Key Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3a – “A time to kill, and a time to heal;”

Devotional:

In a world full of hurt and more anger than ever before, I find peace knowing that God is fully in control and works all things for our good. Just like a small child who doesn’t understand why they can’t eat the entire bag of candy in one sitting, we don’t fully understand why things are happening the way they are. But we have a good, good Father who does.

As a parent, trying to help your child understand these foundational truths can be a challenge. When they have a friend who has taken their own life or hear about a war going on in another country, reminding them of God’s truth really is the only thing that we have to stand on. Plant that truth deep within them so when they come up against the tragedies of this world, they have Him as their foundation. 

A wise mentor of mine taught me when my kids were young how important it is for them to know that they can come to my wife and I with anything and we will always be honest with them. When they were younger it was little things like their friends not being kind or friends saying curse words when the parents weren’t around. Now they crawl in our bed and ask the really hard questions. I am so grateful for that advice and that they know we are a safe place to discuss the hard things they are trying to understand, as well as a place for them to be honest and authentic. 

Shocking I know, but we as parents do too. When I get angry with my child because I have asked three times for the socks to be put in the laundry room and they are still on the floor (maybe this just happens in my house but I would bet you may have had a similar experience), I am convicted by the Holy Spirit, come back around and apologize to them for the way I spoke. Small things, not dealt with, can turn into big things. Take time to heal and restore the relationships God has blessed us with.

Questions for reflection:

• Can you identify any challenges or areas where you need to seek wisdom from God in your parenting journey? How can you cultivate a greater reliance on God’s guidance and strength as you navigate these challenges?
• Take a moment to reflect on the beauty that God brings in His timing. Can you think of some instances in your parenting experience when you have witnessed the beauty of God’s work, even if it may have initially seemed challenging or uncertain?