Dr. Dobson's Parenting Devotional - Nov. 5

We’ll Be There

The winds blew and beat against that house; yet it did not fall, because it had its foundation on the rock.
Matthew 7:25

When you spoke your marriage vows to your spouse and committed yourself to loving and caring for that person for the rest of your life, you made a holy promise to your husband or wife, as well as to the Lord. You may not have realized then that you were also making a commitment to a few special people who weren’t even in the church that day—your children.

When fears and troubles threaten to overwhelm your sons and daughters, they will need to be able to hang on to the rock that is your marriage relationship. Security for children is rooted almost entirely in their parents. For the sake of your marriage and your children, you might want to adopt a Bill and Gloria Gaither tune, “We’ll Be There,” as the theme song for your family. The lyrics read, in part: “We’ll be there…when you need us to hold you tight…when…you’re scared of the dark…when you dream your first dreams…when you stand or you fall…when you go on a date, and you’re out too late, and you quietly slip up the stairs.…You can count on it. We’ll be there.”

As described in Scripture, the winds will blow and beat (Matthew 7:25) against the house that is your marriage. Yet if you keep your holy commitment and depend on the truth and power of God’s Word, your “house” will stand firm, providing a lasting haven for your family.

Before you say good night…

• Are your kids observing anything at home that makes them insecure?
• What more can you do to make each other and your family feel secure?

Lord Jesus, we do want to have a marriage that everyone in our family can depend on. Help us to take the commitment of marriage seriously, ever relying on Your Spirit and Word to provide the holy foundation for our lives. Amen.

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This devotional is taken from Night Light for Parents. Copyright © 2000 by James Dobson, Inc. All rights reserved. Used with permission.