Parenting is incredibly difficult—more so, if you want to do it in a way that is honoring to God. Surely, there is nothing new under the sun. Parenting was difficult for our very first parents (Adam and Eve), as they had to deal with their own sin and the sin of their children. Nothing has changed other than perhaps the way temptations are presented.
It seems with the invention of social media came a surge of “mom guilt.” According to the world, there is a never-ending list of things that must be done in order to be a good mom.
- Take regular formal family photos
- Only feed your children organic food made from scratch
- Have fun with your children; make sure you spend time alone with them regularly
- Make sure your children are in sports, music, or both
- Eliminate screen time
- Don’t let them fall behind academically
I could go on, but I’m sure you can relate. Many of these are extra burdens we lay on ourselves. However, the command to “bring [your children] up in the discipline and instruction of the Lord” is overwhelming on its own (Eph. 6:4). It seems impossible to point them to the Lord as they continually battle temptation both from outside and within their own hearts. How can God use a weak vessel like me? It’s never enough. I write this as someone who has been in tears (often) for fear of failing my children. The Lord had to bring me to the end of myself and show me that I actually never could accomplish this on my own to begin with.
I was so encouraged recently as I listened to Milton Vincent explain the feeding of the 5,000.1 When the disciples asked Jesus to send the people away to find food, Jesus told the disciples to feed them (Luke 9:13). Do you really think Jesus expected the disciples to find enough food to feed 5,000 people? I don’t believe so. I think He wanted them to be faithful and obedient with what they had, knowing full well that it wasn’t sufficient. What did they have? Five loaves and two fish.
You know how the story goes: the disciples brought the meager supplies and the Lord multiplied it so that every mouth was fed. There were even leftovers! (Luke 9:17) This is a beautiful story of our insufficiency and the sufficiency of Christ. Dear weak mother, Christ wants you to be faithful with what He’s given you. “He knows our frame; He remembers that we are dust” (Psalm 103:14). He isn’t surprised by your weakness, your sin, or your failures. This is exactly why He pleads with you to seek His face. Come to Him with your burdens and watch what He can and will do! It isn’t about what you can do. Come to Him with your “five loaves and two fish.”
I confess there was one night in particular that I fell into bed utterly exhausted, knowing full well that I hadn’t completed everything that needed to be done. I was so tired, I felt like I literally needed someone to carry me or sustain me. I couldn’t even get up to get water. My failures were ever before me, too many to name. As a single mother, I pleaded for the Lord, my husband, to help me (Isaiah 54:5). I begged Him to relieve the burdens that were too many to carry. His precious Word blessed my soul and brought me to tears.
“His left hand is under my head, and his right hand embraces me!” (Song of Solomon 2:6)
John Owen describes this beautifully:
Christ is here seen as a kind friend to anyone who is sick or sad…’the hand under the head’ symbolizes supporting, upholding grace in trial and difficulties. And ‘the hand that embraces’ is the hand upon the heart, bringing joy and comfort.2
The Lord is near to the broken-hearted. He helps the weak. The Lord is and was absolutely faithful as many of the burdens I was pouring out to Him that night, He certainly did provide for in overwhelming ways. He hears; He sees. You are precious to Him. Cry out to Him in anticipation of what HE can do. It is about Him and His glory, not yours.
“He will tend His flock like a shepherd; He will gather the lambs in His arms; He will carry them in His bosom, and gently lead those that are with young” (Isaiah 40:11).
Wherever you find yourself in your parenting journey, the Lord has not abandoned you. God abandoned Christ at the cross so that you would never be abandoned. Cling to Him dear sister. Taste and see that the Lord is good.
- Milton Vincent, “Amazing Grace for Dads Who Fall Short,” audio file, Institute for Biblical Counseling and Discipleship, accessed Jan 4, 2026, https://ibcd.org/amazing-grace-for-dads-who-fall-short/. ↩︎
- John Owen, Communion with God, abridged and made easy to read by R. J. K. Law (Carlisle, PA: Puritan Paperbacks, 2024). ↩︎
