February Parenting Principle

Principle # 2:  God never calls you to a task without giving you what you need to do it. He never sends you without going with you.

 Parents often times feel discouraged, not equipped, and to be honest, unable to fulfill the task required of parenting.  This thinking will often times distract us to overlook things that are very important, namely that God gave us our particular children, and they are His gift to us on loan for the time being. It is difficult to think of it in those terms at times, huh? However, it is true. God has given us our kids, on loan for a time, and with that comes some serious responsibility.

Paul Tripp says, “Like everything else God calls people to, God doesn’t call people to be parents because they are able.” He further asserts that sometimes God called people who were not able to do important things. For example, Abraham, Gideon, Moses, David, and the disciples were not able to important things. This begs the question: “Why would God, perfect in His wisdom and knowledge, ask a group of inadequate people to do such an important task?” Tripp answers that question this way. He says, “God calls unable people to do important thigs because ultimately what He’s working on is not your immediate success, but that you would come to know Him, love Him, rest in His grace, and to live for His glory.” After all, it’s all for Him anyway right?  As parents we all have the inability factor.  We need to remember to rely upon the Father’s care and grace. All of us need His grace, His wisdom, and His leadership to do the task of parenting.

Another parental reminder is that He doesn’t call us to a task without giving us what we need. Tripp goes on to say, “God’s greatest and most wonderful gift to you as a parent is Himself.” He knows everything about us. He knows the things that makes us tick, and the things that discourage us. He knows that we sometimes feel like we don’t know what to do, and so in that place He offers Himself. Tripp also says, “He knew what every piece of your struggle would be as a parent, so he knew that the only thing that would help you would be Himself.”  He is with us when we parent, when we fail, when we are exhausted, when we are happy and moving about, and when we have given all we can give. We must recognize His presence, seek His wisdom, and accept His grace.

During February, think about these things. Let’s tell our kids we love them, and how we want them to know the One who is love.

Ephesians 3:20-21

Now to him who is able to do far more abundantly than all we ask or think, according to the power at work within us, to him be the glory in the church and in Jesus Christ throughout all generations, forever and ever. Amen.

Information taken from the book: (Parenting: 14 Gospel Principles That Can Radically Change Your Family) by Paul David Tripp