal goals for yourself that help you grow closer to God? This could include reading a certain number of Bible verses each day, attending a weekly Bible study, or setting aside time for prayer and reflection.
By setting these goals and making them a priority, you can continue to grow in our faith and maintain our individual connection with God. They’ll also help you to become a more patient, kind, wise mother for your family.
7. Prioritize fellowship and self-care
Recharge your spirit through connection and rest.
Mama, you NEED time for fellowship and self-care outside of your responsibilities as a mom. So schedule regular playdates or coffee meetups with other moms to socialize and recharge.
When you can, prioritize self-care activities like exercise and prayer. By taking care of yourself, you can better care for your family and they’ll have a happier mom.
Looking for fellowship? Building a supportive community takes effort and intentionality, but it can make a significant impact on our well-being as Christian mothers. By engaging with church and faith groups and creating time for fellowship and self-care, you’ll be able to stay connected to your faith and maintain your sense of self.
Fighting Lies, Guilt, and Shame: 3 Keys for Moms
Through all of the life changes that moms face, from diaper changes, to graduations, grandkids and beyond, there will be many challenges along the way. These are 3 mindsets to take with you as you navigate the challenges of motherhood.
1. Fighting the lies of the enemy
Moms, we have to remember that it is literally the devil’s job to try and get us off course. He will often do this by trying to get us to believe things that are against the promises of God.
He will try to get you to doubt your abilities as a mom, to believe that you don’t have value outside of motherhood, and sometimes will try to even get you to believe that you’re in this on your own. Cling to the truth and promises of God’s Word and regularly ask yourself whose voice you’re listening to!
“Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.”
1 Peter 5:8
2. Dealing with guilt and comparison
Do you ever feel guilty about taking time for yourself or pursuing your own interests? Find yourself comparing your life to other mothers who seem to have it all together?
Being on social media every day only adds to the guilt and comparison that so many of us deal with. Please remember that online, we’re never seeing the full story.
Every mother’s journey is unique. God has created your path and your kids just for you, and none of us can judge ourselves based on someone else’s standards.
One way to overcome these feelings is to practice self-compassion. Practice treating yourself with the same kindness and understanding that you would offer to a friend. Ask God to help you focus on the strengths and accomplishments He gave you rather than comparing yourself to others.
3. Adapting to Life Transitions with Grace
Motherhood brings many changes to our lives, from sleepless nights to shifting priorities. It can be tough to adapt to these changes, but it is important to approach them with grace and flexibility.
One way to do this is to embrace the present moment and focus on what you can control. Seek support from your community, whether it be through friends, family, or here on MomLife Today!
It’s also helpful to set realistic expectations for ourselves and our families, recognizing that we may need to adjust our goals and plans as our circumstances change.
13 verses on what God says about you
Last but certainly not least, here’s a reminder of what God says about you as a mom! You were created by God to parent your kids and in Christ, you have everything you need to do it well.
When you’re in need of some encouragement and confidence on your motherhood journey, check out these promises from scripture.
“But you are a chosen race, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people for his own possession, that you may proclaim the excellencies of him who called you out of darkness into his marvelous light.” – 1 Peter 2:9
“For I know the plans I have for you, declares the Lord, plans for welfare and not for evil, to give you a future and a hope.” – Jeremiah 29:11
“I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; your works are wonderful, I know that full well.” – Psalm 139:14
“For I am sure that neither death nor life, nor angels nor rulers, nor things present nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God in Christ Jesus our Lord.” – Romans 8:38-39
“Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I set you apart; I appointed you as a prophet to the nations.” – Jeremiah 1:5
“So God created mankind in his own image, in the image of God he created them; male and female he created them.” – Genesis 1:27
“But now, O Lord, you are our Father; we are the clay, and you are our potter; we are all the work of your hand.” – Isaiah 64:8
“For we are God’s handiwork, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do.” – Ephesians 2:10
“See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are!” – 1 John 3:1
“I am the vine; you are the branches. If you remain in me and I in you, you will bear much fruit; apart from me, you can do nothing.” – John 15:5
“But the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Fear not, therefore; you are of more value than many sparrows.” – Matthew 10:30-31
“But God shows his love for us in that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us.” – Romans 5:8
“The Lord your God is in your midst, a mighty one who will save; he will rejoice over you with gladness; he will quiet you by his love; he will exult over you with loud singing.” – Zephaniah 3:17
No matter what you will face ups and downs as a mother. And as you get older and your kids get older your identity may shift, and that’s okay!
Our prayer is that this would be a reminder that you still have value in the eyes of God and you do have an identity as a mother, no matter where you’re at on your parenting journey.