How to Hold On When Parenting Feels Like Too Much

Parenting can feel like holy exhaustion. It’s a role filled with purpose, but also with dishes, discipline, decisions, and doubt. You pour out love day after day—and sometimes wonder if it’s making any difference. Maybe you’ve whispered, “I just don’t know if I can keep doing this.” If so, you’re not alone.

Whether you’re a parent of toddlers, teens, or even adult children, the weight of love can wear you down. It’s not that you don’t care—it’s that you care so much. Real parenting strength doesn’t always look like stoic endurance. Sometimes, it looks like showing up one more time even when you’re running on empty.

Herding Cubs Across a Busy Road

There’s a viral video that has made the rounds online—a mama bear trying to get her four cubs safely across a busy road. What should’ve taken 30 seconds turned into nearly 10 exhausting minutes. One cub turned back. Another wandered into the street. One tried to climb a tree. The mama kept chasing after them, gathering them up, dragging one while carrying another, only for one to bolt the other direction again.

Sound familiar?

That’s parenting. You try to move your family forward, but there are detours, delays, and tantrums along the way. And it’s not always cute. Sometimes it’s loud. Sometimes it’s lonely. But what made the video powerful wasn’t that the mama bear had it all under control—it was that she never gave up.

Persistence. That’s what wins the day. And with love and a whole lot of grit, she finally got all her babies across.

Galatians 6:9: A Promise for Weary Parents

The Bible has something to say to the weary, worn-out parent. Galatians 6:9 reminds us, “And let us not grow weary while doing good, for in due season we shall reap if we do not lose heart.” That verse isn’t just for missionaries or pastors—it’s for parents who are loving their children one act of faithfulness at a time.

It doesn’t say you won’t get tired. It says don’t give in to the weariness. There’s a harvest. There’s fruit. And it’s not instant. Parenting is a long game. You may not see the results today, but you’re planting something eternal.

Maybe you’ve had days where bedtime is a battle, mealtime ends in messes, and mornings begin with groans. But don’t underestimate what God can do with your faithful love—even if you don’t see it yet.

Why Your Everyday Love Matters More Than You Think

We live in a culture obsessed with highlight reels. But parenting doesn’t live there. It lives in the ordinary moments: tying shoes, helping with homework, wiping tears, praying quietly at night when no one sees.

It’s easy to wonder if the small things really count. But think about it: love isn’t proven in the dramatic—it’s proven in the daily. God wired parenting this way for a reason. The repetitive nature of it is what shapes both your child’s heart and yours.

When Jesus talked about love, He pointed to humble acts—washing feet, feeding the hungry, caring for the overlooked. He sees the moments you think are invisible. And He calls them beautiful.

Scripture’s Promise: Keep Showing Up

Over and over in Scripture, we see this truth: God honors perseverance.

He honored Hannah’s long years of prayer. He saw Hagar’s pain in the wilderness. He strengthened Mary in her uncertainty. Parenting has never been about perfection—it’s about presence. You don’t have to know everything, fix everything, or be everything. You just have to keep showing up.

Psalm 126:5 says, “Those who sow in tears shall reap in joy.” That means even the hard days—especially the hard days—are not wasted. Every time you show up, God is working in ways you can’t always see.

And that means your faithfulness is building something more lasting than you realize.

One Truth to Hold On To: Frustration vs. Fruitfulness

Let’s be honest: parenting is frustrating. There’s discipline without visible change. There are repeated lessons. There’s the sting of rejection, the silence of unanswered questions, and the deep ache of wondering if your child is okay.

But here’s the truth: fruit takes time to grow. Frustration focuses on the now. Fruitfulness is about the long-term.

Think of a farmer. He doesn’t plant seeds in the morning and expect a harvest by dinner. He trusts the process. He waters. He waits. He believes in what he can’t yet see.

God is calling you to that same kind of trust. Your child may not express gratitude today. They may push boundaries or shut down. But the love you give, the grace you extend, the truth you speak—it is not wasted.

Practical Encouragement

If you’re in a hard season of parenting, here are a few reminders that can help:

1. Take care of your soul – You can’t pour out what you haven’t received. Make space for rest, worship, and moments with God—even if it’s five quiet minutes in the car.

2. Ask for help – God didn’t design you to do this alone. Whether it’s a friend, counselor, or mentor, lean into support. You’re not weak for needing it—you’re wise.

3. Celebrate the small wins – Did your child say thank you today? Did you respond with grace instead of anger? That’s growth. Mark it.

4. Speak life over your children – Remind them of who they are in Christ, even when they mess up. Let them hear you say, “You are loved. I’m for you. God has a plan for you.”

5. Pray even when you don’t have words – Romans 8:26 says the Holy Spirit helps us when we’re weak, even praying for us when we don’t know what to say. Lean on that.

6. Remember: God loves your child even more than you do – You’re not parenting alone. He is with you, for you, and working in your child’s life in ways you can’t always see.

“Let us not grow weary…” isn’t just a suggestion. It’s a lifeline. And God promises—you will reap, if you don’t give up.

You’re not failing just because you’re tired. You’re faithful because you’re still here. And that’s where God meets you—with strength, peace, and new mercy for tomorrow.

Listen to the companion devotion, "When Love Wears You Out."