Through Our Weakness

The Nichols family always sits in one of the front pews. The Johnson family helps the worship team. The Smiths are organizing the family camp sign-up. And you slip in the back, your kids in a row, without another book-ending parent because he’s deployed, or she’s got staff duty, or he got called in to deal with an issue at the barracks . . . again.

Parenting with a Military spouse can often feel like single parenting. It’s lonely. It’s fatiguing. It’s frustrating. And it can really be unnerving.

“What if I screw up?” we ask, or rather, “What will happen when I screw up?”

And, “Are my kids missing out on seeing the faith of their father or mother?”

We fear we will drop the baton in this most important aspect of bringing up a child—the spiritual part.

I worship you, Lord, just as my mother did, and you have rescued me from the chains of death.

Psalms 116:16 (CEV)

But the Lord hears your prayers. He sees. He knows. And he works in wonderful ways beyond what we can do with imperfect circumstances.

Though we must do all we can to lead our children to the Lord, ultimately, the Holy Spirit draws them, instructs them, and helps them fulfill their God-given purpose. He will take them much further than you ever can. He is always faithful. You don’t want them to be mini copies of you but, rather, followers of Christ.

So do your best, then trust God with the rest.

PRAY

God, please be a father and mother to our children when we cannot. Draw them to you. Use our humble efforts and fill in for our weaknesses. Amen.

TIME TO TALK

Conversation starter for kids: Provides you with questions and prompts to facilitate a time of applicable discussion with children to lead them towards knowing God and His Word more deeply.

Question(s): Who are the people in your life who help you get to know God better?

Apply: Explore with your kids the community of believers they have around them. Other members could be pastors, youth pastors, Sunday School teachers, Christian friends and neighbors, and their parents—whether at home or deployed. By recognizing all the believers in your community, you will highlight for your children the different people they can go to for Christian guidance, and you can start to feel the weight and pressure come off your shoulders, knowing you are not in this alone.

KEEP IT GOING

Related passages: These additional verses will help parents expand Scriptural knowledge and place on the armor of God’s Word to tackle each day. Swipe to read the passages today.

Psalm 68:5-6

2 Timothy 1:5