Maybe You Don’t Need More Time with God

I remember when I was single, hearing women say things like:

“I miss having time with God.”
“Enjoy this season—you won’t have this kind of time once you’re married.”
“Once you have kids, it changes.”

I didn’t fully understand it back then.

I thought, you just make time, right?

But then I lived it.

I’ve sat in seasons where life is full—marriage, work, responsibility, commitments, and now pursuing my doctorate—and suddenly the long, slow mornings with God aren’t as easy to come by.

And I remember one woman telling me that between her five kids, her full-time job, and ministry, sometimes all she had was one verse in the morning.

One.

And she would hold onto that verse for dear life throughout her day.

At the time, it sounded extreme.

Now, it sounds faithful.

Because what I’ve come to realize is that sometimes we are not struggling because we don’t want God.

We are struggling because the version of time with God we are trying to force does not fit the season we are in.

We think we need more time.

But sometimes we need a different approach.

Maybe that looks like one verse in the morning.

Maybe it looks like praying in the car.

Maybe it looks like taking a walk and talking to God.

Maybe it looks like reading the same passage for a few days because that is what you can actually hold.

That does not mean your time with God is less meaningful.

It means it is meeting you in your life.

And honestly, I think that matters.

Because there are seasons where trying to recreate what worked before will only make you feel behind.

The long quiet morning may have worked in one season.

But now your life looks different.

Your capacity looks different.

Your mornings look different.

So maybe the goal is not to get back to the way it used to be.

Maybe the goal is to ask:

What helps me stay connected to God in this season?

Because sometimes one verse can carry you.

Sometimes one prayer can steady you.

Sometimes a few honest minutes with God can do more than an hour you forced yourself through just to say you did it.

That is not lowering the standard.

That is learning how to walk with God in the life you have.

So if you keep telling yourself you need more time with God—

start here:

What would help me be present with Him today?

Not what looks impressive.

Not what sounds spiritual.

Not what worked in a previous season.

What helps you stay with Him now?

Find that.

Start there.

And let it become a way of meeting with God that you can sustain.

And if you don’t know how to do this when you open your Bible, this reflection guide walks you through it.