Six Questions Every Empty Nest Mom Should Ask to Discover Her God-Given Purpose

No woman slides quietly or effortlessly into the empty nest. This is a monumental transition, and most of us arrive here feeling unprepared for what comes next or unsure how God is still at work in us.

As we stand on the edge of this new season, the questions get louder:
What’s next?
Who am I apart from motherhood?
Does my life still have purpose, and if so, what is it now?

If you’ve asked any of those questions, you’re not behind. You’re right on time.

Scripture reminds us, “For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10). That promise didn’t expire when your kids left home. God’s purposes for you are not tied to one role or one season; they are woven into who you are.

As an Empty Nest Coach, I’ve learned something important: clarity doesn’t come from quick answers. It comes from asking better questions. And questions are exactly what we need in this season of shifting identities and fresh possibilities we didn’t see coming.

Let’s be honest, we’d all love a clarion call from heaven that says, “This is what I created you for. Do this.” But more often than not, God leads us gently, inviting us to look inward and backward before we move forward.

The surest way to uncover your purpose is to become thoughtfully introspective, to mine your story and your God-given motivations for clues to what He’s been preparing you for all along.

So let’s dig.
Here are six questions to help you discover your purpose in the empty nest.
Grab your journal, open your heart, and let’s go looking for gold together.

1. What Are You Passionate About?

What is the one thing your heart keeps circling back to, no matter the season or the responsibilities on your plate?

Another way to ask this is: What sets your soul on fire? What topic, cause, or activity stirs something deep within you and moves you to action?

Passion has a way of rising to the surface without effort. It’s the thing you could talk about for thirty minutes without notes. The conversation that energizes you instead of draining you. The space where you feel most alive, most yourself, and most engaged.

This kind of passion doesn’t feel forced. It doesn’t feel heavy. It feels life-giving. When you’re leaning into it, time passes quickly, and fulfillment comes naturally, not because it’s easy, but because it’s aligned.

Pay attention to what lights you up. God often plants our passions as clues to our purpose. When you follow what He’s been stirring in your heart, you may just find that He’s been preparing you for this season all along.

“Take delight in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart.”- Psalm 37:4

This verse reminds us that when our hearts are anchored in God, the desires He places within us are not selfish or accidental. Often, our deepest passions are God-given, planted there to draw us toward the good works He’s inviting us into now. As you pay attention to what delights you, trust that God may be revealing something sacred about your purpose in this season.

2. What Are Your Natural Gifts?

God has wired you in very specific ways, and those gifts didn’t disappear when your kids left home.

What comes naturally to you? What do others consistently thank you for or seek you out to help with? Maybe you’re a steady listener, a wise encourager, a creative thinker, an organizer, a teacher, or a natural leader. These abilities often feel ordinary to us because they’ve always been there, but that doesn’t make them insignificant.

Your natural gifts are the things you do with ease and grace, often without formal training. They’re the strengths that quietly show up again and again in your relationships, your work, your church, and your home. While passion points to what excites you, your gifts reveal how God has equipped you to serve.

Scripture tells us, “We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us” (Romans 12:6). That means your gifts are not random, and they are not meant to be compared. They are grace-filled and intentional, designed to be used for God’s glory in this season of your life.

Take inventory without minimizing or dismissing what comes easily to you. God often uses what feels most natural to accomplish what is most meaningful. Your gifts are not leftovers from a past season; they are tools for what He’s calling you into now.

3. How Have You Served in the Past?

Your past is not something to move beyond or dismiss; it’s something to mine for wisdom. As you look back over the years of raising your children, pay attention to the ways you naturally showed up to serve.

Were you the one who stepped in to lead when something needed organizing or direction? The mom who gathered people, made plans, and carried responsibility with confidence? Or were you the quiet servant, the one who noticed needs, offered steady support, and served faithfully behind the scenes with humility and care?

These patterns matter. They reveal how God has shaped you through lived experience. Scripture tells us, “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love Him, who have been called according to His purpose” (Romans 8:28). God has revealed His purposes in the past, and He will continue to do so in the empty nest.

4. What Motivates You?

This question moves us from what you’re good at to what energizes you. Motivation is about noticing what stirs you to action, what pulls you forward rather than pushes you from behind.

Pay attention to what gives you energy instead of draining it. What activities leave you feeling more alive, more hopeful, or more engaged? What ideas spark enthusiasm and make you want to lean in rather than check out?

Motivation often reveals itself in contrast. Notice what exhausts you and what fuels you. The difference matters. When something aligns with how God has wired you, it feels life-giving, even when it requires effort. You may find yourself thinking, “This is what I was made for. I could do this all day and still have joy.”

Scripture reminds us, “For it is God who works in you to will and to act in order to fulfill His good purpose” (Philippians 2:13). That inner drive, the desire to show up, serve, create, or lead, may very well be God at work within you, nudging you toward what He’s calling you to next.

Listen closely to what motivates you. God often uses holy desire to guide us into meaningful purpose.

5. What Skills Have You Honed Through Motherhood?

Motherhood has been one of your greatest training grounds, even if it didn’t come with a résumé or a paycheck. Over the years, you’ve developed a distinct and valuable skill set, shaped by love, perseverance, and daily faithfulness.

Think about it. Have you become a clear and firm communicator? A flexible problem-solver or an agile planner? Maybe you’ve built physical strength from years of wrangling toddlers, carrying car seats, or simply showing up day after day. Perhaps you’ve grown into a steady leader, a capable organizer, or a wise decision-maker.

Many moms have also developed deep compassion and empathy through hardship. You may have learned how to advocate fiercely for your child, navigate medical or emotional challenges, or walk through seasons that required courage you didn’t know you had. Those experiences were not wasted; they refined you.

Scripture assures us, “And let us not grow weary of doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up” (Galatians 6:9). The good work you’ve done in motherhood has produced strength, wisdom, and resilience that can now be stewarded in new ways.

Take time to notice what God has been honing in you all along. The skills shaped in one season often become the tools for purpose in the next. God truly wastes nothing.

6. Where Is God Leading You?

Ultimately, the surest way to discover your purpose is to ask God to lead you and then trust that He will. The One who orders your steps and holds every moment of your life already sees this season clearly. You are not wandering. You are being guided.

This is who your God is. This is how faithfully He cares for you.

Scripture reminds us, “The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in Him” (Psalm 37:23). God is not vague or withholding with His children. He promises to lead, to direct, and to go before you, often one step at a time.

Your role is not to figure everything out. Your role is to get before Him in prayer, invite His guidance, and then keep your eyes open to where He is already at work. Pay attention to recurring nudges, open doors, timely conversations, and the quiet peace that settles when something aligns with His will.

As you pray, ask God to lead, and then listen. Connect your prayers to what He’s unfolding in your real, everyday life. Purpose often reveals itself as we walk with God, not before we move.

There is no need to fear this season or wonder if your purpose has somehow passed you by. You serve a faithful God: one who reveals, directs, and gently guides as you pause, reflect, and grow curious about the life He’s been shaping within you all along.

As you pay attention to what stirs your heart, what motivates your steps, and what brings a holy sense of joy to your soul, trust this: your purpose is not lost; it’s unfolding. It’s been forming through every season of motherhood, every challenge you’ve walked through, and every strength God has quietly cultivated in you.

The empty nest is not an ending. It’s an invitation.

An invitation to listen more closely, to trust more deeply, and to partner with God as He reveals what’s next. You don’t have to rush. You don’t have to have it all figured out. You simply have to show up with an open heart and a willing spirit.

So go ahead. Invite God into the process. Ask the questions. Take the next step.
Your purpose is waiting, and God is eager to walk with you as you discover it. 

Let’s pray.

Dear Papa, I praise you for the woman I am becoming. I don’t want to go back to a younger version of myself. Help me embrace who I am now and see the ways you’ve wired me and made me who I am. I long to know your purpose for this season. Reveal it to me and make it clear. Amen.

Still struggling with letting go?

The Transitional Grief Journaling Guide is a faith-filled resource designed to help empty nest moms process the deep emotions of letting go. Through six guided reflection questions, you’ll name your feelings, invite God into your grief, and discover His comfort in the middle of change. This gentle companion will remind you that transitional grief is only a season and God is leading you toward peace, purpose, and joy.

Aging with Confidence: Six Strategies to Help Midlife Women Feel Strong and Content

My Reflection

I caught my reflection in the mirror this morning, gray hair shimmering like threads of wisdom, softening around my jawline, a tummy that tells the story of babies carried and years lived. When did all this arrive? And those laugh lines? They’re showing up proudly around my eyes and mouth, proof that joy has visited me often. Still, sometimes the changes catch me off guard.

It’s easy to fixate on the physical as we move through our forties, fifties, and sixties. The shifts in our skin and shape happen right before our eyes. But Momma, what if aging isn’t something to battle, hide, or fear? What if it’s an invitation?

What if we looked beyond the mirror and saw the woman we’ve become: the wisdom we carry, the resilience we’ve built, the faith that’s been tested and strengthened, the love we’ve poured into our families? These aren’t signs of decline. They’re signs of growth.

Dawn Barton writes in Midlife Battle Cry, “As long as we keep believing a Hollywood story that tells us each year we become less, then we are part of the problem.” She’s right. It’s time to rewrite the narrative.

Midlife Momma, you are not fading. You’re flourishing.

These years can be some of the most fruitful, joy-filled, and deeply content years of your life. So let’s dive into six powerful strategies that will help you embrace aging with confidence, gratitude, and peace.

1.  Recognize You Are More Than Your Looks

Oh, Momma, we spend so much energy critiquing our reflection. We tug at the loose skin, sigh at the softening belly, and wonder where those once-perky parts disappeared to. I get it! I’m right there with you. But hear me clearly: you are not the sum of your wrinkles, your waistline, or your wardrobe size.

Your worth has never been measured by how young you look. Staying young was never God’s assignment for your life.

God has always cared more about the woman you’re becoming than the mirror you’re facing. Aging invites us to cultivate a richer, deeper inner life; the place where you meet with God, where your roots sink into His love, where intimacy grows in ways your younger self couldn’t have imagined.

This is who you are:
A beloved daughter.
Chosen.
Cherished. Held.
Always His.

And when that truth lands in your bones? It brings a peace no cream, hairstyle, or number on the scale could ever offer.

2. Practice Acceptance

It’s tempting to drift back to who we used to be: the younger body with the quicker metabolism. But chasing a former version of ourselves only steals the joy of who we are right now. Acceptance is a holy invitation to stay present, to honor this season, and to love the woman you’re becoming.

When you practice acceptance, you stop living in the rearview mirror. You let the past be the past. You recognize that you did the best you could with the wisdom, resources, and maturity you had at the time. And that’s enough.

You choose to show up fully in this moment, the only place where God meets you.
Not yesterday.
Not someday.
Today.

Right here is where you feel His nearness. Right now is where grace flows. When you embrace this moment instead of mourning the one you’ve left behind, peace starts to take root. You stop striving to rewrite your story and start living the chapter you’re in, with gratitude and open hands.

Acceptance isn’t giving up. It’s growing up.

3. Acknowledge Your Confidence

Momma, one of the beautiful gifts of midlife is the quiet confidence you carry now. You don’t shrink back like you once did. You’re not rattled by every opinion in the room. You’ve lived enough life, walked through enough valleys, and climbed enough mountains to know you can handle whatever comes.

And here’s the best part:
Your confidence isn’t rooted in ego; it’s rooted in God’s faithfulness.

You’ve seen Him show up too many times to doubt His presence now. Every battle you’ve survived, every prayer you’ve prayed, every heartbreak He’s carried you through has settled something deep inside you: You are not alone.

This confidence feels like standing steady when others crumble.

It’s the kind of strength that comes from knowing God’s power flows through your veins. You walk into a room differently now because you walk in with Him.

This is not arrogance.
This is spiritual maturity.
This is the fruit of a woman who has lived, loved, endured, and trusted God every step of the way.

4. Harness Your Wisdom

 You didn’t wake up one morning full of wisdom. This came from years of showing up, seeking God, and walking through things that could have broken you but didn’t. You earned this hard-won wisdom through tears, prayers, victories, disappointments, and countless moments of trusting God when you couldn’t see the way forward.

This isn’t worldly wisdom or intellectual achievement.
This is Spirit-shaped wisdom, the kind that grows from staying close to God’s heart.

You’ve learned to recognize His whisper in a noisy world.
You’ve followed His nudges when it didn’t make sense.
You’ve obeyed His leading even when it stretched you.

And because of that, you now carry a depth of discernment that younger women long for. You see situations clearly. You sense what’s right. You know when to speak and when to stay silent. You don’t rush decisions because you’ve learned that God’s timing is never late.

Your judgment is sound because your roots run deep.
Your counsel carries weight because it’s soaked in Scripture, prayer, and experience.
People lean in when you speak, not because you’re loud, but because your life has proven trustworthy.

Wisdom is one of God’s greatest gifts to you in midlife.
Embrace it.
Steward it well.

5. Embrace Productivity

Here’s a truth that might just blow your mind: your most productive years are still ahead of you. Research consistently shows that the highest-producing decade of a person’s life is between ages 60–70. The second most productive? Ages 70–80. And the third? Ages 50–60.

Think about that for a moment.

The average age of Nobel Prize winners is 62.
The average age of CEOs leading major companies is 63.
The average age of pastors shepherding the largest churches in America? 71.

So if you’re in your forties or fifties, guess what?
You haven’t even hit your peak yet.
Your greatest impact is still unfolding.

Doesn’t that fill you with hope?

Midlife isn’t a slow fade; it’s a launching pad. This season is ripe with clarity, wisdom, experience, and God-given purpose. You’re not too old, too late, or too far behind. You are perfectly positioned for God to do something powerful through your life.

Let this truth settle in:
You are still becoming.
You are still growing.
You are still capable of great kingdom impact.

Hand your gifts, time, and energy to God and let Him lead you into work that excites your soul. You have decades of purpose in front of you, Momma. Embrace it with joy.

6. Appreciate the Richness of Connection

 One of the greatest gifts of aging is the deep, meaningful connections you’ve built along the way. You were never meant to walk through life alone, and thankfully, you don’t have to. Look around: your husband, your grown kids, your grandbabies, your siblings, your church family, your neighbors, your girlfriends. These relationships are threads God has woven into your story, creating a tapestry of love and belonging.

You’ve fought for these connections.
You’ve forgiven when it was hard.
You’ve shown up when you were tired.
You’ve tried again when things felt fragile.

Why? Because you know the beauty that comes from doing life beside others.

You’ve learned that community strengthens you. Encouragement lifts you. Friendship steadies you. The love you give and the love you receive have shaped who you are today. You’ve grown soft where it matters and strong where it counts.

And here’s the truth:
You are richer because of the people God has placed in your life.
They don’t just surround you, they strengthen you.
Life really is better together.

Momma, it’s time to release the old, inaccurate story culture tells us about aging. This season isn’t a slow fade; it’s a sacred unfolding. Every year we’re given is another opportunity to grow in wisdom, strength, and purpose. When we recognize the beauty and power of this stage of life, our hearts open wide to the good God is still writing into our story.

Aging is not a sign that your impact is diminishing.
It’s proof that God has carried you, shaped you, and prepared you for more.

It’s not over.
God’s not finished.
And truly, some of your most meaningful, joy-filled, and purpose-packed days are still ahead.

Lift your chin, soften your heart, and step boldly into the future He has for you. You’re just getting started.

Let’s pray.

Dear God, I praise you for this season of my life. Help me release the outdated version of what it means to thrive so I can embrace the goodness right here, and now. Please fill me with peace and contentment and lead me to your next best thing. Amen.

Need help with your adult children?

What did I say? Grab my free guide: 10 Things Not to Say to Your Adult Child(and 5 Ways to Stop Yourself From Saying Them), A starter list of things moms say that frustrate their adult children. Identify the statements that trip you up and learn strategies for more harmony and connection in your relationship with your grown children.

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How to Manage Holiday Expectations with Adult Children: Six Grace-Filled Strategies for Peace and Connection

As the holidays draw near, many moms feel that familiar tug of nostalgia. We long for the simpler days when everyone was gathered around the same table, laughter filled the kitchen, and no one had in-laws or work schedules to consider. Back then, life felt cozy and connected; our kids were close, and so were our hearts.

But now, the empty chairs sting a little. Our grown children have new homes, new traditions, and new responsibilities. And when the holidays don’t look like they used to, disappointment can quietly creep in. We picture what should be, and before we know it, those expectations begin to steal our joy and strain our relationships.

Momma, what if this year looked different, not worse, just different, and still full of meaning? What if we could approach the holidays with open hands, trusting that God can make beauty out of change?

Proverbs 16:9 reminds us, “In their hearts humans plan their course, but the Lord establishes their steps.” When we release our tight grip and let Him lead, peace begins to take root.

Let’s look at six grace-filled strategies to help you navigate holiday expectations with peace, flexibility, and deeper connection this season.

1. Be Self-Aware

Momma, have you ever felt that quiet heaviness during the holidays and couldn’t quite explain why? You love your family deeply, but something feels off. You miss how things used to be: the matching pajamas, the early morning giggles, the house buzzing with activity. You’re holding on to those precious memories, and that’s okay. But sometimes, clinging too tightly to what was can make it hard to receive the new season God has for you.

When your emotions start to spiral, when you’re irritable, hurt, or easily disappointed, it’s often a sign that unspoken expectations are running the show. Becoming self-aware helps you name what’s really going on beneath the surface. It’s not about guilt or shame; it’s about grace and growth.

Take time to pause and invite God into that inner space. Ask Him to reveal what’s stirring in your heart and to replace frustration with peace.

Psalm 139:23–24 says, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting.”

2. Name What You’re Holding

Momma, the purest way to manage those uncomfortable emotions that surface during the holidays is to name them. Don’t shove them down or pretend they’re not there. Have the courage to pause and ask yourself, “What am I really feeling?” Is it disappointment that your grown kids can’t all be home this year? Resentment because you feel left out of their plans? Maybe it’s sadness, rejection, or even fear that family traditions are slipping away.

Whatever you’re holding, bring it into the light. God can’t heal what we hide, but He lovingly meets us in what we’re honest about. When we name our emotions with self-compassion instead of judgment, we make room for grace. We’re not weak for feeling deeply; we’re human and beloved.

Psalm 34:18 reminds us, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”

So, take a breath and whisper your truth to God. Let His gentle presence meet you in the ache. When we stop pretending everything’s fine and honestly name our pain, we open the door for His comfort and healing to flow in.

3. Understand the Impact of Expectations

Momma, let’s be honest, most of our holiday stress starts right here. Expectations can sneak in quietly, dressed as good intentions. We imagine what the holidays should look like, how the house should feel, and who should be around the table. But when reality doesn’t match our vision, disappointment moves in, and suddenly our joy feels stolen.

Holding too tightly to expectations not only hurts you, it strains your connection with your adult children. When you insist things go your way, you unknowingly communicate, “My comfort matters more than our relationship.” That’s never your heart, but it can feel that way to them. Grown kids want to come home because they’re welcomed, not guilted.

The truth is, expectations create pressure, but grace creates peace. When you release your grip, you make space for empathy, flexibility, and authentic joy.

James 3:17 reminds us, “But the wisdom that comes from heaven is first of all pure; then peace-loving, considerate, submissive, full of mercy and good fruit, impartial and sincere.”

When you trade your expectations for God’s wisdom, peace begins to flow again. You start to value connection over control, and that’s where the sweetest holiday moments are found.

4. Practice Flexibility to Build Connection

Momma, the antidote to unmet expectations is flexibility. When you loosen your grip on how the holidays should look, you open your hearts to the beauty of what can be. A flexible mom knows that Christmas morning might not happen on December 25th, and that’s okay. What matters most is being together, whenever and however that happens.

A flexible mom listens with love. She shares what’s meaningful to her but also makes space for what matters to her grown kids. She doesn’t stew in disappointment when plans shift or someone can’t make it home. Instead, she blesses the time she does have and chooses gratitude over grumbling. Her gentle adaptability becomes the glue that holds her family close, even across miles and time zones.

Philippians 2:4 reminds us, “Let each of you look not only to his own interests, but also to the interests of others.”

When you model humility and flexibility, you show your children what love looks like in action. The result? Deeper connection, softer hearts, and a home, whether full or quiet, that radiates peace and grace.

5. Partner with God in Surrender

Momma, surrender isn’t giving up; it’s giving over. As a parent of adult children, you’re learning that surrender is the secret to peace and strong connection. It’s laying down your expectations, not in defeat, but in trust. Trust that God loves your family even more than you do.

You can bring every disappointment, every lonely ache, and every “this isn’t how I pictured it” moment to a gracious God who never shames or condemns. In surrender, you place your desires at the feet of Jesus and whisper, “Your will, not mine.” You loosen your grip on the past and open your hands to the new thing God is doing right now.

Isaiah 26:3-4 promises, “You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you. Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

Surrender anchors your soul in peace. You stop striving to control and start resting in God’s faithful hands. Even in the ache, you can be confident. He’s working in your heart, in your children’s lives, and in the story He’s still writing for your family.

6. Things Can Look Different and Still Be Good

Momma, this season may not look like years past, but that doesn’t mean it’s any less beautiful. When we release what was, we make space to see what is. God is still here, weaving His goodness through every moment, even the quiet ones.

As you accept the changes in your family’s holiday rhythm, take notice of His presence in the simple things: a conversation that makes you laugh, the warmth of a candle, a moment of stillness that softens your heart. When you center yourself on God’s faithful love, gratitude begins to grow. The pressure fades, and peace settles in.

Those who gather around your table, whether few or many, will feel that peace. Your contentment fills your heart and spills over unto everyone around you. 

Psalm 27:13 says, “I remain confident of this: I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living.”

Things can look different and still be so very good. God is near, His goodness surrounds you, and your family is lovingly held in His hands.

Momma, expectations don’t have to steal your joy this holiday season. When we recognize how they shape our emotions and relationships, we can pause, reflect, and invite God to help us adjust. As we become more self-aware, flexible, and surrendered, our home becomes a place of peace, one that our adult children want to return to.

Remember, the heart of the holidays isn’t found in perfect plans or everyone being together, it’s found in the presence of God and the love that flows from Him through you. Whatever this season looks like, it can still be good, because God is good, and He’s right there in the middle of it all.

Let’s pray.

Dear Papa, help me release any expectations I carry so they don’t rob me of the joy of celebrating this holiday season. Help me be flexible as we make family plans. Help me honor You and spread love to my family this holiday season. Amen

Still struggling?

The Transitional Grief Journaling Guide is a faith-filled resource designed to help empty nest moms process the deep emotions of letting go. Through six guided reflection questions, you’ll name your feelings, invite God into your grief, and discover His comfort in the middle of change. This gentle companion will remind you that transitional grief is only a season and God is leading you toward peace, purpose, and joy.

Letting Go of Doubt: How Christian Moms Thrive in Empty Nest Purpose

“Immediately the boy’s father exclaimed, “I do believe; help me overcome my unbelief!”- Mark 9:24

A Mind Full of Doubts

Nancy stood at the window as doubts rumbled in her mind. Her kids were moving on, and she needed to find a fresh purpose. “I’m a good listener. I’m intuitive and understand human behavior. I love helping people, but I don’t know if I can do it now,” she thought.

She had dreams of being a counselor, but the Accuser worked diligently to fill her mind with doubts. “You're too old” and “It’ll be too hard.” were his continual comments. 

“How do people just start over? What if I fail? What if I’m not good at it?” she wondered. The questions were on repeat, but she couldn’t deny she felt the Lord prompting her to enroll in college classes. 

Nancy’s husband encouraged her and her Bible study friends prayed through it with her. She and her girlfriend walked and talked about the new possibilities every day, and yet she stood at a crossroad.  Would she let her doubts win or would she walk by faith and step into a fresh season with renewed purpose?

What’s Next?

Most moms will stand on the edge of the empty nest, wondering what they will do next. We feel empty and purposeless, floundering through our days.

But what if this is the season of great opportunity?

Does God have a new job, ministry, business, or lifelong dream that He’s calling you to step into?

We start pondering our purpose as our children leave our homes. 

For decades our lives were firmly planted in motherhood. We thrived and grew as we parented. We understood the assignment and the expectations.  

Now we’re flooded with doubts. Fears mount as possibilities are presented.

We’re suddenly overwhelmed and suffer with a significant crisis of faith as we scurry to make sense of our future. We’re not unlike that middle school version of ourselves, plagued by uncertainty and “what will others think” arguments. 

Surely on the other side of our doubts we find God’s gentle nudges which lead us to our next purpose.

Motherhood is glorious, but it’s one role our Lord had for you. He’s not done yet. 

God has made provision for every apprehension, state of confusion, or reluctance. On the backside of doubt is His gracious purpose for you.

Take heart, momma. God is most tender with you in this season of life. He does not condemn or chide. He takes your hand and says, “Follow me. I will show you exactly what to do.”

Unbelief

The story in Mark speaks of a father who’s exasperated with his son’s sickness. He finally brings him to Jesus. Jesus, with a heart of compassion, tells the father he only has to believe and his son will be healed. The father replied with the most honest statement. “I do believe! Help me overcome my unbelief.” Mark 9:24

Help me overcome my unbelief or doubt has been the cry of the human condition for generations. Thankfully there are practical steps to releasing your reluctance. 

Let’s look at four ways to let go of doubt.

1. Acknowledging doubt is normal.

Before you can let something go, you must first acknowledge it. Instead of denying or justifying your doubt, name it. Bring it out in the presence of Jesus and say, “I’m scared.” 

It is normal to doubt when you’re on the edge of an unfamiliar season of life, like stepping into the empty nest. Please do not feel ashamed or less than because of your doubt. View it as an opportunity to talk to Jesus about it. You will be met with immense compassion and empathy. Thankfully, Jesus never lets us stay stuck there.

2. Counter the doubt with faith.

When you experience doubt you need to wrestle with God, until He strengthens your faith. You could give up and not receive all the good God has for you, or you could get down on the mat and fight for your bright future. 

Search the scriptures to find nuggets of truth about God’s guidance and provision for you. Your faith will only grow when you step over your doubts and crush them to the ground. That’s where real faith flourishes. Allow the scriptures to strengthen your soul so you can move past the apprehension you feel.

3. Move forward in spite of fear.

If you’re waiting to have no fear, I’m afraid, you’ll be waiting a long time. Only in heaven will you be completely fearless. On this side of heaven you need to learn to move forward in spite of your reluctance. 

Fear doesn’t magically go away. You must learn to manage it. You’re the boss of it, as God leads. It’s helpful to adopt a mindset that says, “Even though I’m afraid, I trust God to lead me to His best plans for my new purpose.  As you move forward, fear is diminished and confidence in God rises. One day it will be laughable how comfortable you feel in your fresh purpose.

4. Be willing to feel uncomfortable.

Ease is the fodder of those who remain purposeless. Instead of pursuing comfort, be willing to be stretched. Allow doubt to be an opportunity for your growth.

Seek God as you move through the uncomfortable and allow Him to reveal His will. Pray and seek God’s heart for His purpose in this season of life. Let God guide every step and trust His heart. Eventually, you’ll feel comfortable in what He’s called you to do. That’s how good He is. 

It’s not uncommon for moms to be plagued with doubts once our children are grown. It makes sense because our lives were focused on motherhood. But with every crisis of faith, we can trust God’s hand. When we face the future with courage and reliance on God we can be confident He will lead us to our fresh purposes. 

Let’s pray.        

Dear Papa, thank you for helping me with my unbelief. Help me make it through this crisis of faith so I can step into the good plans you have prepared for me. Fill me with courage and strength to pursue what you are leading me to do. I trust you even when I’m afraid. Amen.

Still struggling?

Grab my free guide, Your Kids Are Grown….Now What? It’s a robust guide to help you understand the three different phases of midlife motherhood. You’ll move from the Empty-Feeling Mom, the Questioning Mom, and the Celebratory Mom. The guide will help you see what to expect next. 

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