Developing the Fruit of the Spirit in Your ChildSample

Faithfulness

By Lisa Lakey

I didn’t become a Christian until I was a young adult. When I became a mom, I worried if I could effectively teach my kids about God.

I tried to explain faith to my preschool-aged daughter. I probably used too many words, but I attempted to tell her how to trust in a God you can’t see. 

In reply, she simply said, “okay,” and ran off to play. I remember thinking, this is what Jesus meant in Matthew 18:2–4, “Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”

The faith of a child is simple. I want my children to retain that type of faith, the kind that doesn’t need complex explanations. But after 11 years, I’ve learned that when it comes to faith, children learn more from watching us live out our beliefs than the words we say. Here are a few tips to help you along the way. 

Share faith stories. Tell your children about Christians who showed great faith during struggles. The testimonies of Corrie Ten Boom or Elisabeth Elliot are a great place to start.

Let them see you struggle. I don’t ever want to burden my children with adult problems, but it’s healthy for them to see that our lives aren’t perfect. Your children’s faith will be tested as they grow up, and they’ll be better prepared if they see their parents trust God when life throws a curveball.

Pray with your kids. Praying is an act of relying on God. It reaffirms our faith and refreshes our souls. Pray with and for your children every single day, and you will teach them the power of depending on God.

Don’t try to force faith, because you can’t. It’s hard for parents to know that something as important as faith is out of our control. But, ultimately, it’s between them and God. Even the best, most faithful parents can have children who turn away from their faith. Practice what you preach—trust what God is doing in your children’s lives. 

For more on faithfulness read, “If You Want More, You Must be Faithful in Little” on FamilyLife.com.