Praying Through Parenthood
Parenting is by far the hardest position / day job I’ve ever had and by far the least qualified I’ve been for a job, like ever (and I got my first real job at age 13).
I think that’s why God loves when we have children. We’re right where He wants us to be.
As someone who was never really sure I even wanted kids, (eventually) passing those reins over to God was equally the most terrifying and exhilarating decision of my husband and I’s early years of marriage. But more on that another day.
I’ve been a parent for 2ish years now, and I can tell you with embarrassing honesty that my “pray without ceasing” prayer life has been chiseled down to a few words on most days.
Some days it’s “God, help me.”
Some days I just sing the first few words of Hymn 54:1,8—“Oh God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come…” as a prayer.
Most of the newborn stage was just one word: “God!”
Most common though, in these first few years of parenthood, is just me begging God that my child would sleep—for her, for me, for all of us.
But maybe that’s okay. Maybe God wants us right where we are when we are in the thick of it and that groan or those tears is all it takes for God to remember us—to take action on our behalf.
I think God would prefer one genuine word over no words, or “babbling on like pagans”.
What’s your go-to tiny prayer? What’s the shortest prayer you’ve ever prayed? --- “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:5-8 | NIV
I think that’s why God loves when we have children. We’re right where He wants us to be.
As someone who was never really sure I even wanted kids, (eventually) passing those reins over to God was equally the most terrifying and exhilarating decision of my husband and I’s early years of marriage. But more on that another day.
I’ve been a parent for 2ish years now, and I can tell you with embarrassing honesty that my “pray without ceasing” prayer life has been chiseled down to a few words on most days.
Some days it’s “God, help me.”
Some days I just sing the first few words of Hymn 54:1,8—“Oh God, our help in ages past, our hope for years to come…” as a prayer.
Most of the newborn stage was just one word: “God!”
Most common though, in these first few years of parenthood, is just me begging God that my child would sleep—for her, for me, for all of us.
But maybe that’s okay. Maybe God wants us right where we are when we are in the thick of it and that groan or those tears is all it takes for God to remember us—to take action on our behalf.
I think God would prefer one genuine word over no words, or “babbling on like pagans”.
What’s your go-to tiny prayer? What’s the shortest prayer you’ve ever prayed? --- “And when you pray, do not be like the hypocrites, for they love to pray standing in the synagogues and on the street corners to be seen by others. Truly I tell you, they have received their reward in full. But when you pray, go into your room, close the door and pray to your Father, who is unseen. Then your Father, who sees what is done in secret, will reward you. And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans, for they think they will be heard because of their many words. Do not be like them, for your Father knows what you need before you ask him.” Matthew 6:5-8 | NIV