A Devotional on Psalm 131: How to Be the “Calm in the Room” for Your Child
365 Mental Health Devotional Challenge: Day 78
Affiliate Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links. If you make a purchase, I may earn a small commission at no extra cost to you. I only recommend resources I’ve personally vetted and believe will support your healing journey.
Devotional
Psalm 131:2
“But I have calmed and quieted myself…”
Yesterday we took the time to learn about parent/child co-regulation. Today, we are going to learn what co-regulation might look like. If you didn’t get a chance to read yesterday’s devotional click here.
Step-by-Step Coping Skill: The “Pause & Pulse” Method
This is an educational tool designed to educate parents on what maintaining one’s own composure could look like during high-stress moments.
- The Physical Pause: When you feel tension rising, physically step back or lower your center of gravity (sit down or lean against a wall). This signals to your brain that there is no immediate physical “threat.”
- The Rhythmic Breath: Practice a “Box Breath” (inhale for 4, hold for 4, exhale for 4). This is a biological tool used to stabilize the heart rate.
- The Internal Script: Instead of focusing on the child’s behavior, focus on a grounding truth. Silently repeat: “I am safe, God is in control, and I can be the calm in this room.”
- Low-Sensation Response: Once your own heart rate has slowed, speak in a lower, slower volume than the child. This uses the principle of “Mirror Neurons” to encourage the child to subconsciously match your lower energy level.
Reflection Question: Which part of your body feels the most tension when things get loud?
Prayer: Lord, thank You for the gift of peace. Help me to be a steward of my own emotions today. When things feel chaotic, give me the strength to pause, breathe, and reflect Your quietness to my family. Amen.
Book Recommendations
Description: This book provides a practical framework for turning stressful daily moments—like mealtimes, discipline, and bedtime—into “liturgies” of peace. Earley explains how parents can move from reactive stress to intentional calm by establishing simple, repeatable habits. It bridges the gap between the neurological need for routine and the spiritual desire for a God-centered home.
Want To Further Your Mental Health Journey? You can actually start reading the many book recommendations on this blog for FREE in the next 60 seconds. Grab a [Free 30-Day Kindle Unlimited Trial here] or [Get 3 months of Audible for just $0.99/mo] to unlock this title and thousands of other mental health tools, instantly on your phone or tablet. (Note: Kindle Unlimited selection varies over time; check the product page for current eligibility.)
Closing Thoughts
You have completed Day 78 out of 365 Days of our 2026 Mental Health Devotional Challenge. Don’t forget to join our giveaway! The more you all interact with our page the more giveaways we are able to do!
Don’t forget to leave a comment and subscribe!
Think Like Christ Mental Health
Disclaimer
I am not your therapist. The information provided in this blog post, including book recommendations and mental health insights, is for educational and informational purposes only. Interacting with this content, including leaving comments or sending direct messages, does not create a therapist-client relationship and does not guarantee a response. It does not constitute a therapist-client relationship, nor is it intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified mental health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical or mental health condition. Never disregard professional advice or delay seeking it because of something you have read here.
Yes! As my son is turning 18 soon, I’ve seen all the ways I didn’t do this and the extra burden it’s created. But I’m so grateful for a His grace. As he reminds me my son can still see changes in my me over the next few years and carry that into his life.
Today was kinda hard for me. I get overwhelmed and overly anxious and things can overwhelm my system. In short times I can forget how to regulate or keep calm or to destress I have a problem remembering things but for some reason I remembered something from a Joyce myer book that said when things get hard to ask the Holy Spirit in and ask him to help you. In the midst of my storm today that’s all I could muster up and remember. It did help but I wish I could remember to focus on pause and grounding method. Unfortunately by the time I did remember to ask the Holy Spirit to ask me I already said something mean and hurtful to my husband in front of my kid. I asked for forgiveness from God and am not proud of my heart today. I failed. 😞 here’s to better days tomorrow 💕
Daily life has become extremely tedious since I’ve started homeschooling my 8 year old, apart from house work, being a mother and a wife I found myself constantly distracted with daily tasks and somehow experienced a disconnect in my time with Christ. I felt like I was neglecting him and recently I’ve started making deliberate intentional time to worship, to pray and sit in God’s word yet life around me doesn’t stand still and sometimes I feel so overwhelmed and filled with mixed energy that I feel like I’m losing grip on things but these tips are so much more helpful than one would think, it’s that simple pause and that simple prayer that will bring peace into my day and lift that heavy spirit. Thank you for sharing devotionals like this centered on parenting, there’s no instruction manual on being a mother but for Jesus to be the center of it is a more than just a breathe of fresh air
Thank you for sharing practical tools to use in times where it is needed!
Wow!! For years I have tried to figure out on my own how to deal with this issue since I had 2 littles and a toddler, and even now that they are older, I’m so happy to find practical ways to work on myself instead of lash out and yell at my kids and they never get me. Thank you for sharing!