You're Not Alone: Encouragement in Challenging TimesSample

Hey, parent. How are you?  

Stop for a moment and let the question land. Don’t be quick to brush it off or push it away.

Don't read the question as: How are your kids? or How’s the job going? or Are you busy?  

How is that heart of yours? Not the fleshy organ beating in your chest right now, but your heart of hearts.  

That whole territory within you that has been clinging to God in faith, caring for your kids, spouse, and the people around you. The place where you hide away your thoughts and beliefs. The unseen and secret heart where you absorb the stress, and wrestle with all the challenges of this current season. 

The person that you are, who is more than a parent or an employee or a friend and any number of other titles. The child of God that doesn’t have it all figured out. Who’s taking a faithful step each day, as best you can.

How are you? 

It’s okay if you don’t know. But have you stopped to ask yourself this lately?

It’s been a season when that sort of self-reflection might seem like a luxury. As a parent or caregiver, you’ve been wearing a lot of hats. Depending on how old your kids are, you have different challenges to balance. It's worth taking a moment to pause and acknowledge that.

Here are just a few things you and other parents and caregivers may be facing:

Working from home without care while the little one roars through the room. 

Being perpetually torn between meeting all the demands of work and home and school life. Experiencing all the feelings –– anger, helplessness, fear, frustration –– because so much has changed and is out of your control. 

Maybe you’re a little embarrassed or worried that you barely remember how to do fifth grade math as you stumble through your child’s lesson plan. You could be reeling because things still feel chaotic. Long-standing relationships feel rockier as people you normally get along with seem so different, now, to you.

At the same time, this might be the best season you've had in awhile! Some people are thriving. You and your family have spent more time together than ever before, and it’s just been, well, just so good. So good that you feel quietly guilty as people around you struggle. 

Wherever you're at and no matter how you feel, you need grace. You need to hear that you are loved by God. He sees you and He knows you.  

Close your eyes right now, wherever you are. Take a deep breath. Let it fill your lungs.

The Spirit of God is with you. And He is your helper. An ever-present help in your current trials and challenges, and your joys too. God is present to comfort you and to counsel you. 

Take another deep breath to just focus on the truth of that. 

Dear parent, hear this today: God is your refuge and helper, no matter what you face.