10 Honest Prayers for New Moms Adjusting to Motherhood

Father God, thank you for this new life. I'm thrilled and terrified as I hold this baby in my arms. I have so many fears and doubts, yet I have so much love. Thank you for the blessing this baby will be to me.

I marvel at how you've knit this baby together. When I look into my baby's eyes, I see your creativity and artistry. I feel what I imagine is a fraction of the love you have for your children as I hold my baby close. I thank you for entrusting me with this new life.

Lord, you are so kind, so gracious. May I never lose the wonder of your mercy. May I never cease to be amazed by your good gifts. May I never take for granted the gift you have given me in this baby. Thank you! Thank you for this new life.

Father God, I wasn't expecting to feel as anxious as I do. I didn't expect to be peering over the crib in the middle of the night to make sure my baby was still alive. I didn't expect to be so afraid of germs, accidents, and all the worst-case scenarios running through my mind.

Calm my thoughts. Give me peace. Allow your Spirit to minister to my heart and lead me to a deeper trust in you. Remind me that it is you who watches over my baby at night. It is you who knows what tomorrow brings, not me. Remind me that not only do you know what tomorrow brings, but that tomorrow rests in your hands, not mine.

Lord, help me to know when I need to reach out for help. Remind me that there is no shame in having fear or anxiety as I adjust to motherhood. Give me the courage to be honest about what I'm feeling and not hide it for fear of judgment. Guide the words of those I go to for help, and give them wisdom on how to offer me encouragement. Fill me with your peace, the peace that passes understanding.

Father God, I'm exhausted. I honestly didn't know I could survive on this little sleep. Please give me the endurance to get through the days. Please let the sleep I do get be restorative. I know that I don't function well when I'm tired. My concentration suffers, my decision-making skills aren't as rational, and my patience is shorter.

I don't want to be unkind or impatient because I'm tired. I don't want to be angry at my baby or despise the blessing of motherhood when I feel physically sick from being sleep-deprived. Remind me that the housework can wait. Remind me that it's okay to rest every chance I get. Remind me that it's okay to ask for help so that I can catch up on sleep.

Lord, your Word says that you give rest to the weary. I'm weary. I need rest. Please intervene in my life, whether that's by supernaturally giving my baby a longer stretch of sleep or by providing me with help. Please give me the strength to endure these long days and the even longer nights.

Father God, I've only just begun this new journey as a mom, and I already feel worried that I'm not doing it right. Please stop me when I'm tempted to compare myself to other moms. Keep my mind focused on you and on this child.

Remind me that you chose me as this child's mother, knowing my strengths and my weaknesses. Help me to let go of my failures and to give you praise for the successes. Remind me that I am yours, whether I breastfeed or bottle feed, whether I stay at home or go to work, whether or not I have a picture-perfect nursery, and whether or not I document every milestone on social media.

Lord, help me to rest in you and in being my baby's mom, not in trying to keep up with or please other moms. Give me confidence that you will equip me as a mom. Give me confidence in myself as I adjust to motherhood.

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Father God, why did you give me a baby to care for when I can hardly take care of myself? I hear my baby crying, and it's all I do to get myself out of bed. And even then, I don't want to care for my baby, I want to stay in bed. What is happening to me? Why are my thoughts so dark? Why is my body so weak?

Remind me that this is not my fault, that this is not punishment, that you have not turned your back on me, that generations of women have struggled in this way, that I am not alone, and that it's okay to ask for help. Give me the strength to reach out to someone, or put my name on the heart of someone who will reach out to me.

Lord, protect me. Protect my baby. Please take this depression away. Fill me with joy, peace, happiness, and a desire to live. Fill me with your presence that I might feel you near. Draw me to yourself. Hold me close. I need you. My baby needs you.

Father God, you gave this baby life knowing the beginning, middle, and end of their life story. I pray that their story includes knowing you, loving you, trusting you, and walking with you all their days.

I pray that you would open the eyes of my baby's heart to your Word at a young age and that I will see my child grow in their knowledge and understanding of you as the years go by. I want to ask that this life be kind, and yet I know that what I should ask is that you would allow whatever will teach this child to lean on you.

Lord, I ask that you would bless this child and give them the gift of faith. I ask that you use this child for your kingdom. I pray that this baby's life will bring you glory.

Father God, I'm overwhelmed, exhausted, touched out, and just want a moment to myself. And yet, I don't want to be disconnected from my husband. Please keep us connected. Keep our minds focused on the joy this baby brings, not on the daily obstacles we're learning to navigate.

Please help my husband understand and anticipate my needs as I adjust to motherhood. Help me to understand and anticipate his needs as he adjusts to fatherhood. Help us to be patient with one another and to communicate with love and kindness, even in our exhaustion.

Lord, please put your hand of blessing on our marriage during this time and keep us focused on you. Remind us that we can rest in the truth that we will never be perfect parents but that you are the perfect parent. Guide us through this adjustment with grace, gentleness, and humility.

Father God, I'm exhausted, overwhelmed, and touched out, and I don't have a husband to offer help. How will I do this on my own? Father, I know that you created us to be relational beings—please keep me connected to others who can help me adjust to motherhood.

Give me the courage to ask for help, and allow your Spirit to put me on the hearts of other women in my life. I want and need connection. I need wisdom from other women as well as practical help, like babysitting, grocery runs, and hand-me-downs.

Lord, help me not to be overwhelmed during this time. Please surround me with other women of all ages who can point me to you when I feel discouraged, who can offer a helping hand, and who will just be my friend.

Father God, when I think back to my childhood, I fear making the same mistakes my parents made. I fear saying the same hurtful things and teaching the same destructive lessons. Lord, help me to do better.

I don't want to repeat the sin-struggles of my parents. I don't want this baby to be abused or misused. I don't want this baby to grow up and have me to blame for their insecurities, mistrust, and deep wounds. Help me to break the cycle.

Lord, I will never be the perfect parent. But would you help me to be a good parent? A kind, loving, gentle parent who can be relied on and trusted. I want my baby to feel safe and loved. Please protect this baby from the wounds of my upbringing. Walk with, guide, and instruct me as I raise this baby.

Father God, I feel so ill-equipped to be a mother. I'm afraid I'm going to do everything wrong. I'm afraid this child will grow up and despise me, that I will do more harm than good. I'm afraid I don't know enough to teach this child and answer all their questions about you.

I can't help but wonder why you blessed me with this baby. I can't help but wonder why you thought I deserved this baby. Why did you think I would be good enough? Why did you think I had it together enough to parent this child? Please give me wisdom. Remind me that you are enough and that I don't have to be.

Lord, strengthen my faith; draw me closer so that I might rely more heavily on you. Guide me as I guide this child. Teach me as I teach this child. Grow me up in you, as this child grows in you. Equip me. Lead me. Give me wisdom that I might pass it on to this baby.

We are told in 1 Thessalonians 5:16-17 to rejoice always and pray without ceasing. This verse takes on new meaning when you're adjusting to motherhood. Lean into the Lord, cry out to him, tell him what's on your heart—the good, the bad, the ugly.

Give yourself grace in this season of life and rest in the truth of God's Word. He cares for you and will see you through. May your prayer life soar to new heights as you adjust to motherhood.