Key Scripture:

Ecclesiastes 3:22 – “So I saw that there is nothing better than that a man should rejoice in his work, for that is his lot. Who can bring him to see what will be after him?”

Devotional:

God will give us exactly what we need for the day. Tomorrow isn’t promised and God knows what is best for us. Therefore, His promise is that He will provide for the day. Think about the Israelites in the wilderness. God let it rain manna every morning but told them not to store it for the future. They were to trust Him to provide enough for each day. Would you have been able to resist storing up extra? I would like to think that I would have trusted Him in that situation. I mean, they just saw God split the sea so they could walk through it. Wouldn’t that be enough to say, “Ok God, I trust you to provide our food too?”

Yet, God has performed miracles in my life and in the lives of those around me, and every day I struggle to trust God with everything. I end up trying to do life in my own strength instead of through Christ. I struggle with worrying about the future and things that are not in my control. But the Bible says in Matthew 16: 24-25, that Jesus told His disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.” We are called to follow Christ with our lives, every part of them, not just the parts that are comfortable or convenient. He is trustworthy and will always guide us in the right direction.

Now apply that to parenting. Do you trust God with your children? With their future? Do you think you know best, or He knows best? It is easy to say I trust in God’s plans, but do my actions reflect that trust? 

The rearview mirror is a great place to look to see God’s faithfulness in the past and therefore be reminded that He will be faithful in the future, even with your kids. I have found it helpful to keep a prayer journal of things I am praying for and then occasionally, I look back at the past prayers and see how He has answered them. Trust in God’s plan and timing, and remember that we are co-laborers with Him. Our labor as parents is an opportunity to serve God with love and excellence.

Questions for Reflection:

1. In what ways has God’s faithfulness shown in your life? Share one example with your children to reinforce the goodness of faith in our Lord, Jesus Christ. 
2. What are some ways you can teach your children to trust God with their all?