What Makes My Kids Cry Today

Real Life. Real Laughs. Real Jesus.

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  • 🕯️ Whispers at 3 AM

    🕯️ Whispers at 3 AM

    When the silence feels loud, and the world is sleeping, God is still awake.

    It’s 3 AM.

    Not quite night, not quite morning. Just the stretch of quiet in between, when your eyes refuse to stay closed and your thoughts refuse to stay quiet.

    The world is still, but your soul isn’t.

    Maybe it’s worry.
    Maybe it’s grief.
    Maybe it’s nothing you can name — just that low hum of restlessness that wakes you when you wish it wouldn’t.

    ✨ God’s Voice in the Middle of the Night

    In 1 Kings 19, the prophet Elijah found himself weary, afraid, and alone. God didn’t meet him in the wind. Or the earthquake. Or the fire.

    God came in a gentle whisper.

    “And after the fire came a gentle whisper.” — 1 Kings 19:12

    Isn’t that how it feels at 3 AM?
    No noise. No crowd. Just that still, small moment when your spirit is open and raw enough to hear something deeper.

    🌙 Maybe the Whisper Is the Answer

    Sometimes we want thunder. We want signs. We want sleep.

    But instead, we get stillness. And in that stillness — a whisper.

    “I’m with you.”
    “You’re not alone.”
    “Even here, I see you.”

    That whisper isn’t always an answer. It’s not always clarity.
    But it is comfort. And it’s enough to make it to morning.

    📿 What You Can Do at 3 AM

    • Breathe slowly. Inhale the truth: God is near.
    • Pray without polish. Just whisper back. God hears tired prayers too.
    • Read one verse. Just one. Let it sit with you like warm light.
    • Don’t force sleep. Let it come. Let God speak in the waiting.

    🧡 You’re Not Alone

    If you’ve found this post in the dark hours of the night, you’re not the only one awake — and you’re not the only one feeling this way.

    And the good news? God keeps night watch. He doesn’t sleep.
    So tonight, you don’t have to carry everything.

    Let the whisper be enough.

    🔊 Want to Listen?

    This post is based on my latest podcast episode:
    🎧 Whispers at 3 AM — available now on https://www.spreaker.com/episode/whispers-at-3am–67210197

  • 🚗📖 What Made My Kid Cry Today: A Sibling Showdown of Biblical Proportions

    🚗📖 What Made My Kid Cry Today: A Sibling Showdown of Biblical Proportions

    By Lizzie @ What Makes My Kid Cry Today

    Real Life. Real Laughs. Real Jesus.

    What made my kid cry today?

    Not much.

    But what made me cry-laugh today?

    A sibling argument that went straight from car talk to the Old Testament in under 10 seconds.

    Oldest: “I want a Genesis.” (Meaning the car. Classy.)

    2nd oldest: “I want an Exodus. And Numbers.”

    Oldest : “I want a Genesis!”

    2nd oldest: “You want the whole Old Testament?”

    Oldest: “I want a Genesis.”

    2nd oldest: “I still want an Exodus.”

    And honestly? Same.

    I want a Genesis too.

    A clean start.

    A new beginning.

    A day that starts with coffee still hot and kids already dressed (preferably by someone else).

    And sometimes—

    I want an Exodus.

    A way out.

    A moment alone.

    A break from the chaos and the snack demands and the crying over broken bananas.

    And Numbers?

    Don’t get me started.

    I count snacks. I count children. I count minutes until bedtime.

    And sometimes I count the minutes since someone last said “MOM!” (It’s usually less than one.)

    🙃 Real Mom Life

    Some days feel like Genesis: brand-new, fresh, hopeful.

    Some days feel like Exodus: wandering in the wilderness with snacks instead of manna.

    Some days feel like Numbers: chaotic math, endless lists, no silence.

    And some days? All three before noon.

    ✨ Faith Tie-In

    But here’s the good news:

    God was in all of it.

    He was there in Genesis—creating something out of nothing.

    He was in Exodus—leading His people through messes they couldn’t escape on their own.

    He was in Numbers—faithfully keeping track of every name, every need, every step.

    And He’s here now—

    In your minivan.

    In your living room.

    In your laundry pile.

    In your meltdown-filled Monday and your messy miracle of a motherhood story.

    “The Lord your God… has been with you; you have lacked nothing.”

    — Deuteronomy 2:7

    Even when you’re tired of wandering.

    Even when the only thing multiplying is your to-do list.

    👩‍👦‍👦 Sibling Wisdom (Apparently)

    I don’t know where my kids come up with this stuff.

    But I do know this:

    If your kid wants a Genesis?

    Hand him a Bible and tell him it’s a 66-book lease with full lifetime coverage.

    If the other wants an Exodus?

    Tell him he’ll get it right after he finishes his math.

    💬 Comment Prompt:

    What’s the most hilarious Bible-related thing your kid has said lately?

    Or do you ever feel like you’re living in Numbers and praying for Revelation? 😂

    Tell me your story below—I’m listening with a cup of cold coffee and a tired grin 💛

  • 💔 Devotional: Jesus Doesn’t Need You to Fake Fine

    💔 Devotional: Jesus Doesn’t Need You to Fake Fine

    By Lizzie @ What Makes My Kid Cry Today

    Real Life. Real Laughs. Real Jesus.

    Maybe this week you tried really hard.

    You tried to be patient.

    Tried to keep the peace.

    Tried to stay calm, stay kind, stay on top of the endless list that motherhood throws at you.

    But no matter how hard you tried, you still felt like you weren’t enough.

    You snapped.

    You cried.

    You forgot the field trip form.

    You served dinner in the form of cereal. Again.

    And now here you are—Sunday morning, heart heavy, wondering if you measured up this week.

    Friend, hear this:

    You don’t have to hustle for grace.

    🕊️ Grace Isn’t Earned—It’s Given

    God’s love for you is not based on your productivity.

    It’s not based on how calm you stayed or how well your kids behaved.

    It’s not based on clean floors or balanced meals or perfect bedtimes.

    It’s based on Jesus.

    And He already did all the work.

    📖 Sunday Scripture:

    “For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith—and this is not from yourselves, it is the gift of God.”

    — Ephesians 2:8

    “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”

    — 2 Corinthians 12:9

    💭 Reflection

    You don’t have to perform for God.

    You don’t have to be a “good Christian mom” to be fully loved.

    You just have to come—messy, tired, honest.

    With your hands open and your heart humbled.

    Because grace meets you where you are, not where you wish you were.

    🙏 A Sunday Prayer for the Worn-Out Mama:

    Lord,

    I’ve been trying so hard.

    But I’m tired. And I fall short.

    Remind me that Your grace is not something I earn—it’s something I receive.

    Let me rest today, knowing that I am loved because of who You are,

    not what I get right.

    Amen.

    💬 Final Word for Your Sunday

    If the week felt too heavy…

    If the house is still a mess…

    If your soul is craving quiet but your life is loud—

    Pause. Breathe. Rest.

    Because grace is not given to the polished and perfect—

    It’s poured out for the worn, the weary, the in-progress.

    And that means it’s for you.