I’ll be real with you: there was a time when my days blurred into one endless cycle of survival. Wake up. Get the kids ready. Work. Cook. Clean. Collapse into bed. Repeat. I often felt like I was barely holding it together—stretching every dollar, pushing through exhaustion, and wondering if I was enough for my two little ones.
On top of it all, my faith wasn’t as steady as I wanted it to be. Some days I prayed with hope; other days I avoided prayer because it felt like God was far away. For a long time, I thought surviving was the best I could do.
But over time, I discovered something important: God doesn’t want us to live in constant survival mode. He wants us to thrive, even in the midst of single motherhood. And thriving doesn’t mean having a perfect life: it means finding joy, peace, and purpose right where you are.
Here are some steps that helped me move from just surviving to truly thriving:
- Redefine “Enough”
As moms, we carry so much guilt for what we can’t do. I used to think thriving meant doing everything perfectly: keeping a spotless home, never missing a school event, balancing work and motherhood flawlessly. That standard broke me.
Thriving started when I redefined “enough.” Enough means loving my children fiercely, showing up with presence, and giving myself grace on messy days. God doesn’t ask for perfection—He asks for faith and trust.
Action Step: Write down your version of “enough.” Then release the unrealistic standards to God that keep you trapped in survival mode.
- Create Life-Giving Routines
In survival mode, I lived day by day, reacting to whatever came my way. But thriving meant building small routines that gave me stability. Simple things like a morning Scripture reading, Sunday meal prep, or a nightly gratitude practice: created anchors in the chaos.
These little rhythms reminded me that I could build structure and joy into my life, even with limited time and energy.
Action Step: Pick one routine to focus on this week—something that nourishes you and helps your home run smoother.
- Prioritize Your Spiritual Health
I’ll admit, my faith often took the backseat to laundry, bills, and bedtime routines. But I noticed that when I neglected my spiritual health, everything else felt heavier. Thriving required me to return to the basics: prayer, worship, and the Word.
I stopped pressuring myself to have long quiet times and instead integrated faith into daily moments: reading a Psalm over breakfast, praying while folding clothes, or listening to worship music in the car.
Action Step: Invite God into your ordinary tasks. He meets you in the small, faithful steps.
- Build a Support System
For the longest time, I tried to do it all alone. But survival became thriving when I realized I didn’t have to. Accepting help didn’t make me weak; it made me wise. Whether it was leaning on a friend from church, finding a single mom support group, or reaching out to family, I learned that community is a lifeline.
Action Step: Identify one person you can reach out to this week for support, prayer, or even just a listening ear.
- Rediscover Joy and Purpose
Survival mode makes it easy to forget who you are outside of “mom.” Thriving reminded me to rediscover the woman God created me to be. I started writing again, laughing more with my kids, rediscovering my likes and dislikes and dreaming about future goals. Purpose didn’t mean everything was perfect—it meant I was living with intention and hope.
Action Step: Do one thing this week that brings you joy—just for you. Then, ask God to show you the bigger purpose He has for your life in this season.
Final Encouragement
If you’re a single mom reading this while exhausted, overwhelmed, and wondering if you’ll ever feel joy again—I see you. I’ve been there. Survival may be your current reality, but it doesn’t have to be your permanent story.
You were created for more than just getting by. You were created to thrive, to live with joy, and to walk in the purpose God designed uniquely for you. One step, one prayer, one act of grace at a time—you’re moving forward.
Remember: Thriving isn’t about having a perfect life. It’s about holding on to hope, leaning into faith, and choosing joy in the middle of the storm. And with God as your strength, you and your children can step into a brighter, more purposeful tomorrow.
