Some of you are not just tired…you’re bound. Bound to your past. Bound to what happened to you. Bound to old pain, old labels, old versions of yourself. And you’re still showing up every day…parenting…working…functioning… But internally?.......... you’re still in it. This reminds me of Book of John 11… When Lazarus was in the tomb. Dead.Wrapped.Buried. And Jesus stood there and said “Lazarus, come forth.” Lazarus was already alive when he came out…...but he was still wrapped. And that’s where a lot of parents are. You’re alive. You love God. You’re showing up. But you’re still wrapped in trauma wrapped in guilt wrapped in shame wrapped in what happened to you So even though you’re out… you’re not FREE..... And then Jesus said something amazing He said “Loose him, and let him go.” That means: The coming out was one step…But the UNWRAPPING was another. So Kingdom Parents..........What are you still wrapped in? Because you can’t fully show up for your children… while you’re still bound to your past. This week isn’t just about mental health…it’s about FREEDOM. And I’m calling you out of it. Not gently. Not when you “feel ready.” NOW. Come out of the guilt. Come out of the shame. Come out of the identity that says “this is just who I am.” Because you’re not who you were. And your children don’t need a perfect parent… they need a FREE one. If you’re ready to come out of it… Comment: “I’m coming out.”

Let me say this first…This is not for you to feel bad for me.....I don’t feel bad for myself. This is for you to be encouraged. Because the truth is… Life did not hand me the easiest start. I remember having a mother who was sick… Me and my sister just going from house to house. I remember being touched inappropriately. I remember losing my mom at 8 years old. I remember being placed in situations that no child should ever have to navigate. By 13… I was in a sexual relationship with a family member that lasted for years. I’ve had an abortion. I know what it feels like to be on the street trying to make money just to feed my child. I know what it feels like to have a father for your child that doesn’t want to be there. I know what it feels like to think you finally figured love out… only to realize you married a narcissist. I know pain!!!Not the surface kind. The kind that sits in your chest. The kind that rewires how you think. The kind that follows you into adulthood. So when I talk about mental health… I’m not talking from a book. I’m talking from experience. But here’s the part that matters.I had a choice. Not just as a parent… But as a person. I could stay in the place life tried to leave me in… Or I could rise.And that’s the part people don’t always talk about. Yes, feel it!!! Yes, acknowledge it!!! But do NOT stay there. Because you are not just what happened to you. The Word says in 1 John 4:4: “Greater is He that is in me, than he that is in the world.” In Romans 8:37: “We are more than conquerors…” In Isaiah 54:17: “No weapon formed against you shall prosper…” In 2 Corinthians 5:17: “If anyone is in Christ, they are a new creation…” In Philippians 4:13: “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” So yeah… I went through it. I had to get it out the mud. And if you don’t know what that means… it means starting from nothing, figuring life out the hard way, surviving things that should’ve broken you, and STILL finding a way to stand And here’s what I learned:

Do people take advantage of you? I’m asking because I see this happen a LOT... especially with Christians.We’re taught to love, forgive, be patient, be kind… and somewhere along the way, kindness gets mistaken for weakness. So we: - keep saying yes when we want to say no - stay quiet to “keep the peace” - overextend ourselves because it feels more “Christian” - allow behavior we know isn’t healthy And then we’re left tired, resentful, and wondering why we feel drained. The Word tells us to love,,,but it does not tell us to be doormats. So let’s open the conversation. 💬 Have you ever felt taken advantage of because you’re a Christian? 💬 How do you personally balance loving people and protecting yourself? 💬 Where do you struggle most with boundaries? No judgment here.Just real people, real faith, real conversations. Drop your thoughts below.... let’s talk.

Father God, We come before You in humility this morning. Forgive us for the moments we did not hold the line You gave us as parents. The times we let things slide because we were tired. The times we chose peace in the moment over discipline that was needed. The times we saw behavior and didn’t address it because it felt easier to ignore. Forgive us for being passive in places You called us to be firm. You didn’t call us to raise our children based on convenience. You called us to lead. Strengthen us where we feel weak. Give us endurance where we feel tired. Give us boldness where we’ve been avoiding correction. Remind us that we are not just parents… We are cycle breakers. What we allow, our children will continue. What we correct, we change for generations. Today we declare: We will hold the line. We will lead our homes with wisdom and consistency. We will not shrink back from the responsibility You’ve given us. Give us the strength to parent with both love and structure. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If this prayer is for you today, comment: “I will hold the line.”

Father God, This morning we pause and remember that our identity is not rooted in our mistakes, our exhaustion, or the hard days of parenting. Before we were parents, we were Your children. Remind us today who You called us to be. Strengthen our confidence in the calling You placed on our lives. When doubt tries to creep in, remind us that You chose us to raise these children. Help us not to parent from fear, insecurity, or comparison. Teach us to trust You with our children, with our homes, and with the responsibility You have given us. Today we declare: We are not failing..... we are learning. We are not alone....God is guiding us. We are not inadequate....we are equipped for this calling. Strengthen us today as parents, leaders, and examples for our children. In Jesus’ name, Amen. If you're standing in this today, comment: “God chose me for this assignment.”