Parenting by Design - November 14

Trust in God

Jer. 17:7-8: "Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose confidence is in him. He will be like a tree planted by the water that sends out its roots by the stream. It does not fear when heat comes; its leaves are always green. It has no worries in a year of drought and never fails to bear fruit" (NIV). 

Where are you placing your trust? Is it in your ability to control your kids or force them to become the people you want them to be? Jeremiah 17:5 notes, "Cursed is the one who trusts in man" because he knew that depending on human effort would lead to disappointment. Instead, he tells us to recognize that God is trustworthy and to give Him the responsibility for the lives of our children.

Jeremiah compares our trust to a tree planted near water. A plant falls limp when the water supply is lacking or weak. But, as Christians, we have a powerful eternal water source that allows us to endure hard times and stand tall! Our trust is strengthened when we acknowledge God's faithfulness and remember the many times He has brought us out of fear and into a place of hope.

When facing a parenting "drought", remember God's faithfulness and draw upon His strength, rather than your own.