The angel Gabriel came to a young, Mary, and said to her, “‘Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus’” (Luke 1:26-31).

Mary was going to be a mother, but not just any mother. She would give birth to the Son of God. That was a lot to handle all at once. No-one would blame her for feeling overwhelmed, unqualified and unprepared.

That’s how many parents feel: overwhelmed, unqualified and unprepared.

Makes me think of some of my favorite quotes about :

• “A 2 year old is kind of like having a blender, but you don't have a top for it.” (Jerry Seinfeld)

• “When my kids become wild and unruly, I use a nice, safe playpen. When they're finished, I climb out.” (Erma Bombeck)

• “The quickest way for a parent to get a child's attention is to sit down and look comfortable.” (Lane Olinghouse)

Parenting, whether planned or not, is a journey of trust. Through the first nine months of wonder and prayer and the uncertainty of labor and childbirth to those first days of learning how to feed them, change them, bathe them and keep them alive, parenting requires trust. From the first days at the school gate, waving goodbye and leaving them in the hands of strangers to the moment we drive away from their college campus, waving goodbye again and leaving them in the hands of even stranger strangers, parenting requires trust. We have to learn to trust. Where we place that trust will make all the difference — for the parents and their children. 

God is passionate about you, not just your children. YOU are his child. He is committed to you. He promises to walk with you through your own internal struggles and even one day when you walk down the rocky road of parenting. You can trust him even if you feel overwhelmed, unqualified and unprepared like Mary, the mother of Jesus, did. Let’s finish by reading Mary’s response to the angel Gabriel.

“My soul magnifies the Lord. And my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked on the humble estate of his servant. For behold, from now on all generations will call me blessed; for he who is mighty has done great things for me, and holy is his name. And his mercy is for those who fear him from generation to generation (Luke 1:46-50).

This is a response from someone who trusts God. I imagine Mary still felt overwhelmed, unqualified and unprepared. She didn’t know how it all would end. But she had what every parent needs more than anything else — a trustworthy God by her side.

Join Megan and me for more on this topic on FB LIVE this Wednesday, July 29. 7pm (EET) and 12 (CST).