As I left work one day feeling great, I noticed a stark contrast in my attitude when I got home. It is possible that the messes visible from all entry ways after a full day of work were just too much for me. Perhaps the teething baby screams that greeted me at the door caught me off guard. Then again, it may have just been the guilt that followed me for not fulfilling the impossible expectations of myself not to ever let my sons down. Regardless, I was curious why I fared well working through the stresses of work, but somehow crumbled at the stresses of home.
Thinking further, I realize what I left at work. I left a quiet and private environment, but more than that, I left one of my biggest needs: motivation. At work I am driven because of the possibilities. I imagine what a difference I could make at the company, I rally people behind me, work on implementation, then I reap this beautiful reward called recognition. Compensation also plays a big part. It is no longer a mystery why I feel more energized at work than I do at home. I believe the key to this dilemma revolves around motivation.
Our kids are in their years of “taking” from us as they are relying on us for direction in life in just about every way. We must find a way to receive. God says this is possible if we consider Him in all of our ways (Proverbs 3:6).
Let’s dive into 7 Motivational Scriptures for Parents:
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This verse says, “Work willingly at whatever you do, as though you were working for the Lord rather than for people.” If we can harness motivation from extrinsic rewards, I believe we can spark a deeper motivation from intrinsic rewards. As parents, we naturally enjoy our children, and when we are in constant demand, it is easy to grow tired. In your hard work, center yourself by considering your work as parent as being for God. We know how to give good gifts here on Earth by being aware of others’ needs and desires. How much greater does our Father in Heaven give timely gifts! (Matthew 7:11)
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Adding to the first scripture, this one says, “So let’s not get tired of doing what is good. At just the right time we will reap a harvest of blessing if we don’t give up.” When you walk in the door to a mess or a scream, remember the other greetings you get. Remember the “Daddy’s home!”, the big hugs, and the opportunity you have every day to give your kids security in this big world. Every little thing we do for our children is “good.” So, let’s remember every time we pick up around the house, discipline them, pack the whole pantry for a playground trip, repeat ourselves, or want to scream and cry, that we are doing a good thing. Keep focusing on it being good and look forward to your reward of well-rounded children becoming adults. You don’t get this wonderful reward if you give up.
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As you read above, so much of parenting is just constant giving. It is easy to get depleted and run on E, but you have to be the one to break that mental cycle. This verse says, “Give, and you will receive. Your gift will return to you in full—pressed down, shaken together to make room for more, running over, and poured into your lap. The amount you give will determine the amount you get back.” Jesus gave us this wonderful empowerment so we could maintain His call for us to be givers and lovers. Our children give us the best exercise that life has to offer to practice loving others. When you feel empty, remember that your giving is not in vain and that you are storing up a reward for everyone involved.
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As parents, we often find ourselves feeling guilty, like we aren’t doing enough or that we are being selfish. The best way to capture these thoughts and move forward is to put our focus back on serving God. This verse says, “Care for the flock that God has entrusted to you. Watch over it willingly, not grudgingly—not for what you will get out of it, but because you are eager to serve God.” Your children are a wonderful gift. You are entrusted with them, you are not forced into relationship with them or “stuck” with them. Keeping God as the focus will help you maintain a servant heart toward your family.
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One of the biggest challenges we face as parents is around discipline. We ask ourselves “should we discipline at all?” or “was it too much?” “was it not enough?” and “did they understand?” We can get caught up in the uncertainty and miss the point that children are shaped so much by our discipline. This verse reminds us “No discipline is enjoyable while it is happening—it’s painful! But afterward there will be a peaceful harvest of right living for those who are trained in this way.” Proverbs 3:12 also says, “For the Lord corrects those He loves, just as a father corrects a child in whom he delights.” We don’t discipline our children because we are angry with them. We do it to shape them. We do it to show them the way, to show them how to avoid troubles in life. So many times, as a teenager, I would find myself testing my parents, and no matter what wild act I would attempt, they all screamed the same thing: “Will you correct me? Will you love me?!” Love is shown through our discipline and through our caring. There is a way to discipline your children that will get the message across without harming them. You are the parent and know the best thing for your son or daughter and I pray if you are not sure, that you seek guidance from someone you trust.
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The beautiful thing about teaching your kids how to do something is you don’t have to do it anymore! Alright, that is questionable, but there is some truth to it. This verse says, “Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.” You know all of your hard work pays off, but something that may help motivate you is knowing that when you put in the work, there will come days of rest. Your rest will be much more peaceful if you have shown your kids how to navigate life. There is no greater lesson to teach them than Godly wisdom found in the Word. Teach them these things now so they know how to “drive” safely through life later. This will bring more years of joy and peace for all involved. Like with any worthy investment, put the work in now for enjoyment later and peace along the way.
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Despite all of our efforts, and I mean all of them, we cannot solely give our kids all that they need. Our worries that we feel are a service to the kids, our successes, our failures, our good intentions and possibly bad deliveries, all of it together can only partially prepare them for a full life. The intention of telling you this is to encourage you by taking some of the pressure off. This verse says, “Seek the Kingdom of God above all else, and live righteously, and He will give you everything you need.” This is great to remember for those parents who have to travel more than they would like. God must be first in our lives and that will enable us to guide our kids the same way, whether we are at home with them or home at heart. We must teach our kids how to connect with God themselves in order to truly reap the benefits listed above. In John 15:5, Jesus teaches us that He is the vine and we are the branches. He says, “Those who remain in me, and I in them, will produce much fruit. For apart from me you can do nothing.” The fruit Jesus is talking about is the fruit of the spirit as found in Galatians 5:22. It is love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, and faithfulness.
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No matter where you are in your parenting journey, please be encouraged that you are not alone—both in the sense that others are seeking the same encouragement as you are, and also in that God is with you. You are taking on one of the most life-taking, yet somehow also the most life-giving journeys that you will face in life and your efforts will not be unrecognized. Through all this, we learn that our motivation is found through serving God by serving our children. I pray that you find joy all along the way. You are loved.
Kyle Blevins is a family man who resides just outside of Chattanooga, TN with his wife and two sons. He is in leadership for a top Fortune 500 company and is known for his empowering encouragement and bright personality. His passion is in restoring hope for people and connecting them to Jesus through writing.
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