Parenting With Hope: 9 Days of Gospel-Centered EncouragementSample

Day 7 – Acceptance: A Home of Grace

As a parent, sometimes I can feel the weight of all my failures. Do you ever feel that as well? Perhaps you’ve been favoring one child over the other. Perhaps you’ve been resorting to harsh words and unkind attitudes toward your teen because of your frustration and anger. Perhaps you’re scared to establish rules or give consequences and your teen is taking advantage of you.

Can I remind you of this? God’s grace is enough. It’s enough for your teen’s mistakes, and it’s also enough for your mistakes as a parent. Let the message of the gospel sink into your soul. Jesus loves you. He accepts you. He invites you. Not because you are perfect, but because he has paid the penalty for your sin. When you see your failures as a parent, run to Jesus.

This is our reality as Christian parents. We’re not perfect. We accept grace so we can extend it. Don’t feel the need to excuse or explain away your mistakes. Confess them. Repent of them. Repeat. We never graduate from our need of grace. We exemplify graciousness by receiving it ourselves. When our teens see us relying upon Jesus, they will learn the source of our soul-satisfying strength: Jesus alone. He’s our hope, our strength, our grace.