Reclaiming Our Focus by Chris Sasser

The start of a new year often brings with it a natural time for reflection. We find ourselves looking back at where we’ve been and dreaming about where we want to go. It’s a season when we make goals to bring change, whether it’s eating healthier, saving more money, trimming our schedule, or spending intentional time with loved ones. These are all worthwhile pursuits, but there’s a deeper question that we often overlook: Is my faith truly the foundation and priority in my life?

I want my answer to be a resounding “Yes!” and I know that’s probably true for you, too. Our souls are designed with a longing that only God can fill. Yet, as parents, it’s easy to shift our focus and put our children’s needs above all else. While raising our kids is a high calling entrusted to us by God, prioritizing them (and anything else) above our own relationship with Him leaves us spiritually dry. To pour into our children’s lives effectively, we must first nurture our personal connection with God as His beloved sons and daughters.

Two common barriers often get in the way of prioritizing our faith: time and unrealistic expectations.

The Challenge of Time

Let’s be honest: Modern family life is pretty busy. Between work, school, chores, and extracurricular activities like sports, music, and dance, our days are quite full. In fact, an empty square on the calendar can leave us feeling like we’ve forgotten something! Busyness has become so ingrained in our lives that we’ve grown accustomed to conversations about how hectic things are, all while holding onto hope that “one day,” life will slow down. But chronic overscheduling can make critical things, like time with God, fall through the cracks.

If your days are so packed that you can’t carve out meaningful time to connect with the Lord or teach your family about Him, it’s a signal to re-evaluate your schedule. Here are some tough but essential questions to ask yourself:

Outside of work and school, where is my time going?
What good things am I saying “yes” to at the expense of something better?
What activities can I let go of so my family and I can focus on what’s truly important?

Sometimes, saying “no” to good opportunities is necessary to make space for what matters most.

Unrealistic Expectations

Whether you’re new to your faith journey or have been walking with the Lord for years, there’s often an internal pressure to pursue spiritual growth in some sort of “picture-perfect” way. We might believe we need to rise before dawn for an hour-long Bible study, prayer, journaling, and a deep dive into commentaries, all before the kids wake up. While such practices are indeed beautiful, they’re often overwhelming and impractical for busy parents. The result? We give up before we start, or we feel guilty that we’re falling short.

The truth is spiritual growth doesn’t look the same for everyone. The essential ingredients, Bible reading, and prayer, can be incorporated in ways that fit your unique life. For example:

Pray during your morning drive, while folding laundry, or as you rock your little one to sleep.
Read Scripture in bite-sized portions, a single verse, a short passage, or a chapter, whatever is manageable for you.
Listen to audio Bibles or devotional apps if reading feels challenging.
Use a Bible reading plan if you don’t know where to start.

For every challenge that makes it hard to prioritize your faith, there’s a creative solution to work around it.

It’s important to remember that our worth before God isn’t measured by the time we spend in prayer or how much Scripture we read. Romans 8:1 tells us, “There is therefore now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus.” Our relationship with God isn’t about checking off spiritual boxes. It’s about drawing close to Him. God isn’t focused on what we haven’t done; He welcomes us back with open arms every time we take a step toward Him.

Realigning Our Priorities

As you commit to making faith the central priority of your life, take an honest look at your schedule and your expectations. By letting God fill you first, you’ll be better equipped to pour into your children’s lives and model what it means to truly love and follow Him. When we intentionally nurture our connection with God, it doesn’t just change us. It transforms our homes and families for His glory.