How Do Parents Influence Their Child’s Faith?

What role do parents play in their children’s faith?

As I type this, a group of teenage females are laughing and possibly performing TikTok dances in the gaming room. My refrigerator is empty, the front hall is a jumble of bags, and the formerly peaceful house is now alive with activity. To be honest, I’m kind of enjoying the mayhem. All OK, mainly.

Now that we’re at a new phase of parenting, it seems like a whole new ballgame. Slowly but surely, the college flyers are piling up, my adolescent is taking the wheel, and I have to battle the want to ugly weep every time she gives me “the look” — the expression that tells me she is growing up before my eyes. It finally clicked for me. The “short years” are the ones I am now experiencing.

Because I still have a six-year-old at home, I don’t soon forget the long, boring, and laborious days of raising a child. Toting a newborn in a carrier to softball games, defusing a toddler’s tantrum, being jolted awake at morning, and cleaning up spilt milk are all reminders that with every new season comes a new set of gifts and new sets of obstacles. Being a parent requires a lot of patience and strength.

Still, my confidence in my parenting skills wanes with every passing season. Will it be worthwhile to stay up late kissing their boo-boos, caressing them, and telling them how much you love them? Will they keep in mind the shaky groundwork that came before them? Did we as parents do enough to instill in them a love for God’s Word?

Instill in your kid the values you hold dear, and he or she will follow them even into adulthood.

Many parents find comfort in and inspiration from Proverbs 22:6, and they work hard to model that ideal for their own children. This passage is consoling, but it is not a guarantee that our children will continue to love and believe in God as adults if we raise them well and educate them about God. Alternately, if we don’t instill in them a thirst for Truth and a desire to accomplish what God wants, they won’t come to Him on their own.

While it is a holy duty and a huge responsibility to guide our children as they grow in their religion, we must also recognize that we are not ultimately responsible for shaping their spirituality. Once they have accepted Christ, we may be certain that God has a plan and purpose for their lives. Our kids may not need much convincing to become Christians. On the other hand, people may eventually lose interest. It’s not a test of our parenting abilities, but rather a reflection of their own personal path to faith and Christlikeness.

Although our children are a part of us in many ways, including being our legacy and the source of much of the love we feel for God, they are not really ours until they are called home by the Lord. He will guide them, bring them home when they wander, and pursue them relentlessly (Proverbs 3:5-6). All we have to do is put our faith and confidence in the Lord. To achieve this, we seek Him out in His Word and communicate with Him via prayer.

God is the same yesterday, today, and forever, even though our duties and the extent to which we instruct our children vary over time. God showers us with His limitless, selfless love so that we might pass it on to our own children. It would be helpful to see potential outcomes at different junctures.

Establish a Strong Base When You’re Young

Teaching a small kid the Bible is a breeze. They absorb all they can because they are like tiny sponges. Their brains are malleable and receptive, therefore it is simple to impart new concepts and ideas on them. Children’s first impressions of God and His boundless love are formed in the context of their home. But it’s also smart to monitor what they’re taking in so you can shield them from potentially harmful ideas.

The responsibilities we have as parents at such a formative age:

Raise them up to know that God loves them and has a purpose for their life (Jeremiah 29:11).

They submit to God’s will for their life, and they believe the Bible to be accurate (John 1:1).

God is all-seeing and all-knowing (Proverbs 15:3).

They need to honor their parents (Exodus 20:12).

Proclaim the Gospel at Christmas and Easter (Luke 2:8-12 and Matthew 26:17-30).

Years of Middle Life: Set a Good Example

When our children enter middle school, they stop focusing on our views and instead start to engage with a knowledge of who God is, who they are, and how He impacts their destiny. This is the age when one’s faith becomes really personal. They are attempting to comprehend the world and the guidelines they were given when they were little. however, at the moment they are still seeking guidance and searching for models on how to live.

Our responsibility as parents throughout this time of spiritual exploration:

Discuss your beliefs openly, including how you study the Bible and your relationship with Jesus.

Keep in mind who they are in Christ (Ephesians 1:5, Jeremiah 1:5, 1 Corinthians 6:19-20).

Give them the good news that God has a purpose for their existence (Ephesians 2:10 and Jeremiah 29:11).

Remind them that although God is just, he is also abundant in love, compassion, and forgiveness (Deuteronomy 32:4 and Psalms 89:14).

They need to learn from the story of the lost sheep that God is always looking for their hearts. (Luke 15)

The Wisdom of Age: Let God Take the Wheel

Although they may have matured in their faith and acquired a deeper comprehension of the Bible by the time they reach high school and early adulthood, this is frequently the time when theory meets practice. Many people may experiment with hedonism or feel anxious and bewildered in the face of tragedy. Some people doubt God or give in to their baser instincts. Here we pray that God is covering them with His love and protection, guiding them back to Truth and His love, and here we trust the training God gave us to imprint and etch in their hearts.

We have a responsibility as parents during this time of spiritual trial because:

Pray. Continue your prayers. Pray for your own emotional well-being as you learn to let go of control and allow them to make more and more of their own life choices.

Encourage them to explore the areas in which they excel, since you may be able to see potential in those areas where they cannot (Romans 12:6-8 and 1 Peter 4:10).

Don’t forget that God is in control (Romans 8:28).

Compare and contrast the world’s perspective with that of the Bible (Romans 12:2).

Tell about moments when your faith was tested and how God helped you through it.

Do not forget to reassure kids that your house is always a secure haven for them. They will need to experience it when they fail.

Our ultimate hope as parents is that our children would repent and put their faith in Jesus Christ. May we share in the delight and blessing of their decision to follow Christ and live in obedience.

Later in life, however, the Holy Spirit may stir in their heart, compelling them to make an emotional choice and swear their faith apart from all their loved ones. Although it may be difficult and upsetting to keep quiet about your child’s profession of faith, remember that as a praying and believing parent, you had a significant role in their spontaneous and heartfelt choice. Definitely something to celebrate there!

Prayer of Closure

Praise be to You, O Heavenly Father!

For the blessing of children, we are eternally grateful. That they would allow us to play such a significant role in their life is something we hold in the highest esteem. Please join us as we strive to shape them into the kind of adults You want for them. We entrust them to The kind care, praying that their love for You and your Truth will deepen and that their faith will increase. For their sake, we hope they are safe. Please, God, keep their thoughts and emotions from harm. May they have a clear understanding of their calling and the path You have for them, and may they be eager to serve You to the best of their ability.

All of these requests are made in the honor of Your holy name.

Amen.