Parenting and life in general can be exhausting. I know for myself that trying to keep up with practices, homework, and 1,000 daily messages from our kids teachers, coaches, and youth ministry leaders can be overwhelming. And all that is on top of the work I have to do for my own job and trying to get to the gym a few times a week.
That’s just the everyday grind of being a parent for all of us. But then, the enemy attacks: you get devastating news, your son starts acting defiant or rebelling, your daughter is being negatively influenced by friends who don’t follow Jesus, or you and your wife are going through a rough patch in your marriage.
What do you do, now?
Do you turn to food, alcohol, or some other vice to try to cope? Do you doom scroll on your phone or binge-watch Netflix in order to ignore it? Or do you think there’s no hope to help your family, so the only thing to do is focus on yourself and your career?
Dads, if we aren’t prepared, the enemy will destroy our families. Waving the white flag to the enemies of Apathy, Inadequacy, and Competing Priorities is not the answer.
There is hope! We can have our strength renewed and fight for our families!
“But those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint.”
Isaiah 40:31 (NIV)
The Lord is the One who renews our strength. Isaiah 40:28 says that “He will not grow tired or weary, and his understanding no one can fathom.” Stop relying on your own strength. Stop giving in to the enemies of Apathy, Inadequacy, and Competing Priorities. Go to God for strength!
How can we receive strength from God?
First, confess your need for strength. Humbly admit to God that you are not strong enough, but you trust that he is.
Second, ask God to renew your strength. Spend time in prayer seeking God’s presence. Spend time in his Word seeking God’s wisdom. Ask God to give you strength, wisdom, and guidance.
Third, walk with God in hopeful obedience every day. “Those who hope in the Lord will renew their strength.” Hope, trust, and faith are all related. When we put our hope in God, we aren’t wishing upon a star. We have faith that our God is strong enough to handle it (because he is), he loves us enough to care about us (just look to the cross for a reminder of his love), and he is faithful enough to fulfill his promises (he’s done it every single time).
Don’t give in and don’t give up. Go to God to renew your strength, and show your family what it looks like to be renewed by God. Point your family to Jesus.
The Dadventures 