A Prayer for Those in the Trenches of Parenting - Your Daily Prayer - August 14

Audio By Carbonatix

A Prayer for Those in the Trenches of Parenting
By Peyton Garland

Bible Reading:
“The Lord will guide you always; he will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land and will strengthen your frame. You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail.” - Isaiah 58:11

Listen or Read Below:

I wasn’t a plant lady until I became pregnant with my son. Perhaps all the excess estrogen was taking my maternal role of “nurturing” to a whole new (leafy) level. About midway through my pregnancy, a sales associate at our local plant shop convinced me to take home a pothos in a beautiful wicker hanging basket. That baby thrived, and I decided collecting plants was for me! 

One thing I’ve discovered since becoming a plant lady is that each plant is different. They have personalities. Some are shady and don’t want to face the bare sun. Others crave bright daylight all day. Some guzzle water while others will drown easily. Some plants need shallow dirt with a wider circumference so they can grow out. Some need deep soil because their roots run vertically. 

Did you know there’s a botanical hack to parenting, too? You can plant flowers in the trenches of raising your children, no matter how deep the mud or dry the terrain, whether toddling tornadoes or mouthy teens. We are kidding ourselves if we don’t confess how hard it can be to volunteer our best to everyone in the house but ourselves. Our time, energy, resources, laughs, smiles, and kind words are reserved for the youngsters padding through our house. All we leave ourselves when the long day is done is harsh words of criticism and a two-second shower—if we have the energy to take one.

Ignoring the trenches won’t teleport you out of them, so in the hard seasons when you’re up to your elbows in parenting’s muck, plant flowers there. Easier said than done? Probably, on the front-end, at least. It sounds like one more chore, one more thing on the to-do list that’ll be half-done at best. But on the flip side, planting those trench flowers might just save your household.

What do these trench flowers look like? Where do they come from? What do they cost? They look a lot like you, come from you, and cost only your pride.

These trench flowers look like the you who tells your children, no matter their developmental stage, that parents aren’t perfect. In my house, that often looks like me saying, “I love you! And Jesus loves you best!” It’s saying sorry when I’m wrong and reminding my little one that Mama can’t do it all because she’s only human. When you set the expectation that Mama can’t be perfect and that God’s love is always better, you lift the proverbial weight that’s causing you to operate out of shame and guilt.

Meanwhile, these trench flowers are planted by your vulnerability and watered with your honesty. Let your children understand your greatest fears and allow them to recognize your inadequacies. Teach them to take these things to God in prayer. When you are genuine in front of your children, they learn they can be genuine too. No need for secrets or a fear of imperfection when Mom and Dad are around!

Remember, these trench flowers will only cost your pride, your willingness to not save the day, and your inability to do it all because you know you can’t. This doesn’t mean you don’t try your best or that some days won’t feel like a victory, because they will, but it means you shower your household in the healing lessons of forgiveness, grace, and mercy. You plant and harvest only hope in Jesus, and nothing less.

Let’s Pray:

Father God, just as you make beauty from ashes, you allow us to plant seeds of lasting hope in the thick of parenting. On our hard days raising resilient, God-fearing children, thank you for crawling through the mud with us and letting us watch your faith bloom in our households. We praise you for your steadfast goodness and love. In the strong name of Jesus, I pray. Amen.

Parenting in the trenches can feel overwhelming, but even our messiest moments can plant seeds of grace. How are you letting God use your imperfections to point your kids to Him? What “flowers” of faith are blooming in your home right now? Join the conversation on Crosswalk Forums!

Photo credit: ©Getty Images/Jacoblund

Peyton Garland is an author, editor, and boy mama who lives in the beautiful foothills of East Tennessee. Subscribe to her blog Uncured+Okay for more encouragement.

Related Resource: How to Choose Your One Word for 2026

This month on the How to Study the Bible Podcast, we’re starting a new series called One Word 2026, and it’s meant to be a gentle but intentional way to reflect, respond, and reconnect with God as we begin the year. In this episode, I’m walking you through why I love taking the whole month of January to pause and listen — rather than rushing into resolutions or putting pressure on yourself to “get it all together” by January 1. We’re going to start with Philippians 1:3–11, where Paul reminds us that we can have real confidence because God is still working in us, and He’s not finished.

Then I’m going to share six words I’ve been praying over for our community — six spiritual intentions that I believe reflect the kind of growth God may be inviting us into this year. You don’t have to choose one right away, and you definitely don’t have to force it — but I hope that one of these words will resonate in your spirit and give you a steady anchor for 2026.

 This episode is part of our How to Study the Bible Podcast, a show that brings life back to reading the Bible and helps you understand even the hardest parts of Scripture. If this episode helps you know and love God more, be sure to subscribe to the How to Study the Bible Podcast on Apple or Spotify so you never miss an episode!