For the Parent Who Feels Guilty About Resting

Moms & Dads,

Our children turn to us for comfort. They show up at our bedside at 2am when a thunderstorm rolls through or a nightmare startles them awake. They lean in for a hug when they are hurting from a pain we can see and bandage or from a pain that bruises their hearts.

Our children share with us what matters to them. They offer us plucked wildflowers and smooth pebbles, song playlists and spots on their video gaming teams. And they invite us into their rooms to tell us about their day, whether it’s who was chosen as line leader, how they did on a test or who just passed the driving test. 

Our children look to us for how to live. They see how we respond to joyful or stressful or fearful situations and mirror our actions and words. They follow our lead in how to treat and talk to (or about!) others AND ourselves. 

And not once do they feel guilty about making time in their day to connect with us. To be in a relationship with us. Not once.

Addressing the Guilt in the Room

So, moms (and dads, too), why do some of us struggle with feeling guilty about taking time in our days to connect with our Father? To seek Him out? To lean in for comfort? To learn from Him? To tell Him about our day? To rest with Him? To do all of the things that create a strong and healthy relationship? Why do we feel like we are somehow neglecting our kids or being selfish if we make time to rest with Him each day? 

Jesus took time to be with His Father, to rest in Him. And not once does Scripture record that He felt guilty about taking time away from His followers to do it. Not a single time.

Guilt Can Be Spiritual Warfare

Feeling guilty about taking time to be with the Father is spiritual warfare. Satan knows that if he can distract you with guilt then it directly impacts both you AND the children in your care. But when we learn to recognize guilt for what it is, it loosens its grip on us. When we choose to stop feeling guilty and make the decision to spend time with our Father -- to be comforted by Him, to share with Him, to tell Him about our day, to learn from Him how to live -- He provides us with all we need, builds our family on solid ground and gives us rest in the process. 

If God doesn’t build the house, the builders only build shacks.

If God doesn’t guard the city, the night watchman might as well nap.

It’s useless to rise early and go to bed late, and work your worried fingers to the bone.

Don’t you know he enjoys giving rest to those he loves? - Psalm 127:1-2 The Message

Need more rest? Join the club.

Well, it’s not an actual club with a free secret decoder ring, but you will receive a digital download of my 4-Day Devotional, Simplifying Rest, as a free gift. Plus, the 4th of each month I’ll send you 4 resources to help you get the rest you need. YES! I need more rest!