4 Lifelines For The Weary Parent
- Julia Hefner
- Apr 26, 2024
- 7 min read
Updated: May 2, 2024
Need a break? Maybe a spa day or a babysitting swap? I want to share four lifelines that will bring much needed refreshment to you if you are feeling weary. These powerful tips brought so much life during the baby/toddler and teen stages when I felt like my body, mind, emotions were fully maxed out. Can you relate?
The first thing God showed me is: Draw From His Inexhaustible Strength
Isaiah 40:11 says: “He will feed his flock like a shepherd, he will gather the lambs with his arm, and carry them in his bosom(which means against his chest! The same way you hold your babies!) And gently lead those who are with young!”
This chapter in Isaiah talks about how unfathomably big and mighty God is, and how you could never exhaust His strength. Verse 28 says, "Have you not known? Have you not heard? The everlasting God, the Lord, the Creator of the ends of the earth, neither faints, nor as weary; He gives power to the WEAK and to those who have no might, He increases strength. Those who wait on the Lord shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not grow weary, they shall walk and not faint!”
Take Action: I applied that personally as I used to feed/rock/diaper change/chase/soothe I would repeat: “Lord I draw from YOUR inexhaustible strength! I’m tired but you are NOT! I lean into your chest! I draw from your strength that never fails me!" (Even if I had to do it every 30 minutes.)
2. The second thing God showed me is: My first ministry is to love my children.
Taking care of children of any age 👶 can feel very unseen and overlooked. It is one of the most humbling stages in life. The mom-guilt sometimes goes into overdrive when we feel like we can’t be at every event, spend hours praying before dawn, or do long Bible studies. The enemy wants us to feel guilty, like we’re never enough, that we’re not doing enough for God, or just in general life. In the middle of the countless unseen things we do every moment, (wipe noses & bottoms, potty train, hug them when they cry) God gave me a revelation during a time that I prayed desperately to Him, that I was actually loving JESUS by doing that!!! 🤯 Then God gave me this scripture to prove it to me! 💥
”Then the righteous will answer Him, saying, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry and feed You, or thirsty and give You drink? When did we see You a stranger and take You in, or naked and clothe You? Or when did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ And the King will answer and say to them, ‘Assuredly, I say to you, inasmuch as you did it to one of the least of these My brethren, you did it to Me.’“ -Matthew 25:37-40
Sound familiar? ...Feed, drink, clothe, take you in, care when you are sick, visit...
He showed me that when I do those unseen, daily, hourly things to my babies that I’m actually doing it for HIM. Whoa.
This created a renewed energy and passion in me, while changing diapers and giving the 100th bottle/babyfood of the day… this gives it a whole new meaning when you know you can SERVE & bless God Himself by doing those things. That you are being a good & faithful servant, showing unconditional Agape love, just like your Father does to HIS children. Your being Just. Like. HIM!
3. The third thing He showed me is: He is your real SOUL Rest. No social media, movie, or spa day can fill your soul like your Savior!
”Are you weary, carrying a heavy burden? Come to me. I will refresh your life, for I am your oasis. Simply join your life with mine. Learn my ways and you’ll discover that I’m gentle, humble, easy to please. You will find refreshment and rest in me.“ -Matthew 11:28-29 TPT
He is with you every moment, when you change diapers, clean that 100th mess off the table. The devil wants to depress you by making you think you are always alone, unseen and unappreciated. This is FALSE.
-You are never Alone. He never leaves you or forsakes you.
-You are never Unseen. He Sees You. Always. You serve Him in all you do.
-You are not unappreciated! Your reward is GREAT!
-Your worth comes from Him.
-Your joy is found in Him.
-He gives your soul REST, when you keep coming back to Him.
The enemy doesn’t want you to discover that you don’t ever have to leave God‘s presence.
ACTION STEP: You can talk to Him during every diaper change, laugh with Him as your kids giggle and play, ask Him what he thinks about it, ask Him for a verse to encourage you and He’ll tell you. This reminds me a lot of the book, "Practicing His Presence," by Brother Lawrence. While in a monastery, he he didn't know how to connect with God, but later learned that he could turn every task (even the mundane boring ones) into worship, communion and connection with the Lord.
The Message says it this way: ”Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you’ll recover your life. I’ll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you’ll learn to live freely and lightly.”“ -Matthew 11:28-30 MSG
The key is learning to walk with Him and work with Him and watch how He does life. We tend to be so independent that we try to do everything ourselves to find a sense of accomplishment, but we miss out on doing life with Him, watching how He does life, and hearing His thoughts about even the simplest things. How powerful would it be if you discovered you had a Life Coach that helped you all day long, assisted you when things got too hard, and showed you all their tricks and tips for making life lighter and easier? The truth is YOU DO. John 14:26 in the AMPC calls the Holy Spirit, your Helper, Comforter, Counselor, Advocate, and Teacher!
”But the Comforter (Counselor, Helper, Intercessor, Advocate, Strengthener, Standby), the Holy Spirit, Whom the Father will send in My name [in My place, to represent Me and act on My behalf], He will teach you all things. And He will cause you to recall (will remind you of, bring to your remembrance) everything I have told you.“ -John 14:26 AMPC
4. The last thing He showed me is: Come to Him with every problem or care.
Psalm 55:22 says, “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”
Your Maker, your Savior, is the Creator of the universe, and He knows your children more than you do. He knows what makes them tick, how to train them and all the secrets to raising them! You have the parenting genius right along side of you, living INSIDE of you! As parents we have all felt the desperation of hitting a wall in sleep or potty training, discipline, tough personalities, behavior or mysteries that baffle us about our kids. But the good news is this never baffles God. He has the solution to every problem you come up against. It is so freeing when you stop trying to research the whole internet, getting a dozen different options that may never work, and instead, you seek the Holy Spirit, and listen intently for His still, small voice. His Word is sharper than a double edged sword and is able to divide between soul and spirit. In other words, He can surgically point out the issue and uncover practical and spiritual wisdom that you wouldn't have found elsewhere. I’ve discovered that God is surprisingly practical. Sometimes I think He will give me a scripture, but instead, I’ll hear him say, "Don't let her nap so long, and she’ll sleep better at night." Sometimes He’ll uncover a fear-based behavior in me, that is holding me back; a blind-spot I didn’t see before. (Like the time when I kept trying to get Serena to go on her potty, but didn’t put her in regular underwear because I didn’t want to clean up accidents.) He knows all the secrets and keys to unlocking your child. The most effective way to parent and do all of life, is to partner with your Maker. The Divine Genius.
Mark Hankins says in his book, “The Holy Spirit is a Genius,” that we have all wisdom and all supernatural solutions inside of us, because we are His temple where He dwells.
When I discovered these four points, my eyes were opened to the spirit realm, the kingdom of God, that was ready, willing and able to assist me in everything I did.
He gets rid of weariness.
He gets rid of loneliness.
He gets rid of that helpless, defeated feeling.
Oh what a Good God we serve!
He is our Good, Good Father!
He is our Best Friend.
He is our Teacher.
He is our Comforter.
So today, as you rock your child to sleep, see that you are resting in the arms of your Abba Father, leaning against His chest (like a lamb), He is holding you as you hold your child!
Always Remember That You Are Victorious with Jesus as your Helper!
~Julia
Watch: Our latest video is about weariness and Tye teaches on Matthew 11:28, watch here!
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