Believe for It: When Passing on Faith Is Difficultনমুনা

Day 1: Recognizing the Battle

In 2012, when my husband, Alvin, and I decided to pastor a church, the catalyst came through our son, Alvin III. In his mid-twenties at the time, our son was going through a crisis of faith. To get some distance from Mom and Dad, he moved from Nashville, Tenn. to Melbourne, Australia. Alvin wasn’t making terrible choices, but he was consumed with his music. He had earned a music degree and was passionate about writing and producing. He entered competitions and wrote secular music.

As I watched him spend time with friends who weren’t living for Jesus, I knew something was off with his walk. He was searching for what he believed apart from Alvin and myself. So when our son announced he was going to Australia, I was concerned about him being so far away. I prayed that God would bring him home, but I had no idea what was at stake.

My son later told me, “Mom, I told God, ‘Whoever gets me first, You or the Devil, that’s the way I’m going to go.”

Had I known that at the time, my heart would have sunk. But the truth is, there is an invisible battle going on around us. The enemy wants to hinder us from passing on faith in Jesus to our children. Ephesians 6:12 says, “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.” God is calling us to fight — in prayer, word, and deed — for the next generation.

You don’t have to look far to see the victories the enemy is winning in the lives of our youth. From bullying and mental health issues to addiction and suicide, the next generation faces some significant challenges. The devil has his sights set on turning the next generation away from faith and the truth of God’s Word. And he would love nothing more than for us to be distracted from our God-given task of passing on our faith.

1 Peter 5:8 warns, “Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour.” The upcoming generations have a target on their backs. When I think back to my son’s challenge to the Lord of “whoever gets me first,” I am deeply grateful that God stepped in. I trust that God answered my prayers and those of so many others when He eventually took hold of Alvin’s heart and life.

Questions to consider

Have you faced challenges in passing down faith to your child? What are some ways you could remain alert and sober-minded as you pass faith on to the next generation?