How to Share My Faith With My Family and FriendsUkázka

Sharing Faith with Family Can Be Hard

We can be really eager to share our faith with our friends and family. This does not mean that they will feel the same way about listening to us. Sometimes, sharing our faith with those closest to us can be the hardest thing to do. We need to manage our expectations by the Word of God. Even our Lord Jesus knew that this could happen. He said that a prophet is not without honor except in his own hometown and with his own family. Often, the people who are the nearest to us can be the least willing to listen to anything we have to say. This should not surprise or overly disappoint us.

For example, it can be difficult for a mother or a father to listen to their son or daughter, especially in a way that requires a change to what they believe. It is hard for them to see their child as someone who can tell them what to do. In a similar manner, a brother or a sister may be unwilling to hear their sibling outside of the family context: they have known this person all of their lives. So we should not be surprised if we find witnessing to our family the most difficult kind of evangelism we will ever do.

Our family members and friends have known us for the longest time. They have seen us on our best and worst days. They might not always take us seriously. While this is true, this should not discourage us entirely. This is where prayer and the power of the Holy Spirit are most needed. God knew that our family would feel this way. While the Bible emphasizes the importance of faith within families, we must understand that each individual must come to personal faith in Christ. Our prayers for our loved ones are vital, trusting God to work in their hearts and draw them to Himself. We need to remember that Christ, His Word, and His Holy Spirit are on our side.

Even if we feel that the door of our witness is shut and our loved ones do not want to listen to us, we need to continue praying. The Bible promises us that the prayer of a believer can accomplish a lot. God might use someone else to speak to our loved ones, or He can cause their circumstances to change in a way that will encourage them to hear about the Lord. God can change any hardened heart. We just need to believe.