Each time he said, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness.” So now I am glad to boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ can work through me. 2 Corinthians 12:9

 

Life can be beautiful but hard—just ask a parent.

A woman who had recently given birth to twins met with an experienced mother, looking for encouragement and hope. The mother of two newborns sat in the coffee shop with milk stains on her shirt, feeling disheveled, fragile, and exhausted beyond belief. She was looking for the secret to thriving or some goal to hold out for–something like, “It’ll get easier when they turn one.”

While parenting evolves, it doesn’t necessarily get easier. Sleepless nights with newborns are replaced by toddler chaos, middle school drama, and high school angst, all of it filled with wonder and struggle. So, what are the survival tools you need to embrace and survive the messy construction zones of life?

Realistic expectations help. A wise doctor shared this: “Life is difficult. This is…one of the greatest truths…Once we truly know [this]… once we truly understand and accept it, then life is no longer so difficult.”[1]

The good news is that God has intimately experienced how hard life is and offers us help. When we struggle with guilt over mistakes, He wants to lead us into tender apologies and freedom from shame. When our kids mess up, God wants to show us how to gently teach and forgive them. When we’re tired and lost, Jesus offers us wise counsel and comfort. God says, “My grace is all you need. My power works best in weakness” (2 Corinthians 12:9) so bring your weakness to Him and ask Him to work in His power.

God’s strength is available for your hard, beautiful everyday life.

[1] Peck, M. Scott. The Road Less Traveled: A New Psychology of Love, Traditional Values and Spiritual Growth. Touchstone, 2003, pp. 3. “Problems and Pain.”