Parenting Through The Promise & The Pain
The Bible describes God as a Father that loves His children and He knows more than anyone how to parent through the promise and the pain. I can’t begin to imagine how much trouble we’ve caused Father God with our childish antics since the beginning of time!
A Loving Father
When I read how much he lavishes His love on us in 1 John 3:1, it captures my heart and reminds me to be thankful for what a patient, faithful and loving Father He is.
Look with wonder at the depth of the Father’s marvellous love that he has lavished on us! He has called us and made us his very own beloved children.
1 John 3:1 TPT
But those who embraced him and took hold of his name were given authority to become the children of God!
John 1:12 TPT
God Loves Family
As you read through the Bible, there is no doubt that God loves family and works in wonderful ways through families. He goes further to make sure no-one is left out and reminds us in Psalm 68 that we are all in His family, the family of God.
To the fatherless he is a father.
To the widow he is a champion friend.
To the lonely he makes them part of a family.
Psalm 68:5&6 TPT
God’s Love Gift
God has set a high standard as a parent which I’m never going to live up to, but He has left us so many instructions to follow and promises to cling to that we have every opportunity to be the great parents He’s called us to be.
And to put us to the test He gifted us children! I say gifted because that’s how Psalm 127:3 puts it;
Children are God’s love-gift; they are heaven’s generous reward.
Psalm 127:3 TPT
Promise & Pain
Little do we as parents realise prior to receiving this little gift, that it comes with lots of promise and a little pain. Children are indeed a blessing from the Lord, just read a little further on in Psalm 127;
Don’t you see that children are God’s best gift? the fruit of the womb his generous legacy? Like a warrior’s fistful of arrows are the children of a vigorous youth. Oh, how blessed are you parents, with your quivers full of children! Your enemies don’t stand a chance against you; you’ll sweep them right off your doorstep.
Psalm 127:3-5 (MSG)
And they’re also going to come with a little pain. From the point of conception, through the toddler years, teens and inbetweens, there’s going to be some pain along the journey of parenting.
So how do we parent through the promise and the pain?
Hold on to the PROMISE & release the pain
God the Father has scattered promises for our children throughout the Bible. He wants us to know that He is with us, closer than we could ever know. Wherever you are on your parenting journey, learn to hold steadfast to the promises and let go of the inevitable moments when pain punctuates the story of your family.
Hold on to the promise
All your children will be taught by the Lord, and great will be their peace.
Isaiah 54:13 NIV
Release the pain
Pour out all your worries and stress upon him and leave them there, for he always tenderly cares for you.
1 Peter 5:7 TPT
Follow the PROMISE despite the pain
God the Father has also given us clear instructions concerning how we should parent our children. There is blessing attached to the promise if we do things God’s way. The pain becomes a mere distraction, trying to knock us off course and set us on a road we were never supposed to walk on. See the challenges of parenting as sent to strengthen you, not defeat you.
Follow the promise
Train up a child in the way he should go [teaching him to seek God’s wisdom and will for his abilities and talents], Even when he is old he will not depart from it.
Proverbs 22:6 AMP
Despite the pain
My fellow believers, when it seems as though you are facing nothing but difficulties see it as an invaluable opportunity to experience the greatest joy that you can! 3 For you know that when your faith is tested it stirs up power within you to endure all things. 4 And then as your endurance grows even stronger it will release perfection into every part of your being until there is nothing missing and nothing lacking.
James 1:2 TPT
Reap the rewards of the PROMISE & learn from the pain
I’m blessed to have children that have grown into adulthood and therefore I know firsthand how it feels to reap the rewards of the promises of God over my children. I can testify that our Father in heaven is faithful to his word and rewards us as we parent our children. There have also been many times I’ve made mistakes (too many to mention) yet through listening to God and reading His word I have learnt more than I could ever have imagined from the pain. I’ve learnt that mistakes we make when parenting have the power to turn you into a better parent than you were before!
Reap the rewards of the promise
I will pour out my Spirit on your children, my blessing upon your descendants. They will spring up like grass blanketing a meadow, like poplars growing by gushing streams.
Isaiah 44:3-4 TPT
Children born to a young couple will one day rise to protect and provide for their parents. Happy will be the couple who has many of them! A household full of children will not bring shame on your name but victory when you face your enemies, for your offspring will have influence and honour to prevail on your behalf!
Psalm 127:4 TPT
Learn from the pain
Listen well to wise counsel and be willing to learn from correction so that by the end of your life you’ll be known for your wisdom.
Proverbs 19:20 TPT
Stay The Path
Wherever you are on your parenting journey, let me encourage you to stay the path and trust your Father God. He has equipped and called you to parent through the promise and the pain.
Louise x