While remaining in the confines of our home during the COVID-19 pandemic, a thought came to mind. As parents, our roles and duties have been magnified since schools have been closed, little ones have been learning digitally, churches have been online, and extracurricular activities have been cancelled. Also, let us not forget about trying to multi-task while working from home and simultaneously tending to the needs of our children. While our children are our full responsibility, God has gifted us with them, and equipped us with everything that we need to be the parents that He desires for us to be, being at home 24/7 with no break is a bit different for many of us.  We have spent more time together, which is a blessing, but if I can be transparent for a moment, has been overwhelming and challenging at times, to put it mildly.  I can speak to some of the roles that my husband and I have played.  We have been the mommy, daddy, teacher, playmate, counselor, cafeteria crew, nurse, janitor, referee, handyman, and now, locksmith (I am sure that you can add to this list)! 

My youngest can be quite the active one. If there is something to get into, she traipses her little self to the head of the line to indulge. One of the activities that she likes to do is lock doors in the house and shut them. When we unknowingly try to open the doors, we cannot get in.  There are certain doors I can get open, but others that require the tools to come out. One night, I briefly found myself getting frustrated when the door she decided to lock was to our master bathroom. I had headed upstairs to go to MY bathroom, my quiet place, my brief escape, and the door was LOCKED! As I called out my husband (a.k.a. the locksmith) to help come open the door with his tools because I could not use my top-secret technique to break into my own bathroom (hey, don’t look at me sideways, I know that you have a few techniques in your repertoire as well), all of the people, occupations, and characters that we have had to be as parents during this pandemic flashed before my eyes.

My moment of frustration turned to awe when I was able to catch a glimpse of Our Father.  I was reminded of The Great I AM that Exodus 3:14 talks about. God, Our Father painted a beautiful picture of Himself in my mind. While we as earthly parents try to be everything to our children, and we have been called to nature our special gifts, and in their little eyes are we as parents are everything to them, God, Our Father is everything that we need Him to be, when we need Him to be. He lives within us by way of the Holy Spirit and can equip us with everything that we need in all seasons of our lives. Despite all the challenges that we all have faced through this time, I challenge you to call on I AM, Our Father.  He can and will help you through these difficult times in life!  We are also reminded in 2 Corinthians 12:9 that His grace is sufficient and His strength is made perfect in weakness!  Where we are weak, He is strong.  Where we are lacking, He is there to fill the void.  I think this is a great place to pause and say, “Thank you Lord!”

Reflect & Relate

Who do you need God to be for you today? Is it your friend, confidant, doctor, or teacher?  Do you need Him to be your comforter, deliverer, helper, peace, or strength? Do you need for Him to unlock some doors for you, like I needed? God is able, ready, and willing to be all that you need Him to be because being I AM encompasses EVERYTHING! All that you have to do is just call on Him.

Let Us Pray

Dear God, my Father, I AM… I am so thankful that I can come to you with all my concerns and burdens.  Thank you for reminding me that your grace is sufficient and that in my weakness, your strength and power are made perfect.  I come asking for you to be all that I need you to be during these challenging times.  You are my ___________________________ (fill in the blank). I give you the concerns of __________________________________________ (fill in the blank). Please help me through these challenging times and help me to rest confidently in knowing that with you on my side, I can overcome any obstacle, challenge, or trial.  You are good and worthy of all my praise.  I AM, thank you for being all that I need you to be. I give you all the glory for my victory.  Thank you for helping me see that in you I lack nothing and have everything that I need because you are I AM.  In the name of Jesus, Amen.

Please be sure to check out Quinnise’s new book, “A Glimpse of Our Father: Lessons Parenthood Reveals for All of God’s Children.”