Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.— Isaiah 33:2 NIV
While I was pregnant with my youngest son, Maison, I already had four boys and a total of sixteen years of parenting experience. I thought I knew everything there was to know about being a mom and raising children.
That was until I gave birth to a child in a separate category. Parenting a child with special needs is very different from raising a typical one. There have been times I felt like I was in the twilight zone. Day after day, we go through the same routine, not knowing if things will ever change. We don’ t know if the expected milestones will ever be reached. With typical children, we can be certain there is an expiration date for certain behavior, but with special-needs ones, that’ s not necessarily the case.
I’ ve learned I can’ t walk the journey of being a special-needs parent in my own strength. And, thankfully, I don’ t have to. I’ ve realized I don’ t need to have it all figured out.
Friend, God wants us to lean on Him. Even in Parenting.
Especially in parenting. And that’ s what I decided to do. This means recognizing in the hardest moments that He is present, guiding and sustaining us. I lean on Him when the weight of advocacy feels too heavy, when exhaustion sets in, or when I fear for my child’ s future. Leaning on God looks like whispered prayers in the night when I’ m so exhausted, trusting that He hears and cares. It looks like recalling Scripture and holding on to its truths. Leaning on Him is remembering that it’ s okay that I don’ t have all the answers, because He does. We lean on God when we find comfort in His promises in the times we feel alone and when we hold on to faith in the times it seems nobody understands.
In our moments of weakness, we can experience His strength in profound ways. His power is made perfect in our weakness.
Affirmation: In my moments of weakness, I will not forget to lean on Christ. His grace is sufficient for me.
The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me.— Psalm 28:7 NIV
The first time Maison was admitted to the pediatric intensive care unit, I sat by his bedside in a hard chair. Machines beeped and doctors and nurses moved in and out while I sat frozen, unsure what I was supposed to do except be there.
I didn’ t question if God saw what was happening; I knew He did. I didn’ t doubt His presence, but I needed reassurance that He really did have our lives in His hands. I had to ask, Is this really part of the story You wrote for my baby? For me?
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