Parenting is a wild ride. Children arrive without instructions tied to their toes, and we spend weeks decoding each cry, only to watch that season speed by. Then come spoons and potty training, learning to talk and listen and obey and think for themselves, and suddenly there is an adult child standing in front of us. It is hard work and sometimes stressful. It is also an incredible gift.

But raising a child alone is one of the most taxing things a person can do. Whether a spouse has died, a marriage has ended, or the path simply turned out differently than expected, the truth is the same. There is no time off, no one to hand the baton to, and the weight carried by one person can feel immovable.

Psalm 55:22 tells us where to take that weight and to whom. Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you. Not only to fellow parents or family, though support matters, but first and foremost to Him. He knows what this load feels like, and He wants to help carry it by His grace and His strength.

There is a promise tucked into the verse as well: He will never let the righteous be shaken. On the nights when you feel alone or hope feels thin, God is there. Those moments can become holy ground when we reach out to Him and let Him restore what feels broken and enter the empty spaces.

Whether you are in newborn days, toddler tantrums, the first weeks of school, or the push-back of the teen years, the Lord wants to be in it with you. Trust Him again tonight, and watch Him help you carry what you were never meant to carry alone.

Ponder Tonight

Raising children alone carries a weight that is real and heavy. God does not minimize it. He invites us to cast it on Him and promises to sustain us.

Casting our cares on the Lord comes first, before and alongside the support of family, friends, and community. Both matter, and neither replaces the other.

Even a few minutes of rest in God’s presence, in the shower or while making dinner, can be a form of sabbath. Breathing in His presence and breathing out stress is within reach on the busiest days.

Loving your child is more than enough. Most parents are doing far better than they realize.

Tonight’s Scripture

“Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.” — Psalm 55:22, NIV

Your Evening Prayer

Father God,

As we sit here this evening, thinking about everything we accomplished today and everything we have not yet started, we ask You to be present with us through Your Holy Spirit.

Our days are full of weighty moments. We fear getting parenting wrong, and we worry our children may miss out on a full family. But You are a father to the fatherless and the One who provides. We trust You to step into the gaps in our homes, to carry the weight alongside us, and to guide us and our children through this wild ride.

We love You, and we know You are always with us, even when we feel alone.

In Jesus’ name, Amen.

Want More?

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Click to Listen to Signs of Life: UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was—and is—an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.

UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org

Parenting is a wild ride. Children arrive without instructions tied to their toes, and we spend weeks decoding each cry, only to watch that season speed by. Then come spoons and potty training, learning to talk and listen and obey and think for themselves, and suddenly there is an adult child standing in front of us. It is hard work and sometimes stressful. It is also an incredible gift.
But raising a child alone is one of the most taxing things a person can do. Whether a spouse has died, a marriage has ended, or the path simply turned out differently than expected, the truth is the same. There is no time off, no one to hand the baton to, and the weight carried by one person can feel immovable.
Psalm 55:22 tells us where to take that weight and to whom. Cast your cares on the Lord, and He will sustain you. Not only to fellow parents or family, though support matters, but first and foremost to Him. He knows what this load feels like, and He wants to help carry it by His grace and His strength.
There is a promise tucked into the verse as well: He will never let the righteous be shaken. On the nights when you feel alone or hope feels thin, God is there. Those moments can become holy ground when we reach out to Him and let Him restore what feels broken and enter the empty spaces.
Whether you are in newborn days, toddler tantrums, the first weeks of school, or the push-back of the teen years, the Lord wants to be in it with you. Trust Him again tonight, and watch Him help you carry what you were never meant to carry alone.
<hr>
Ponder Tonight
Raising children alone carries a weight that is real and heavy. God does not minimize it. He invites us to cast it on Him and promises to sustain us.
Casting our cares on the Lord comes first, before and alongside the support of family, friends, and community. Both matter, and neither replaces the other.
Even a few minutes of rest in God&rsquo;s presence, in the shower or while making dinner, can be a form of sabbath. Breathing in His presence and breathing out stress is within reach on the busiest days.
Loving your child is more than enough. Most parents are doing far better than they realize.
<hr>
Tonight&rsquo;s Scripture
&ldquo;Cast your cares on the Lord, and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.&rdquo; &mdash; Psalm 55:22, NIV
<hr>
Your Evening Prayer
Father God,
As we sit here this evening, thinking about everything we accomplished today and everything we have not yet started, we ask You to be present with us through Your Holy Spirit.
Our days are full of weighty moments. We fear getting parenting wrong, and we worry our children may miss out on a full family. But You are a father to the fatherless and the One who provides. We trust You to step into the gaps in our homes, to carry the weight alongside us, and to guide us and our children through this wild ride.
We love You, and we know You are always with us, even when we feel alone.
In Jesus&rsquo; name, Amen.
Want More?
Sign up for our free newsletter, The Good Word, for weekly biblical wisdom and encouragement delivered right to your inbox. Join our community today: <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>&nbsp;
Click to Listen to Signs of Life: <a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>
Join us this Fall for Season One of "Signs of Life," an original podcast from UM News. The journey begins in Atlanta, hearing how a book from an icon of the Civil Rights movement is bringing relationship and understanding to two congregations seeking to bridge divides. Then to Belfast, learning about the Northern Ireland Peace Process and the Methodist connection that was&mdash;and is&mdash;an essential part of healing and peacemaking. Finally, at the Global Young Peoples Convocation in Dublin, explore the world of translation and interpretation through diversity, language and culture.
<a href="https://www.umnews.org/en/news/um-news-podcast-season-one">UM News Podcast Season One | UMNews.org</a>

Your Nightly Prayer is an evening Christian prayer podcast from LifeAudio and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a nightly devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these evening prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God tonight.

Want more? We know life gets busy, and sometimes it’s easy for your faith to get pushed to the side. That’s why we created The Good Word—a free weekly newsletter designed to give you a moment to slow down, be encouraged, and reconnect with what matters most: God’s Word.

No ads. No clutter. Just good content to help you stay rooted in God’s Word throughout your week.

Sign up for The Good Word newsletter today at https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/. 

Your Nightly Prayer is an evening Christian prayer podcast from LifeAudio and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a nightly devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these evening prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God tonight.
Want more? We know life gets busy, and sometimes it&rsquo;s easy for your faith to get pushed to the side. That&rsquo;s why we created The Good Word&mdash;a free weekly newsletter designed to give you a moment to slow down, be encouraged, and reconnect with what matters most: God&rsquo;s Word.
No ads. No clutter. Just good content to help you stay rooted in God&rsquo;s Word throughout your week.
Sign up for The Good Word newsletter today at <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>.&nbsp;

Your Nightly Prayer: Evening Prayers for Christians

Your Nightly Prayer is an evening Christian prayer podcast from LifeAudio and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a nightly devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these evening prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God tonight.

Want more? We know life gets busy, and sometimes it’s easy for your faith to get pushed to the side. That’s why we created The Good Word—a free weekly newsletter designed to give you a moment to slow down, be encouraged, and reconnect with what matters most: God’s Word.

No ads. No clutter. Just good content to help you stay rooted in God’s Word throughout your week.

Sign up for The Good Word newsletter today at https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/. 


 

Your Nightly Prayer is an evening Christian prayer podcast from LifeAudio and Crosswalk.com. Each night, the team behind Crosswalk.com brings you a nightly devotional and prayer to help you end your day in conversation with God. May these evening prayers help you find the words to pray and focus your heart and mind on the love of God tonight.
Want more? We know life gets busy, and sometimes it&rsquo;s easy for your faith to get pushed to the side. That&rsquo;s why we created The Good Word&mdash;a free weekly newsletter designed to give you a moment to slow down, be encouraged, and reconnect with what matters most: God&rsquo;s Word.
No ads. No clutter. Just good content to help you stay rooted in God&rsquo;s Word throughout your week.
Sign up for The Good Word newsletter today at <a href="https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/">https://www.lifeaudio.com/thegoodword/</a>.&nbsp; 
&nbsp;

When You Feel Like You Are Carrying the Family Alone

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/5e27a451-e6e6-4c51-aa03-a7370003783c/clips/12490e18-3354-4601-9a48-b4fd010d701f/transcript