Christian Working Moms to Stay at Home Moms: Discovering Home

If you can’t tell whether God is calling you home or you’re just worn out, Rebekah Buchterkirchen has sat in that exact tension. She joins me to share how she discerned her calling and left a career in Christian higher ed for her kids, and what happened when she said yes. 

Bekah walks through the nine months of spiritual direction she and her husband did before she resigned, and the fun and frugal season that came after. She talks about finding purpose as a stay-at-home mom when her identity felt uncertain, and how a quiet yes to the next small step led to a book contract with The Daily Grace Co. If you’re looking for encouragement while you trust God with a decision you can’t see the end of, you’ll come away knowing what your next step is, and that it can be a small one.

Are you discerning whether God is calling you home to focus more on your home and family?
I’d love to support you through 1:1 coaching as you prayerfully explore your next steps. Visit https://www.karlabmonterrosa.com/work-with-me/ to learn more. 

Timecodes for Today's Conversation:

00:00 Welcome 

01:14 Meet Becca and Her Family

02:38 From Higher Ed to Writing

05:59 Discerning the Call Home

08:59 Alignment and Fun Frugal Season

12:27 Small Yeses and Trusting God

15:43 Motherhood Calling and Identity

22:04 Taking the Next Faithful Step

29:33 Culture Success vs Kingdom Values

33:25 Landing the Book Deal

40:15 Encouragement for Working Moms

42:27 Where to Find Becca

44:10 Wrap Up and Next Steps

45:23 Final Farewell 

Read the Show Notes, connect with Bekah, and discover more resources for moms at karlabmonterrosa.com.

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For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

If you’re a mom praying over a big change and still waiting for a clear answer, today's conversation is filled with insight and practical wisdom you won't want to miss.

Discerning God’s will rarely sounds like a voice, and my friend Jessica Jackson joins me to share how she learned to recognize it through open doors and a peace that held even when the path was hard. She tells the story of quitting her city job after a phone call from her husband sent her pacing a parking lot, and how Dave Ramsey’s principles gave their family a plan for greater freedom.

We also talk about running a family business while staying present with your kids, why she moved across the country from California to Tennessee, and the joy of finally publishing her first children’s book. If the fear of starting over feels loud right now, you’ll hear her advice to sit with the decision and write out the worst case before you do anything else.

Check out the show notes and other resources at https://www.karlabmonterrosa.com/discerning-gods-will-as-a-mom

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Are you a working mom who feels a tug toward something different, but you’re not sure what God is inviting you into? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a free clarity call with Karla to talk through where you are, what’s stirring in your heart, and what your next faithful step might be—no pressure—just a conversation, prayerful discernment, and some clarity for the road ahead.

Schedule your free clarity call.

Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

If you want to be home with your kids but can’t shake the work God put on your heart, Mary K. Tiller has been there. She joins me to share how she went from a reluctant stay-at-home mom with a newborn and a toddler to building a writing and editing career in the margins of her day on a cattle ranch in East Texas.

Mary K., co-host of Writing Off Social, tells me about the afternoon her father-in-law’s overloaded peach tree showed her what God was asking her to prune, and why she walked away from good writing opportunities when her family needed more of her. She opens up about asking her husband for specific time and putting email response times in her signature so she could finally step away on weekends. If you’re trying to balance work and motherhood, you’ll leave with permission to start small and leave margin right where you are.

Check out the show notes and other resources at https://www.karlabmonterrosa.com/balancing-work-and-motherhood

Ready to discern whether God is calling you home? 

Book your free clarity call here.

Connect with Mary:

• Tiller Editing: https://tillerediting.com
• Writing Off Social: https://writingoffsocial.com

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Are you a working mom who feels a tug toward something different, but you’re not sure what God is inviting you into? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a free clarity call with Karla to talk through where you are, what’s stirring in your heart, and what your next faithful step might be—no pressure—just a conversation, prayerful discernment, and some clarity for the road ahead.

Schedule your free clarity call.

Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

What does the Bible say about success for Christian moms who feel like they’re never doing enough?

If you’ve ever wondered whether you’re accomplishing enough, earning enough, or making the “right” choices for your family, this episode of Discovering HOME is for you. We’re taking a closer look at what biblical success really means—and what changes when we stop measuring our lives by the world’s standards and start measuring them by faithfulness to God.

I’ll share part of my own story, including why I took an $80K pay cut to be home with my daughters, and what that decision taught me about obedience, surrender, and trusting God with the outcome. We’ll look at Jesus as our ultimate example of success and consider what it means to faithfully steward what God has entrusted to us—even when there’s no applause, visible fruit, or guarantee that our choices will look successful to the world.

This episode is for the Christian mom who is tired of striving and wants to discover a more faithful, freeing definition of success.

Ready to talk through what God may be inviting you into in your own season? Book your free clarity call with me: [Clarity Call Link]

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If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

If you're a working mom feeling the pull toward home but you can't see how the money will work, this episode shows you what trusting in God's provision looks like when you leave a career, and why you can step out before every detail is clear.

I talk with Leslie Ramirez, host of the Good Regardless podcast, about leaving her career in radio and marketing to become a stay-at-home mom, and I share my own story of walking away from city government. We get into trusting your husband with the finances and what happens to the skills and dreams you spent years building. We close with Matthew 6.

If you're a Christian mom wondering whether coming home means your gifts have to end, this one is for you.

Check out the show notes and other resources at https://www.karlabmonterrosa.com/leaving-work-to-be-a-stay-at-home-mom/

Learn more about Leslie Ramirez and listen to the GOOD REGARDLESS PODCAST: 

@GoodRegardlessPodcast

Good Regardless on YouTube

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Are you a working mom who feels a tug toward something different, but you’re not sure what God is inviting you into? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a free clarity call with Karla to talk through where you are, what’s stirring in your heart, and what your next faithful step might be—no pressure—just a conversation, prayerful discernment, and some clarity for the road ahead.

Schedule your free clarity call.

Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

If you're a mom living in survival mode, snapping at the people you love and lying awake replaying tomorrow's to-do list, this episode shows you that nothing is wrong with you and how to start feeling peace again.

I talk with Dr. Kelsey Hawk, a licensed mental health therapist and certified neurocoach, about what survival mode does to the brain and body and why so many Christian women struggle to slow down. She shares nervous system regulation for moms that fits into a real day, including pockets of peace that take as little as 30 seconds, and how renewing your mind with scripture changes the beliefs running on autopilot.

If you're a working mom who loves God and her family and still feels stuck on high alert, this one is for you.

Check out the show notes and other resources at https://www.karlabmonterrosa.com/22-2/

Scripture for Reflection

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Are you a working mom who feels a tug toward something different, but you’re not sure what God is inviting you into? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a free clarity call with Karla to talk through where you are, what’s stirring in your heart, and what your next faithful step might be—no pressure—just a conversation, prayerful discernment, and some clarity for the road ahead.

Schedule your free clarity call.

Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

If you're a parent who wants to raise children with a biblical worldview but isn't sure how to teach them what's true before the culture does, this episode shows you where to start while they're still young.

I sit down with Dr. William Lile, the Pro-Life Doc, a board-certified OB-GYN who has delivered more than 5,000 babies. We talk about why a child's worldview is largely set before 13 and how to bring science and scripture into the hard conversations at home, including abortion. Dr. Lile also shares what his family learned from 14 years of homeschooling, and I share my own pregnancy stories.

If you're a parent or grandparent who wants to raise children with biblical conviction and Christlike compassion, this one is for you.

Resources and the Pro-Life Doc curriculum are at www.prolifedoc.org

Check out the show notes and other resources at https://www.karlabmonterrosa.com/21-2/

Thank you for joining me for the Season 3 premiere of Discovering HOME. I pray this conversation encourages you to lead your family with courage and wisdom as you cultivate a home built on God's truth.

See you next week!

Send us Fan Mail

Are you a working mom who feels a tug toward something different, but you’re not sure what God is inviting you into? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a free clarity call with Karla to talk through where you are, what’s stirring in your heart, and what your next faithful step might be—no pressure—just a conversation, prayerful discernment, and some clarity for the road ahead.

Schedule your free clarity call.

Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

Welcome to Season 3 of Discovering HOME! ✨

This season, we’re going deeper into what it looks like to trust God more fully—especially when He invites us into something we didn’t expect.

I’ll be joined by inspiring moms and experts who have walked through seasons of uncertainty, change, calling, motherhood, and discovering God’s purpose for their lives. Together, we’ll talk about faith, identity, motherhood, purpose, money, peace, and the courageous steps it takes to follow God wherever He leads.

Discovering HOME is a podcast for Christian moms who desire more peace, presence, and purpose in their everyday lives.

If you love God, love your kids, and you’re longing for a slower, more intentional way of life, I’m so glad you’re here.

My prayer for Season 3 is that these conversations will encourage you to release the pressure to have it all figured out, listen for God’s voice, and dare to trust Him more deeply.

Let’s discover HOME together. 🤍

Season 3 is here!

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Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others find the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

Ready to take the next step? I'd love to support you through coaching.

• Apply for Coaching: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/work-with-me
• For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

Welcome to Season 3 of Discovering HOME!

If you're a Christian working mom who has ever wondered, Is God calling me to something different?—this season is for you.

Join me each week as we explore what it means to build a life rooted in faith, family, and purpose. Through honest conversations, inspiring guest interviews, and biblical encouragement, we'll talk about discerning God's direction, navigating career and family decisions, embracing intentional living, and finding peace in the season He has you in.

Whether you're prayerfully considering becoming a stay-at-home mom, seeking better balance, or simply longing to create a home that reflects your values, you'll find practical wisdom, heartfelt stories, and hope for the journey.

New episodes begin September 16.

Be sure to follow Discovering HOME in your favorite podcast app so you never miss an episode. And if you know another mom who could use this encouragement, I'd be so grateful if you'd share this trailer with her.

I'd love to connect with you! Visit karlabmonterrosa.com to learn more, explore coaching, and find additional resources to support your journey home.

Want a little extra encouragement each week?

Join my newsletter for behind-the-scenes updates, faith-filled encouragement, practical resources, and reflections that don't make it onto the podcast. It's my favorite way to connect more personally with this community.

Sign up at karlabmonterrosa.com—I'd love to welcome you.

Send us Fan Mail

Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking

Discover the biblical meanings of purpose, calling, and vocation, along with practical guidance to help you embrace your mission as a Christian mom at home. This episode is perfect for working moms discerning a transition to stay-at-home motherhood and seeking faith clarity.

In this Season 2 finale of Discovering Home, Karla Monterrosa unpacks Scripture and shares her personal journey to help you understand God’s calling and find peace in your motherhood season.

Key takeaways include:

• What purpose, calling, and vocation really mean biblically and practically
• Why your identity as God’s image-bearer is foundational
• How your home is your mission field and children are your first disciples
• Why stepping toward home is a step of obedience, not a step back
• Three practical mindset shifts to stop living by the world’s definition of success
• How to discover vocation through faithful exploration, not one moment of clarity

Whether you’re a working mom feeling career and family tensions, actively discerning a transition, or longing for peace in your current season, this episode encourages and equips you to walk confidently in God’s calling.

Send us Fan Mail

Are you a working mom who feels a tug toward something different, but you’re not sure what God is inviting you into? You don’t have to figure it out alone. Schedule a free clarity call with Karla to talk through where you are, what’s stirring in your heart, and what your next faithful step might be—no pressure—just a conversation, prayerful discernment, and some clarity for the road ahead.

Schedule your free clarity call.

Support the show

If you found this episode helpful, the best way to spread the word and help others discover the show is to:

• Text this episode to a friend!
• Leave a 5-star rating and review!
• Hit ‘subscribe’ so you’ll never miss an episode!

For speaking events, interview inquiries, or collaborations, visit: www.karlabmonterrosa.com/speaking