Bringing Calm into the Chaos of Your HomeSample

Calm Begins with Prayer

Parenting brings with it lots of anxiety and stress. We wonder are we doing it right? Are we being too hard or too easy? Are we handling the balance of work and home correctly? How do we keep up with it all? 

The best place to find calm is in prayer. One of the greatest gifts you will ever give your child is praying for him and teaching him to pray. We see prayer modeled by Jesus who frequently pulled away for times of conversation with the Father. We often narrow prayer to the process of asking God for things, when, in fact, prayer is supposed to be a conversation with God. We talk to God in prayer, but we also listen to Him in prayer. In the parenting journey this is crucial. No one knows your child as well as God. He is the ultimate source of wisdom for how to parent your child. As you learn to bring every concern to Him, His Holy Spirit will envelop you in peace. 

Often as parents we face difficult situations with our kids, and we are completely baffled about what to do. As we go to God in prayer, we are reminded that He is the source of all wisdom (Romans 11:33) and He promises to give wisdom to those who ask. Even better, He gives wisdom without finding fault (James 1:5). Don’t you love that? Parents struggle with so much guilt. However, James reminds us that God gives us wisdom without finding fault. As we spend time in prayer both pouring out our hearts and listening for God’s response, God will give us the wisdom we need. As a result, our hearts will be soothed, and we’ll experience His calming presence. 

Pause and Reflect: What does your prayer life look like? Do you pour out your heart to God? Do you listen for the voice of His Spirit?

Action Step: Begin every day by praising God that He is with you and that He will give you wisdom as you need it. Make it your practice to carry on a conversation with God throughout the day.

Pray: Lord, too often I have turned to other sources for wisdom, forgetting that you promise to bend down and listen to my cries for help. As I move through this day, help me to carry on a conversation with you both pouring out my heart and listening for your response. As I pray, I ask that your Holy Spirit would calm my anxious heart. 

James 1:5 (NIV): “If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.”