How Hard Is It?

A phrase I've found myself stating more than I'd care to admit. Nothing complex or overtly difficult. Certainly not rocket science. The kids are still in single digits! Yet, for the sake of my sanity, I keep asking myself... hoping there's a reasonable answer.

Of course, it's not like I have it altogether. I imagine some of my challenges and difficulties have God asking the same question. And He's in good company. My dad still occasionally asks as well.

And, like I tell my Dad, I imagine responding to God with similar sarcasm and a smile... "Well, you made me."

Thankfully, His mercies are new every morning. Let that be a lesson for us parents, starting with this one.

That said, it's easy to look on the surface of situations, that other parents face with their kids, or kids face with their parents and wonder what's going on and how they do it. We either admire their efforts and look up to what the accomplish or something clicks in our observation that we notice an explanation for what's transpired. What can't be explained leaves us with "what were they thinking" moments in time.

It's not a put-down... every family is different and none of them are perfect. Every parent and child has at least 1 thing they wish they could change or wish they could go back and change if Doc Brown's DeLorean worked in real life.

Pastors are no exception. People in and outside the church have their moments of wonder regarding the dynamics of families in ministries. And I imagine even the greatest of Pastors have some interestingly profound insights into the family dynamics of those they serve... especially those pastors who work with kids and teens.

God, help the kids with us for parents. God help the parents with kids like us. God help the Pastors who have us as sinners saved by grace.

On this #youthPastorWednesday, pray for Pastors, who indeed have incredibly imperfect people sitting in their services and attending their ministries. May wisdom and guidance go before them as they lead saved sinners to follow Christ more closely. Pray for strengthened relationships with kids and parents, to bring insights and resources and prayer that would help improve family dynamics that are struggling. May marriages be restored, broken relationships healed, trust rebuilt and love embraced.
Pray the problems of the past will be forgiven... may a new day dawn, for Pastors and their families as well as parishioners and their families... health, life and wholeness for the body of Christ.

May what was once neglected and abandoned, be strengthened and fortified for the glory of God

- PNC

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