Faith Building Family Activities in Nature Can Strengthen Your Relationships and Walk
Can I ask you something? How often do you get your family outside—all the way outside, away from screens, out in creation, with nothing but dirt, sky, and each other? I’m talking about faith building family activities that reshape how we hearing God daily in everyday moments and each other. Let me tell you, there is something powerful that happens on a simple hike, a picnic at a local park, or even just sitting beneath the trees in your backyard together. It doesn’t have to be epic or far from home—spiritual self care tips. It just needs to be real, shared, and open to what God wants to show you.
I remember when my family started being intentional about getting outdoors, practicing grace-filled honor with our kids. It wasn’t about having the right gear or checking off a big list of famous places—although, trust me, I love a good road trip with a map and an old cooler. It was more about putting aside everything that gets in the way at home: distractions, schedules, Wi-Fi, all that noise. Outside, things slow down. Hearts get softer. We let God use even the ordinary moments to build our faith and bind us closer together, learning to trust God with our family decisions.
Why Faith Building Family Activities Matter Outside the Walls
We all know family can be messy sometimes. And sure, the couch or kitchen table has its moments. But I’ve seen it—there’s just something that clicks when everyone is exploring, noticing, moving, and breathing fresh air together, gratitude practices. It’s like God himself steps in when we slow down long enough to really see what he’s made, spiritual encouragement through handwritten notes. In the latest podcast episode, I talked with my friend Tiffany about this exact thing—how faith building family activities in nature are often where our best conversations and lightbulb moments happen.
Here’s what I’ve noticed: stepping out into creation resets our priorities, finding hope after loss. We see beauty. We see challenges—steep trails, unexpected rain, spiderwebs across the path. But we also see God’s handprint, right there in front of our eyes. It’s a reminder for our kids and for us that God is a creative, intentional, and present Father. And it doesn’t take a national park trip to get there. Sometimes it’s a walk after supper or sitting by the creek down the road, finding God in hard times.
Simple Ways to Bring Faith Building Family Activities Into Your Everyday
- Plan a weekend picnic and bring a short verse to read before you eat
- Look for shapes and colors in nature, talk about what they tell you about God’s creativity
- Take a slow walk after dinner and watch for sunset changes together
- Let everyone share what they notice, what made them feel grateful, and what surprised them
Faith building family activities aren’t about performance. It’s about making space for God to speak in the small moments.
What God Teaches Us Through Nature and Shared Adventure
Can I tell you what comes up over and over in our family’s times outdoors? Awe. Noticing things we just rush by in our hurried lives. And sometimes, a deep sense of being part of something big and good, even if life feels small or overwhelming back at home. Recently, Tiffany shared a story of her family on a rainy, cold hike. Everyone was complaining at first. (Honestly? Been there.) But they pushed through, got to the end of that path, and the beauty waiting for them took their breath away. All the struggle made it sweeter. That’s something only hands-on, real-life faith building family activities seem to teach us .
When we’re outside, struggling a little, seeing the work of God’s hands, something shifts. Even the kids pick up on it. I remember a time one of mine, who “couldn’t walk another step,” suddenly ran ahead laughing when we found a waterfall. Isn’t that just like life? The hard things grow our gratitude, our connection, and our ability to see that God can be trusted.
Noticing God’s Character—Together
- His creativity (think: wildflowers, mountain peaks, tiny insects, and big rivers)
- His care and attention to the smallest details in creation
- The reminder that we are more important than all of it—made in his image
- His strength, majesty, and faithful presence, even when the “hike” feels hard
Scripture puts it plainly. Psalm 19:1 (CSB) says, “The heavens declare the glory of God, and the expanse proclaims the work of his hands.” Sometimes we just need to walk out the door and let our eyes actually see it. And let our kids see us see it, too.
How Faith Building Family Activities Grow Real Connection
You want to know my favorite part of hanging out outdoors with my family? It’s what happens between the busy moments. No Wi-Fi, no notifications. Just us. Conversations that wouldn’t come up in the carpool lane or rushed meal at the table suddenly spill out. And whether we’re tired or full of energy, we remember what matters most: each other and the God who gave us to one another. I can’t tell you how many times our kids have surprised us out there, coming out with wise or hilarious observations about what they see, what they think, or what God might be telling them. Faith building family activities have a way of opening those doors better than structured devotionals ever do sometimes.
And let’s be honest, sometimes the best connections happen right after the meltdown, the mud puddle, or the long climb. That’s where grace is learned. Where we get to say, “It’s okay to struggle. Let’s take a break. God’s walking with us just like we walk together.”
Practical Ideas for Connection and Faith
- Name something God made that amazed you today
- Share a “high” and “low” from the outing before bed
- Take turns leading a short prayer of thanks before heading out or heading home
- Start a family journal and let everyone draw or write about what they saw and felt
It’s never about being the perfect faith-building family. We just keep showing up together. That’s enough.
Making Faith Building Family Activities Part of Everyday Life
Does this sound familiar? You want your family to be closer to God and each other, but schedules and routines take over. Here’s the thing—faith building family activities are not about adding another chore. They are about making space. Maybe you can’t get to a national park this year. That’s okay. There’s beauty in your backyard, around the corner, or five minutes from your front door.
Start where you are. Walk together. Unplug for an afternoon. Invite a neighbor or friend along. Share smiles, stories, and prayers in the middle of God’s good creation. Don’t overthink it. Trust me, it matters. And if you need ideas, start with what your crew loves: fishing, throwing a ball, skipping rocks, or just sprawling out on a picnic blanket with your Bibles and a snack.
What If You’re New to All This?
- Pick one day a week to be outside as a family, rain or shine
- Ask each family member to pick their favorite outdoor spot for a month of adventures
- Set a simple intention, like looking for something beautiful or thanking God aloud for what you see
- Join a local group—church, school, or community—for group outings
You don’t need a passport book or plane ticket. Faith building family activities begin when we open our doors with expectation and gratitude.
Let’s Put Faith Building Family Activities Into Practice—Together
I’m convinced one of the best gifts we can give our kids—and our own weary hearts—is not just telling them about God’s goodness, but showing it. Faith building family activities are one of the simplest, sweetest ways to remember what’s true. Let’s let go of perfect and lean into real moments. Laughter, scraped knees, muddy shoes, sunburned noses, new questions, honest prayers, messy grace. This is what family faith looks like in the wild.
I would love to know what your family is doing to bring your faith alive together. What do your faith building family activities look like? Where do you find God outside the usual walls? And if you want more stories and ideas, be sure to listen to the full podcast episode. There’s so much wisdom in hearing how other families are meeting God in creation.
I hope this has encouraged you to step out, slow down, and watch what God will do in your family through simple time outdoors. Let’s be a community that builds faith in real-life moments—with dirt on our shoes and hope in our hearts.
