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As a new Christian and young mother, I chose Proverbs 22:6 as a guiding scripture for raising my children. This admonition says parents are to “train a child in the way he should, go and they will not depart from it.” A decade later, however, my parenting didn’t seem to be working the way I wanted it to. I wasn’t reaping the results I had expected. I had expected easy teen years (ha!). And, I’d expected to be my daughters most trusted confidant. Really, I thought I would be their BFF!
I realize now that this ideal scenario is a blessing to those who enjoy it. But, it is not guaranteed for every parent / child relationship – even in Christian families. There are individual struggles and challenges to each and every parenting relationship. You yourself may worry that you do not have what it takes, or didn’t begin early enough to guide your children successfully in God’s ways. Maybe the family you grew up in was not a Christian family. Maybe there are some wounds between you and your children that need to be healed.
God knows and God knew. He knows all about it — all about what you missed, and all about what you know and don’t know about being a Christian family and mom. And, God knew all about it when He placed your children in your care.
I want to encourage you that God is the author and finisher of your faith and your life (Hebrews 12:2). He is the source that covers your failings and gives hope for your future. God is also the author and finisher of your children’s faith — which can give us hope at any stage of our children’s lives!
Question: How does it encourage you to know that God is ultimately the One responsible for your child’s faith?
Special Contest Announcement – Today’s the last day to enter!
To share our excitement over launching our new website, we’re offering a fun contest where you can win exciting the entire After God’s Own Heart library of books – 17 total books! Plus, we’ll be giving away copies of our brand new books, A Woman’s Guide to Making Right Choices and A Man After God’s Own Heart – Devotional. Click here for details to submit your entry today.
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Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
Jim and Elizabeth George are bestselling authors and national speakers dedicated to helping people live a life after God’s own heart. Together, they have written over 150 books with more than 14 million copies sold around the world. For over 35 years, the teachings and steadfast example of Elizabeth and Jim have helped countless men and women:
When something difficult happens in your life, are you ever tempted to ask, “What good could come out of this?” The event looks like a disaster. It feels like a disaster. Therefore, we quickly conclude, it is a disaster! But God did not forget His people who were suffering in Babylon. And, my friend, He won’t forget you!
Too many times in the past I’ve told others “I’m fine” in order to hide my pain and sorrows from them. The truth is, my thoughts pulled me down so far that, in private, tears regularly streamed down my face. Are you constantly thinking negative thoughts? Being a woman after God’s own heart is all about “minding your mind.”
As a young mother, I endeavored to “train a child in the way he should go,” so that “when he is old he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6). A decade later, however, I wasn’t reaping the results I had expected. Angrily, I said to God, “But this isn’t the way it was supposed to be! This isn’t the way it went for this family here or that family over there. And this isn’t the way it was supposed to be for my family!”