I Love You, But I Don’t Like You Right Now

It’s the phrase every honest parent whispers in their head but feels too ashamed to say out loud: “I love you, but I don’t like you right now.” The world says unconditional love is enough. But let’s tell the truth: it doesn’t feel like enough when you’re staring at a child who keeps disrespecting you, ignoring you, or pushing every boundary like they’re daring you to break.

And it stings because it feels personal. You wonder, How can I pour out so much love and still feel this tension in my chest? But here’s the freeing truth: your feelings don’t make you a bad parent, they make you an honest one. You can love your child with everything in you and still struggle to like their attitude, choices, or behavior. That’s not failure. That’s human.

What matters is what you do with that tension. Do you let bitterness grow roots? Do you build walls to protect yourself from rejection? Or do you bring that raw, uncomfortable honesty to the feet of Jesus? Because your feelings aren’t the problem, unhealed wounds are. And if you let Him, God will use this season to heal places in you that need His touch, not just your child’s obedience.

Your child doesn’t need a perfect parent who never feels anger, they need a humble parent who lets the Holy Spirit lead them through it. Love covers a multitude of sins — even the ones that start with “I don’t like you right now.” He can handle that truth. Bring it to Him.

Reflection Questions:

1. When was the last time you felt, “I love you, but I don’t like you right now”?
2. How do you usually handle that tension — bury it, explode, or bring it to God?
3. What would it look like to let God help you respond with both love and boundaries?

Prayer:
Jesus, thank You for loving me when I’m hard to like, too. Teach me how to hold this tension honestly with You. Give me wisdom to respond with grace, not bitterness. Heal any places in my heart that my child’s attitude keeps triggering. Remind me that love doesn’t deny hard feelings, it brings them to You. Amen.