God, I’m Tired: Honest Rest for Exhausted ParentsSample

Pockets of Rest in Real Life

We all want that magical week away on a quiet beach with no responsibilities. But most parents aren’t packing for a spa, they’re folding the same towel for the third time because someone dumped the laundry again.

If you wait for perfect conditions to rest, you’ll never rest. But here’s the good news, real rest often shows up in small pockets. Five minutes on the bathroom floor. Two minutes at the sink whispering “God, help me breathe.”
Jesus told His disciples, “Come away and rest.” But notice.. it wasn’t always a vacation. Sometimes it was just stepping away for a moment to be with Him while the world still pulled at their clothes.

The enemy loves to convince you it doesn’t count unless it’s big. But small rests feed your soul too.
A deep breath before you answer that tantrum. A quiet prayer whispered while you nurse a baby at 2 AM. A verse scribbled on a sticky note stuck above the sink where you wash bottles on repeat.

Small pockets of real rest are holy ground too... not second-class moments. You don’t need a perfect scenario to meet the God who gives rest. You need a willing heart to pause when you can.

Start small. Breathe deep. Heaven sees it all.

Reflection

Where in your normal, messy day can you carve out a small pocket of real rest with God?

Prayer

Jesus, teach me to find rest right here not just when everything is perfect but in the tiny moments I usually overlook. Help me pause, breathe, and remember You are with me in every small pocket. Amen.