Somewhere along the way, many of us started believing that if we couldn’t maintain the perfect quiet time… we were failing God.
Tell me if this sounds familiar.
- Pick the perfect time.
- Pick the perfect chair.
- Get your Bible, your journal, your pens, your highlighters.
- Set your alarm so you can wake up early.
- Read your chapters.
- Journal your thoughts.
- Pray for thirty minutes.
- List Item
When an Invitation Becomes a Formula
What started as an invitation slowly became a formula, a task to check off our to-do list. But relationship can’t be found in formulas or checklists.
Jesus said, “Come to me all who are weary and burdened… and you will find rest for your souls.”
I think a lot of women genuinely love God…but feel exhausted trying to relate to Him the “right” way.
And if your relationship with God constantly feels heavy, pressured, guilt-filled, or like you’re always behind…I don’t think that’s the kind of yoke Jesus was talking about.
Naming Things Rightly Matters
A few months ago, I attended a retreat in Colorado Springs at a place called Glen Eyrie Castle. It didn’t really look like the castles I’ve seen on tv so I started wondering what made it a castle instead of a mansion.
A mansion and a castle might both be huge buildings, but they create completely different pictures in our minds.
Mansion makes us think size and luxury.
Castle makes us think stone walls, towers, history, protection, symbolism.
I think that term “quiet time” did the something similar. Because, when we hear “quiet time,” most of us immediately think:
- A quiet space
- A set amount of time
- And a very specific kind of spiritual experience.
But a relationship with God is so much bigger than that.
A Different Way to Think About Relationship With God
So for this season, can we adjust our vocabulary? Can we set aside the term “quiet time?”
Not because it’s bad.
Not that you can never use it again.
But I think “devotional life” instead, we begin to see it as ongoing relationship woven throughout our daily life.
Devotional life isn’t just a morning routine.
It’s a life of continually turning our hearts, our attention, toward God.
You’ll hear me say this a lot, but I believe everything you do in pursuit of God IS your devotional life.
That means your devotional life is happening when you’re reading your Bible and when you’re playing with your kiddos.
- While drive to work and while you’re folding laundry.
- While you’re hiking and while you’re journaling.
- Even while you’re standing in line at the grocery store or waiting in the school pick-up line.
Permission To Lay Down The Guilt
So today, I just want to give you permission to stop measuring you relationship with God solely by whether you completed the perfect quiet time this week.
I want to you lay down the guilt and shame you’ve been carrying because I don’t believe Jesus ever wanted you to come to Him out of guilt.
That’s not His heart for you.
He doesn’t want your Instagram-worthy moments or a completed checklist. He wants your heart. And if you keep turning your heart toward Him, even imperfectly, you’re not failing.
My Own Devotional Life Story
I didn’t grow up in a Christian home so I didn’t have anyone to show me how to develop a meaningful, tangible relationship with God. As a young wife and mom, I started attending church and doing the whole quiet time thing. But I wasn’t feeling any closer to God.
I thought connecting with God only “counted” if it happened sitting quietly with my Bible first thing in the morning.
But over time, I started noticing that I connected deeply with Him in other ways too.
Sometimes it was while digging into Scripture or journaling.
But sometimes while I was out hiking or kayaking.
Or creating something in my studio.
Sometimes just noticing small things throughout my day that tugged at my attention.
And slowly, I realized God wasn’t asking me to come to Him like a student with an assignment.
He was inviting me to bring my whole, actual, self into relationship with Him. In my ordinary, human moments.
What I Hope You Remember
- Quiet time can be helpful, but it was never meant to carry the whole weight of your relationship with God.
- Devotional life is bigger than a morning routine. It’s a life continually turning your heart toward God.
- Everything you do in pursuit of God is your devotional life.
- God isn’t looking for your Instagram-worthy moments or a completed checklist. He wants your heart.
- Relationship with God is bigger than a time slot.
- If you keep turning your heart toward Him—even imperfectly—you are not failing.
A Question to Sit With
What ordinary moments in your life might God already be using to invite you into relationship with Him?
Try It This Week
Choose one ordinary part of your day this week and intentionally invite God into it.
- While you’re doing the dishes or driving to work.
- While you’re working out at the gym or in your garden.
- While you’re watching the birds through the window or listening to them on a walk.
Continue the Conversation
If this resonated with you, here are a few ways to keep exploring:
🎧 Listen to the podcast episode
🌿 Join the Figs Community
Coming Up in This Series
- You’re Not Behind
- God Made You Uniquely
- Don’t Ignore the Tug
- Small Ways to Start
Hey there, friend,
If devotional life has felt harder than it should, I hope this encouraged you today.
Let’s cultivate a devotional life you love. Like really love. Because it is possible and it’s so much easier than you think.
Chat soon, friend.
~Rose
