It’s so hard to be new parents! There are so many things you don’t really realize before you become parents and people don’t really tell you. And I understand now why people don’t tell you… because you probably would never do it… have a baby that is! Here are just a few of my observations for things they never told me.  -From a new mom in Alabama
 
SLEEPING IN: Literally, you’ll never sleep in again. I miss the days of sleeping in, and eating cereal and watching tv for hours. 
 
BAD SMELLS: Another thing they don’t tell you is that you’re going to have poop and throw up all over you, kind of all the time, and at some point you just kind of stink. 
 
STRESS: It’s downright exhausting and stressful. You don’t know what’s wrong with your crying baby, you don’t really know how to raise a baby, and you’re kind of just winging it.
 
SLEEP DEPRIVATION: This is one that people actually do warn you about. But you don’t really realize how hard it is until you’re actually in it- and your baby is up crying in the middle of the night for the fifth time.  I heard someone say that trained soldiers have been known to give up secrets after 24 hours of sleep deprivation.  So at this point maybe we should pretty much be inducted as Navy SEALS.
 
BABY STAGES: After we left church this week, mid way through, for about the fifth week in a row, my husband reminded me that this is something else they don’t tell you about- that all kids go through a stage where they hate everyone other than you and you’ll never leave your house again.  And now the nursery people know us as “Oh, THAT BABY”  And… as an added bonus, just to let you know, once you get through phase one of this, it’s likely to come around again.
 
Despite it all, it’s somehow, I don’t even know how, but all this doesn’t even matter. You get to the point where you love that miniature human so much that you forget about all of this stuff and you’re ready to make another one!  Thanks God!
 
“Every good and perfect gift comes from above.” James 1:17
 
So if you’re looking for ways to pray for new parents, here are a few suggestions:
 
STRENGTH
Lord, thank you that you can and will strengthen these parents for the tasks ahead. Thank you that they can do all things through Christ who gives them strength! (Phil. 4:13)  Please Lord, give strength to the weary parents and increase the power of the weak. (Is. 40:29) And thank you God, that as they trust you, and wait upon you, that you will renew their strength! They will mount up on wings like eagles, they will run and not be weary, they will walk and not be faint! (Is. 40:31)
PATIENCE
Lord, please bless their marriage and help them to be patient with each other, even though things are stressful with a new little one. Please help them to be patient with their new baby and with themselves as they try to navigate what it is to be a parent. Help them to be an example of patience in the face of suffering and stress. (James 5:11) Strengthen them for the tasks ahead, with all power, according to His glorious might, so that they may have great endurance and patience. (Col. 1:11 
WISDOM/GUIDANCE
Lord, please help them to direct their children onto the right path, because you say if they do, when they are older, they will not leave it. (Prov. 22:6) And Father, please give them wisdom to know how to parent. You tell us that if we need wisdom, you are generous and you will give it to us! (James 1:5). Also, Lord thank you that your word is a light for their path on this new journey and a lamp for their feet in every way. (Psalm 119:105) Help them to be on their knees before you and in the word! 
PEACE
Father, we know that through it all, all the craziness, all the situations where they don’t know what to do, that you, God, are in control. Help them to cast any and all anxieties on you Lord, for we know you care for them (1 Peter 5:7) and that you can handle it. Please help them to remember that you are in control and please give them the peace that surpasses all understanding, knowing that it will guard their hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:7-8) 
HEALING
Lord, thank you that you call yourself Jehovah-Rapha, the God who heals! You are the great physician and are able to do anything!  Lord, we pray for a quick physical healing for the new mama. Heal her, O Lord, and she will be healed. (Jer. 17:14) We pray for no postpartum depression, no complications, and a quick physical and emotional recovery. We know we are healed by your stripes Lord. (Is. 53:5) Thank you! 
JOY  
And lastly, Lord, we ask that you help them navigate this new life, this new season, with baby blues and hard moments. Teach them to turn to you, because we know in your presence there is fullness of joy. (Ps. 16:11) And we know that your joy, the joy of the Lord, will be their strength! Thank you for that! (Neh. 8:10)