When my children were still babies and toddlers, Christian parenting wasn’t a challenge. I cuddled, rocked, taught my daughters right from wrong, and talked about Jesus.
But when my oldest daughter was in second grade, she received an invitation to a movie-themed birthday party.
Suddenly, my Christian parenting skills called for an unfamiliar dose of courage.
I wanted my daughter to be able to attend the party, and she very much wanted to go. All her favorite friends would be there.
Unfortunately, the movie that was planned for the party had a rating that was off-limits for my young children.
The struggle to adhere to Christian parenting principles had been upped to a new level.
I nearly caved.
But instinctively, I knew the movie was a fork in the road I’d chosen to travel as a Christian parent. And I couldn’t afford to stumble so soon.
THE ROUTE OF CHRISTIAN PARENTING
I called the mom and gently explained my predicament, and told her I’d pick my daughter up before the movie.
When all was said and done, the mom graciously insisted on choosing an alternative movie and my daughter had a great time at the birthday party. Afterwards, two other moms confided that they, too, had been reluctant to allow their daughters to see the first movie and were glad I had stood my ground.
While my daughters were teenagers, we dealt with tougher issues like curfews, dating rules, clothing styles, and a zillion other issues that challenged my principles for Christian parenting. By then, my girls knew I’d likely make the right choice, even if it was a hard one.
The choices were often difficult. Although I didn’t dare let my daughters know, I often second-guessed myself.
Was I too strict? Unreasonable? Not trusting enough?
Unfortunately successful Christian parenting means doing the right thing even when it’s hard.
So, I persevered.
SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN PARENTING TAKES COURAGE
If you’re a Christian parent, God has called you to lead your children on a path of righteousness and faith. But courage is always necessary for God-sized journeys.
After the death of Moses, God selected Joshua to lead His people to the Promised Land.
When He called him, God told Joshua over and over to be “strong and courageous.”
To be strong and courageous means to stand without fear; to be obedient to the Lord without being afraid, insecure, or intimidated.
How in the world could Joshua expect to be anything less than afraid, secure, or intimidated? He’d been chosen to lead the people of Israel into foreign enemy territory!
The answer came from God Himself.
Because the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
When my insecurities get the best of me, I like to blame my introverted DNA. But the problem isn’t really in my genes. Instead, it’s in my heart. To be honest, when I’m afraid it’s because I don’t believe God.
Christian parenting requires huge doses of courage so you can stand firm when the going gets tough.
TRUTHS TO REMEMBER FOR SUCCESSFUL CHRISTIAN PARENTING
God is with you.
Successful Christian parenting sometimes calls us to swim upstream. No matter how many parents think it’s okay to do one thing, we may have to choose another. And it can stink to feel like the outcast.
But the truth is, we’re never alone. God is with us. And the awareness of His presence brings courage and confidence.
So, we need to remind ourselves often that God never sends His children off alone. Instead, He sticks right by our side.
No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. I will be with you, just as I was with Moses. I will not leave you or forsake you.
You’ve got what it takes
God made it clear to Joshua that his leadership was critical. At the end of their journey, God’s people would be allowed to enjoy only the land they’d taken possession of.
I say to you what I said to Moses: ‘Wherever you go will be part of the land of Israel—all the way from the Negeb Desert in the south to the Lebanon mountains in the north, and from the Mediterranean Sea in the west to the Euphrates River in the east, including all the land of the Hittites.’
As a Christian parent, we lead by example. That means we don’t just tell our kids they have to be different. Instead, we choose to be different right along with them. In other words, we must model what it looks like to choose the right thing even when it’s not the most popular thing.
To be truthful, anything less than that is hypocrisy.
The destination is worth the risk
When God sent His people to the Promised Land, He knew the destination would be worth the discomfort they’d experience along the way.
Be strong and courageous, for you will distribute the land I swore to their fathers to give them as an inheritance.
As a parent, it’s easy to second-guess ourselves when making hard or unpopular decisions. No good parent wants a child to feel embarrassed, left out, or different.
But successful Christian parenting means making hard choices. That’s why it’s important to remember that good decisions bring good results even if they feel bad at the time.
So, take heart. And remember that, to succeed in Christian parenting, every step is an important one.
God has made a way
Most parents understandably admit they’re unsure and even a little scared when it comes to Christian parenting. That’s why it’s important to know the Bible provides a foundation for the myriads of decisions that confront parents every single day.
To make the best use of the Bible as a guidebook for Christian parenting, it’s necessary to study it and to understand its foundational truths. Christian parenting becomes easier as you tap into the authority and power that God offers through His Word.
Above all, be strong and very courageous to carefully observe the whole instruction My servant Moses commanded you. Do not turn from it to the right or the left, so that you will have success wherever you go.
Joshua 1:7
So many parents need to read your words. I see young families making decisions that they think will result in allowing their children to be “ in the right (popular) crowd. It’s almost as if they are sacrificing their children. Love your writings which are obviously Christ-inspired! Love you!
I agree with you! And I think while parents are in the trenches, it’s hard to step back and see the bigger (and more important) picture. The things that seem so important in the moment don’t always matter in the long run. Thanks for your insight. You’re a great mom.:)
Hi Cindy, Thank you so much for this. What I struggle with, is how do you parent your young adult child (soon to be 21), when they are influence by the things of the world, that are not of God. Thanks for your biblical insights and keep allowing God to use you, in a mighty way.
Lisa:)
Lisa, that’s a season that can be hard. When our adult children are ready to be independent yet we sense they need more guidance, that’s a breeding ground for tension! But I would say hold on tight. Spend huge amounts of time on your relationship. And speak to their heart more than you speak about rules. And of course pray. A lot:) Thanks so much for reading my blog and for encouraging me!
This speaks right to my heart today. Thank you for the words of encouragement to all of us moms! 🙂
You’re one of the very best! Thanks for reading, Kim. It always encourages me to hear from you:)
This is such a powerful lesson! I know that I will need courage when it comes to raising my kids right. It’s not always easy to do the right thing as a mom. I love your story and how you handled the situation. That’s exactly the kind of response I would like to have when these sorts of things come up. 💗
Laura, thank you! It really does take a lot of courage to raise your kids right, but it’s worth every bit of effort! I appreciate your feedback!
It really does take courage to raise your kids right! Cindy, as a young mom, I found this post so valuable! Thank you!
Cecily, thanks so much for reading and for letting me know this post encouraged you!