Parenting by Design - March 11

Endurance: The Blessing of Trials 

Gen. 15:13-14: Then the Lord said to him, "Know for certain that your descendants will be strangers in a country not their own, and they will be enslaved and mistreated four hundred years. But I will punish the nation they serve as slaves, and afterward they will come out with great possessions" (NIV).

God gave Abram a promise of blessings, but He also promised suffering and delay. It seems He knew that the faith of the Israelites would be increased by the sanctifying power of their bondage in Egypt. God knew His people could remain strong in the midst of suffering, and that their faith would abound because of it, rather than in spite of it!

When we rescue our children from consequences and fill their lives with material blessings, we deprive them of some of life's most important lessons. Remember that God's blessings are found not only in "great possessions," but also in suffering and delay. Once we grasp this concept, we are more likely to parent in a way that benefits our children eternally.

Walk beside your children when they experience the blessings of trials.