Overwhelmed by Blessing

The other day, my two-year-old son stood under his big sister, who was perched high on the bathroom counter. With arms lifted, he called out with conviction, “Jump my arms! My catch wu!” (Translation: “Jump into my arms! I’ll catch you!”)

His sister laughed. She knew she was far too big. But he insisted, “Wu not too big. My can catch wu!”

There it was: a child’s unshakable confidence in his own strength a strength that’s laughably insufficient, yet fiercely offered in love.

It’s a picture I can’t shake. Because I think that’s what we do with God when we pray for children, for family, for blessing. We say, “Jump into my arms, Lord. I can handle this.” And God, knowing full well we can’t, smiles, laughs, and jumps.

When Blessings Feel Like Chaos

Psalm 127:3 tells us that “children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward.” But sometimes, that reward feels like a fire hose blasting into your already maxed-out life. My wife and I have five kids under the age of ten. That’s five tiny humans with huge emotions, sticky hands, and infinite energy.

Blessing? Yes. But blessing with fingerprints on the walls, trails of Legos on the floor, and stomach bugs that hit like a domino line.

We often say children are blessings when they’re being cute when they say hilarious things, snuggle up with us, or bring home scribbled masterpieces. But what about when they’re disobedient? When your toddler is red-faced, wailing, and your plans for the day are unraveling?

Here’s the truth: that’s part of the blessing too.

Discipline as a Gift

In a healthy Christian home, parenting includes correction, training, and yes discipline. It’s hard. It’s exhausting. It’s often inconvenient. But it’s not a distraction from God’s blessing. It is the blessing.

We live in a culture that defines blessing by ease. But God defines blessing by transformation. His blessings are never shallow. They go deep into our sanctification, our humility, our dependence on Him.

Hebrews 12:11 reminds us, “No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.”

That includes our children. And that includes us.

God’s Glorious Scheme

When your child throws a tantrum, God isn’t flinching. He’s not surprised by the rebellion in your toddler’s heart or yours. He knows what He’s doing.

He sends us into parenting, not just so we can shape our kids, but so that He can shape us. He wants to bless us, even when that blessing comes through sleepless nights, hard conversations, and repeated trips to the disciplinary woodshed.

God is scheming to bless you. Not with a Pinterest-perfect family, but with grace. Real, raw, redeeming grace.

So when your child lashes out, don’t miss the gospel opportunity in front of you. This isn’t just about behavior management. It’s a chance to preach Jesus to your children, yes, but also to your own soul.

Discipline with the Cross in View

If your parenting isn’t filled with Jesus, it will end in either harshness or avoidance.

Discipline is not about punishing our kids for inconveniencing us. It’s not about venting our frustration. It’s about pointing them to a Savior who died to set them free from the sin that entangles.

When your child defies you, and your heart wants to explode pause. Remember the cross. Remember how you were once dead in sin, and how God in His mercy made you alive in Christ (Ephesians 2:4–5). That’s the lens through which we discipline.

A spanking, a correction, a timeout it’s not an end in itself. It’s an invitation: Come walk with us in the light. Let’s be forgiven together. Let’s follow Jesus, who crushed the dragon of sin and made us new.

This isn’t about controlling your child. It’s about reaching their heart with gospel truth.

Blessings Too Big to Catch

The truth is, this blessing of parenting is far too big for us. We’re not strong enough, patient enough, or wise enough. We can’t catch it on our own.

But God can.

And in His kindness, He lets us be part of it. He lets us hold trembling, sweaty hands and say, “Come with me. Let’s run to Jesus together.”

We asked for this blessing. We prayed for it. We said, “God, give us a family.” And now, standing beneath the weight of it all, we sometimes feel like the toddler beneath his big sister, insisting, “My can catch wu.”

And God? He laughs with delight. And He jumps anyway.

Because parenting was never about us being strong enough. It was always about His strength made perfect in our weakness (2 Corinthians 12:9).

So yes, the house is a mess. The kids are wild. The schedule is full. And grace is pouring down through it all.

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