Parenting Under PressureSample

The Exhausted Parent

From infancy to adolescence, parenting is intense and consuming. Whether coping with teenage drama or sleepless nights, or driving our kids all around town, we are often exhausted by the time our heads hit the pillow.

The next day, we do it all again. Why? Because we love our kids and want to give them the best.

But how do we define “the best”?

Our culture tells us that we need to provide our kids with a good neighborhood, enriching extracurricular activities, and every possible opportunity. It dictates what schools we should send them to, how we should discipline them, and how to ensure that they grow up to be successful.

Yet the pressure to provide the “best” often leaves us so exhausted that our children end up getting the worst versions of ourselves—short-fused and grumpy. We feel trapped by the load, unable to break free.

In Jesus’ day, a yoke was fitted around the neck of an ox as it worked the field. Many parents today can identify with that image. They are walking around dragging heavy weights attempting to plow the ground in hopes of growing their children the right way.

While parenting will always have its challenges, many of the burdens that we carry are unnecessary. Jesus says that if we’re tired, we should trade in our burdens for His. His yoke is easy and His burden is light. When it comes to parenting, that is a relief. We don’t have to carry the burden alone. We just need to take the time to learn from Jesus. His ways are true and everlasting.

When we let Him define “the best,” we learn that many of the things that we are striving for are not as important as we once thought.

As you go through the next six devotions, ask God to help you learn to parent according to the truth of Scripture rather than the standards of society. Pray that your children come to know Jesus’ love for them, and that you find rest for your soul.

For more on finding rest read, “Give Yourself a Time-Out” on FamilyLife.com.