Laura

Thank you so much for joining us, Sophia.

 

Sophia

It's nice to be on.

 

Laura

Just so that our listeners can get to know you a little bit more. Could you tell us a bit about yourself and what your family life looks like?

 

Sophia

I'm Sophia, I'm married to Matt, and we've got two little boys. Theo is nearly two and Finn is six months. I normally work as a nurse, but I'm currently on maternity leave, which is nice. And our weeks are just sort of pretty, I guess just looking after the boys at the moment, Bible study, church, and just other playdates.

 

Laura

So motherhood is a bit of a juggling act. Could you share how you prioritize your relationship with God through this season?

 

Sophia

Yeah, I think two big things. Yeah. Make sure we go to church every week if we can. And another big thing is Bible study. Meeting together each week with a bunch of other moms and reading the Bible together, even when that can be really hard. Like sometimes it's very inconvenient with naps and that sort of thing. But just making that a priority. Another good thing is, just listening to good Christian music, I found good kids music, really helpful, reflecting on Bible verses and stuff.

 

Laura

Yeah, that was my advice to someone was, "Just listen to Collin. That can be your bible time."

 

Sophia

It's so helpful.

 

Laura

It is so helpful.

 

Sophia

Yeah. I was like I played it for Theo and I'm like this is actually really encouraging.

 

Laura

And then one time, have you heard the song, Press on Mum?

 

Sophia

Yes. How good is that.

 

Laura

Having like the worst day. I've never heard that song before. Like I was crying in the car because I was just feeling defeated. And that song came on and I was like, "Oh, that is God just totally talking to me through Collin."

 

Sophia

Yeah, it's really good. Yeah.

 

Laura

How do you feel like your relationship with God has changed since you became a mom?

 

Sophia

I think I've been much more aware of how sinful I am. I think it's shown me, yeah, I've seen very clearly. And that's been really humbling. And it's encouraged me to keep turning to Jesus.

 

Laura

That's great. Have you found a helpful way for you to read the Bible?

 

Sophia

Yeah, we found it really helpful. My husband and I read together at night.

 

Laura

That's so romantic.

 

Sophia

It's just so helpful because I feel like I'm not very disciplined. And so it's like he's like, "Alright we doing our bible reading." I'm like, "Yeah, we are."

 

Laura

That's beautiful.

 

Sophia

And our church does daily notes. So we just do them. It's just a short bit of Bible and a few questions.

 

Laura

And do you guys do that at the same time, like together or you just sit there and read your Bibles by yourself?

 

Sophia

No, we read it actually together, which is nice. 

 

[00:02:45] - Laura

What has been a struggle in you spending time with God?

 

Sophia

I think just the lack of time. As a mother, it's really busy. And when I do have time, either I feel like I've got lots of jobs to do or I just want to sit and do nothing. Yeah, that could be hard.

 

Laura

Yeah, that's fair enough. Has there been anything that has really grown you as a Christian in motherhood?

 

Sophia

I think I've just been challenged to trust God more. I think being a mother I've learnt that I'm not in control even though I really want to be. When kids get sick and I've had two friends lose babies this year, I think that's just helped me to realise that I'm not in control. But God is. And so learning to trust him in that. 

 

Laura

And how would you encourage the mum who loves Jesus but is feeling distant in this season?

 

Sophia

So I can definitely relate to this. It can be really hard. I think like I was saying before, just really prioritizing, meeting together with other women in Bible study and sharing this journey together, I think. Yeah, I've been really encouraged by other mums that I've walked alongside.