In this episode of the Hope + Help Podcast, Christine Chappell interviews Marty Machowski about his book, Parenting First Aid: Hope for the Discouraged. During the conversation, Marty explains why parents sometimes feel isolated when walking through challenges involving their children, and offers practical insights on how to handle heated exchanges in the home. He also discusses the importance of keeping an eternal perspective when parenting trials come, comforts listeners with the reminder that God understands what they are going through, and exhorts discouraged parents to reflect on key gospel truths that can persevere them through seasons of heartbreak or disappointment.

Marty Machowski is a Family Life Pastor at Covenant Fellowship Church in Glen Mills, Pennsylvania, where he has served on the pastoral staff for over thirty years. He is the author of The Gospel Story Bible, Long Story Short, Old Story New, the Gospel Story Curriculum, the Prepare Him Room advent devotional and curriculum, Wise Up family devotional and curriculum, Listen Up family devotional and curriculum, Dragon Seed, and The Ology. He and his wife, Lois, have six children and two grandchildren, and they reside in West Chester, Pennsylvania. Visit Marty's website here.

A production of the Institute for Biblical Counseling & Discipleship, the Hope + Help Podcast offers compassionate biblical conversations about life's challenging problems. The podcast accomplishes this by offering a mix of interviews with seasoned biblical counseling professionals and ministry leaders on a variety of topics. Listeners can expect to receive biblical wisdom as well as practical steps for facing suffering, struggling, and sin with courage and grace. Hosted by author/writer Christine M. Chappell. 

PARENTING FIRST AID • In this uplifting and faith-strengthening devotional book for parents, best-selling children’s author Marty Machowski encourages parents in the midst of trials. Full of Scripture, testimonies of faithful parents, and insightful meditations, Parenting First Aid equips moms and dads to run to God and trust his ability to do what they can’t. Parenting isn’t getting any easier, especially with the introduction of insta-porn on electronic devices, the ease of access to drugs, and the ever-increasing blurring of sexuality.

This useful resource is for the weary and overwhelmed parents struggling with their children’s choices, and the culture that wars against their souls. For families with small struggles or weighty parenting trials—such as children involved with drugs, sexual sin, and teenage rebellion—Parenting First Aid is full of personal, real testimonies of God’s faithfulness to those experiencing hardship. The easy-to-use format provides encouragement to turn to God in the midst of family difficulty.

While God does not promise happiness and ease in parenting, all can find comfort in God and peace beyond understanding through the Scriptures and meditations found in Parenting First Aid.