Even when we love God with everything we have, certain habits tend to grow in the quiet corners of our lives. They aren’t usually the “big” sins we talk about in a Sunday sermon. Instead, they show up in our thoughts, our emotions, and our daily routines.
We feel spiritually drained without really knowing why. The good news is that God loved us knowing all our weaknesses and imperfections. He is building us every day, one step at a time.
Here are seven habits most women struggle with in their spiritual lives.
1. Replaying Forgiven Mistakes
We’ve all had those nights where we lay awake replaying a conversation or a mistake from three years ago. We ask for God’s forgiveness, and He gives it, but then we go right back to the “mental courtroom” to judge ourselves all over again. It’s exhausting.
The reality is that when God lets something go, He doesn’t keep a backup file. “As far as the east is from the west, so far has He removed our transgressions from us.” — Psalm 103:12
When we keep holding onto that old guilt, we’re essentially trying to carry a weight that Jesus already dropped at the finish line.
2. The Social Media Comparison
It usually starts with a quick scroll through a social media feed. Suddenly, it feels like every other woman has a cleaner house, a more vibrant prayer life, or a perfectly organized schedule.
We start comparing our messy “behind-the-scenes” to someone else’s polished front porch.
“Each one should test their own actions.” — Galatians 6:4
God didn’t ask us to live her story. He called us to be faithful in the middle of our own, even if our “story” currently involves a mountain of laundry and a distracted mind.
3. The “Last on the List” Mentality
Many of us wear our busyness like a badge of honor. We’re taking care of the kids, the house, the job, and the church, and we tell ourselves we’ll sit down with God “later.”
But later usually turns into tomorrow. We end up running on empty, trying to give water to others from a dry well.
“Come aside by yourselves to a deserted place and rest a while.” — Mark 6:31
Rest isn’t a reward for finishing your work; it’s a requirement for doing it with a peaceful heart.
4. Letting the “Vibe” Dictate the Faith
Some mornings we feel on fire for God. Other mornings, He feels a million miles away. It’s human nature to let our emotions drive the car, assuming that if we don’t feel close to Him, then He must have moved.
“We walk by faith, not by sight.” — 2 Corinthians 5:7
Our emotions change with the weather or a bad night’s sleep. God’s presence, however, is a standing invitation that doesn’t rely on our mood.
5. The “I’m Fine” Default
We’ve all done it. Someone asks how we are at church, and the “I’m fine” comes out before we even think about it. We stay silent because we don’t want to be a burden or seem like we don’t have enough faith.
“Bear one another’s burdens.” — Galatians 6:2
But God built us for community. Sometimes the bravest thing you can do is admit you’re having a hard week and ask for prayer. It’s not weakness; it’s how the body of Christ is supposed to work.
6. Managing the “What-Ifs”
The late-night ceiling stares. The racing heart. We try to solve problems that haven’t even happened yet, imagining worst-case scenarios and trying to control the outcome of next month.
“Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer… let your requests be made known to God.” — Philippians 4:6
Trust really begins at the exact point where our control ends.
7. Tying Worth to the To-Do List
It’s easy to feel like our value is tied to how well we’re doing as a wife, a mom, or a friend. When we drop the ball, we don’t just feel like we made a mistake—we feel like we are a mistake.
“You are precious in My sight, you have been honored, and I have loved you.” — Isaiah 43:4
Our worth was settled on the cross long before we ever tried to be “productive.” You are loved because you belong to Him. Period.
None of these habits break overnight. It’s a slow walk toward grace. But every time we choose to let go of a little bit of guilt or a little bit of control, we’re making more room for the peace that God has been holding out to us all along
