Parenting With Grace Sample

Grace to Face Your Failures

A challenge that confronts many parents is their own sin. Being born into God’s family and beginning a new life doesn’t mean our problems are over. Our enemy has a three-step plan to neutralize us: lust, sin, and death (James 1:14–15). The Bible describes our struggle in terms of hand-to-hand combat (Ephesians 6:10–17), and none of us gets out unscathed.

Satan prods and prompts us to sin; then, he ‘piles on.’ Scripture calls him “the accuser” (Revelation 12:10). His scheme is to tempt us to sin and then shout into our spirits, “What makes you think God loves you?! You are a failure, and that is all you will ever be.”

Marriages and families are under assault. Many carry scars of sexual abuse or premarital sex. About half of first marriages end in divorce, and often, this causes ex-spouses to feel like ‘damaged goods’ for the rest of their lives. Others are trying to recover from gender confusion or sexual deviations.

This is where the transforming power of grace shines. Grace is an intensely personal thing. Its source is God, and His provision is suited for our unique needs. We release the power of grace when we recognize our need for it, and we do so when we understand God’s holiness and admit our sinfulness. ‘Coming clean’ with God engages the power of His grace.

The apostle Paul is one of the heroes of the New Testament, but he had an ugly past (1 Timothy 1:12–17). He thanked God that even though he was the worst sinner of all, His grace was more than abundant (Romans 5:20).

Stepping into grace begins with an admission of need, with recognizing our sin. If we try to pretend that we aren’t struggling with sin, we deceive ourselves (1 John 1:8). If we try to justify our sin (“everyone does it”), we contradict what God says (1 John 1:10). Instead of evading or excusing sin, confess it (1 John 1:9). When you become aware of your sin, immediately go to God: “Lord, I want to come clean with you. I agree with you that I have sinned. Thank you for forgiving my sin.”

You have just connected with God’s grace. No penance. No absolution. No acts of contrition. Just confess, and God forgives. He may then reveal to you other sins you may have overlooked that need forgiveness, so you can confess them, too. Thatis grace.