Dad Tired

There’s a moment in Mark 10 where Jesus stops everything for a blind man crying out on the side of the road.
Bartimaeus doesn’t pray a polished prayer.
He doesn’t say the right words.
He just asks for mercy.
And when the crowd tells him to be quiet, he cries out even louder.
In this short devotional, we talk about why so many men stay vague with God, why the crowd often pressures us to keep it together, and why Jesus asks a simple but confronting question:
“What do you want me to do for you?”
You don’t need to clean it up.
You don’t need to stay quiet.
You just need to be honest.

This week was heavy — not because something catastrophic happened, but because my body acted like it did.
Tight chest. Tense shoulders. Headaches. No sleep.
And that disconnect can be confusing for a lot of men. You know things aren’t a big deal… but your nervous system doesn’t agree.
In this episode, I talk about how trauma memory works, why even a small overlap with past pain can send your body into full survival mode, and why Jesus’ words in John 14:27 matter more than ever when your body feels out of control.
This isn’t about “calming down.”
It’s about receiving a kind of peace the world can’t give.
If your body feels stuck in high alert lately, this one’s for you.

Download the worksheet: Say “No” More
Today’s Sponsor: The Hands On Bible
Why did Jesus say no—and why does that matter for you as a dad?
In this episode, we talk about boundaries, calling, and the quiet cost of saying yes to everything. Jesus didn’t heal people and then automatically bring them along. Sometimes He said no—because He was crystal clear about what He was saying yes to.
If you feel pulled in a hundred directions by work, culture, expectations, and other people’s agendas, this conversation will help you slow down and realign.
We’ll talk about:
Why Jesus’ “no” often confused people
How unclear priorities lead to burnout
Why your wife and kids pay the price for your overcommitment
How to confidently say no without explanation or guilt
Plus, there’s a simple one-page worksheet to help you put this into practice.
👉 Get it here: dadtired.com/yes
Strong families begin with healed—and focused—men.

What do you do mentally when something hard hits your life?
In this episode, Jerrad shares a real moment from his day—going from gratitude and joy to panic when his email was hacked and multiple problems hit at once. He reflects on two familiar mental paths many men walk: catastrophizing and numbing.
But healing often means cutting a new path.
Using a powerful backpacking metaphor, Jerrad explores how men can stop defaulting to fear and escape, and instead learn to walk the quieter, harder path of gospel truth.
Practice for today:
Ask yourself: When life gets hard, what are the well-worn paths in my mind—and are they leading me toward healing or away from it?
Because strong families begin with healed men.

What if God actually wants to talk to you today?
Not in a dramatic, spiritual, churchy way—but in the middle of your real life. In this episode, Jerrad explores the story of Elijah in 1 Kings 19 and the surprising way God speaks—not through wind, fire, or earthquakes, but through a gentle whisper.
If your life feels loud, chaotic, or overwhelming, this episode is a simple invitation to slow down, listen, and rediscover the quiet voice of God.
Practice for today:
Take one minute of silence and ask God, “What do You want to say to me today?”
Because strong families begin with healed men.