Just Do It

Embrace the Role of a Praying Parent

Let’s be honest. Parenting can often be summed up in Ecclesiastes 3 as Solomon searches for the meaning of life under the sun. He reflects, “To everything there is a season, a time for every purpose under heaven: A time to be born, and a time to die; to plant, to harvest; to kill, to heal; to break down, to build up; to weep, to laugh; to mourn, to dance; to cast away stones, to gather stones; to embrace, to turn away; to gain, to lose; to keep, to throw away; to tear, to sew; to keep silent, to speak; to love, to hate; a time of war, and a time of peace.”

Parenting truly holds all of these—moments of joy beyond words and seasons of deep, indescribable challenge. Yet every moment is a gift from the Lord, and He calls us to trust Him through it all and embrace the role of being a praying parent. Even when fear or doubt grips us, the most important thing is simply to keep going. Don’t throw in the towel. Embrace the calling, fight the battles worth fighting, and learn to enjoy the journey along the way.

Being a praying parent is certainly not for the faint of heart, but thanks be to God for His indescribable gifts—Jesus, and the children He has entrusted to us. He will guide us every step of the journey. As we walk this path, we must remember the power of surrender—surrendering to the One who created us, created our children, and entrusted us with this role.

In the days we mess up, routes feel rocky, and seasons stretch us thin, through consistency and faithfulness, blessings will come. Hold tightly to that promise in both the highs and the lows, because both will arrive. But take heart—you are equipped, or God would not have called you to this work. Now, let’s step forward in confidence and just do it; there is power in being a praying parent.

Reflection:

• Think about the day your child was born. What details can you be thankful for?
• What distractions are keeping you from seeing your children as a gift or maybe causing you to freeze in fear? Talk to God about those things, surrender them, and allow Him to heal your heart.
• Begin to write down scripture that reminds you of the calling He has placed on your life as a parent, and place them in spots you will see them daily.