Last Tuesday, I found myself sitting in my car outside my daughter’s soccer practice, scrolling through my phone while simultaneously trying to answer work emails and plan dinner in my head. As I watched other parents rushing from their cars with coffee in one hand and their phones in the other, it hit me: when did life become this chaotic sprint from one thing to the next?

That evening, as I finally collapsed into bed at 11 PM, I realized I hadn’t thought about God once that day—not really. Sure, I’d muttered a quick “help me find a parking spot” prayer at Target, but I couldn’t remember the last time I’d actually connected with him. Sound familiar?

Summer has this sneaky way of filling up our calendars faster than we can say “family vacation.” Between kids’ sports, weddings, weekend getaways, and that irresistible urge to soak up every drop of sunshine, our spiritual rhythms often get buried under beach towels and baseball schedules.

But here’s what I’ve learned (sometimes the hard way): God doesn’t disappear when our calendars explode. His invitation remains constant, gentle, and available: “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28).

If you’ve been wondering how to stay close to God when life feels like a never-ending game of calendar Tetris, I have good news. You don’t need to carve out perfect, Instagram-worthy quiet times or find hours of uninterrupted silence. What you need is a little intentionality, a generous helping of grace, and maybe some creative thinking.

Here are five practical ways to keep your faith strong, even when your schedule is anything but calm.

1. Start Small: Your Morning Doesn’t Need to Be Perfect

Forget the pressure of hour-long quiet times. Sometimes the most powerful spiritual moments happen in the simplest spaces—like those first few minutes before your feet hit the floor.

I used to think I was “failing” at faith because I couldn’t maintain those lengthy morning devotions I saw other people posting about. Then I started reading just one Psalm while my coffee brewed. Five minutes. That’s it. And you know what? Those five minutes often set the tone for my entire day.

Try these micro-habits:

• Read one verse or Psalm while your coffee brews
• Pray over your day’s schedule as you get dressed
• Listen to a worship song or short devotion while getting ready
• Keep a devotional book by your bedside for quick morning reading

Jesus himself modeled this rhythm: “Very early in the morning, while it was still dark, Jesus got up, left the house and went off to a solitary place, where he prayed” (Mark 1:35). Notice it doesn’t say how long he prayed—just that he prioritized starting his day with the Father.

Your morning spiritual habit doesn’t need to look like anyone else’s. It just needs to work for you.

2. Transform Ordinary Moments into Sacred Spaces

Here’s a game-changer: God isn’t confined to church buildings or designated prayer times. The Holy Spirit is with you in the grocery store line, during your commute, and yes, even in the chaos of family dinner.

Some of my most meaningful conversations with God happen while I’m doing dishes or stuck in traffic. There’s something about inviting him into the mundane that makes ordinary moments feel sacred.

Simple ways to invite God into your everyday:

• Turn your commute into prayer time (traffic jams become opportunities!)
• Ask for patience before walking into challenging situations
• Thank God for small blessings while doing household tasks
• Practice gratitude while waiting in lines or appointments

The apostle Paul reminds us: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God” (1 Corinthians 10:31). When you’re aware of God’s presence, folding laundry becomes an act of service, and your daily tasks transform into opportunities for worship.

3. Replace Mindless Scrolling with Soul Feeding

We all have those little pockets of time—waiting for appointments, standing in line, or those few minutes before falling asleep. What if we used just some of that time to feed our souls instead of endlessly scrolling?

I’m not saying delete social media (though that’s between you and God!), but what if we became more intentional about what we consume during those in-between moments?

Easy swaps to try:

• Keep a Bible app easily accessible on your phone
• Choose one verse each week to memorize and review during idle moments
• Follow a Bible reading plan that fits your current season
• Listen to worship music or Christian podcasts during downtime

As the Psalmist wrote, “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105). God’s Word provides direction and clarity, especially when life feels like it’s moving at warp speed.

4. Don’t Do It Alone: Stay Connected to Your Faith Community

When life gets overwhelming, our first instinct might be to isolate—to skip church because we’re exhausted or avoid small group because we’re behind on everything. But isolation is exactly the opposite of what our souls need during busy seasons.

Faith was never meant to be a solo journey. Community provides encouragement, accountability, and perspective when we’re too tired to see clearly.

Ways to stay connected even when life is full:

• Prioritize church attendance (in-person or online) even while traveling
• Text a trusted friend to share prayer requests or verses that spoke to you
• Listen to Mission Hills’ sermon podcasts during workouts or commutes
• Join or stay committed to a small group that fits your schedule

The writer of Hebrews understood this need: “And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another” (Hebrews 10:24-25).

At Mission Hills Church, we want to walk through every season of life with you—including the busy ones.

5. Embrace Grace + Keep Moving Forward

Here’s the truth bomb we all need to hear: you’re going to have days when you forget to pray, weeks when you don’t read your Bible, and seasons when your spiritual life feels dry. That doesn’t make you a bad Christian. It makes you human.

Busy seasons are temporary, but the spiritual habits you develop during them can strengthen your faith for years to come. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s persistence with grace.

Gentle ways to extend grace to yourself:

• End each day by naming one thing you’re grateful for
• Focus on one spiritual habit at a time instead of overwhelming yourself
• Ask God to show you one area where he’s inviting you to grow
• Remember that starting over is always an option

The prophet Jeremiah reminds us: “Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness” (Lamentations 3:22-23).

God’s mercy meets you fresh every single day—even in the messy, chaotic, beautiful busy seasons of life.

You Don’t Have to Choose Between a Full Life and a Full Faith

The beautiful truth is that you don’t have to choose between living fully and following Jesus wholeheartedly. With intentionality and grace, you can stay close to God even when your calendar looks like it was organized by a caffeinated squirrel.

God doesn’t need your perfect spiritual performance. He wants your authentic heart—tired, overwhelmed, grateful, and everything in between. He’s present in your early morning rush, your afternoon stress, and your late-night exhaustion.

This summer, as life pulls you in a dozen different directions, remember that staying close to God isn’t about adding more to your already full plate. It’s about recognizing that he’s already present in everything you’re doing and inviting him to be part of the conversation.

✏️  AUTHOR CREDITS

This blog was written by the Mission Hills Church Communications Team.