When Motherhood Feels Lonely: Grace for the Mom Who Doesn’t Have It All Together Part #1When Motherhood Feels Lonely: Grace for the Mom Who Doesn’t Have It All Together Part #1
Love&BLoved with Lena Cebula
Lena Cebula and guest Stacey A. Shannon talk openly about lonely, messy motherhood, mum guilt and the pressure to be a perfect Christian mum. They share how simple faith, honest community and grace for yourself can shift the way a mum approaches her daily life.
25:48•16 Sept 2026
Grace for Messy Motherhood: Faith, Guilt and Letting Go of Perfect
Episode Overview
- Mums often hide the hard parts of motherhood because of shame and pressure to appear as though they have it all together.
- Mum guilt and comparison can spiral quickly, even when the feelings don’t match reality.
- Faith life can unintentionally become another source of pressure, but God is not asking for perfection or rigid routines.
- Finding small, realistic ways to connect with God—like praying in the shower or listening to praise music—can sustain a mum in chaotic seasons.
- Remembering identity in Christ and giving yourself grace can make you a more present, compassionate mum to your children.
“He did not give you your children by accident. And you are meant to be their mom. And you can do this.”
How do people find hope in the darkest times? This conversation from the Rising Mother Series of Love&BLoved with Lena Cebula sits right in that question, focusing on mums who feel lonely, guilty and far from the polished "perfect Christian mum" image. Lena chats with guest Stacey A. Shannon, founder of Families with Grace, a Christian mum blogger, devotional author and freelance journalist.
Stacey describes herself as "a relatable Christian mom who doesn’t have it all together" and openly talks about laundry piles, fast food dinners and moments of losing her cool. Her honesty gives worn-out mums permission to stop pretending everything is fine. Together, they unpack why mums hide the hard parts of motherhood and how shame and guilt creep in, especially in church settings.
Stacey remembers sitting in a salon with her newborn at home and thinking, "Isn’t motherhood the greatest?" only to answer "yes" out loud while silently feeling overwhelmed and unsure she was cut out for it. Faith is a big thread throughout the chat, but not in a "do more" way. Stacey and Lena talk about how spiritual life can accidentally become another item on an already impossible to-do list, and how God isn’t demanding perfection or hour-long Bible studies.
Stacey shares practical moments where she connects with God, like praying in the shower or listening to praise music while driving to the hospital during a family crisis. They also touch on identity: motherhood is important, but it isn’t all of who a woman is. Remembering she is God’s child first helps a mum serve her family from a place of grace rather than exhaustion and self-criticism.
By the end, Stacey’s reminder to "give yourself grace" and her reassurance that "you are meant to be their mom" leave mums feeling seen, supported and a little less alone. If motherhood feels messy, exhausting or shame-filled, this chat might be the encouragement you’ve been craving.
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