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5 Ways to Parent Without Panic When Kids Question Their Faith

It goes without saying, you may need to spend more time on your knees than listening and discussing with your child. Praying that they will see the truth and that their hearts will be responsive to it is a critical role of a parent.

Remember the following verses:

In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God. Romans 8:26-27

 “I have much more to say to you, more than you can now bear. But when he, the Spirit of truth, comes, he will guide you into all the truth. He will not speak on his own; he will speak only what he hears and tell you what is yet to come. He will glorify me because it is from me that he will receive what he will make known to you.  John 16:12-14

As parents, let us not discount the ministry of the Holy Spirit in our children’s lives!

In reality, some of us will be blessed with children who are called to be close to the Lord, and their faith journey will see truth with clarity and accept it with eagerness. For others, it will be a long and arduous road that may lead well into adulthood. The quest to know the truth is different for all of us, and it is natural, as parents who desire nothing more than to see our children walk in the way of Christ, to be afraid when they express doubt.

But questioning is part of learning. As parents, if we embrace these questions and encourage inquisitiveness, our children will also witness the gentle calling of Christ in their lives. Jesus encouraged the little children to come to Him, to be near Him, and we know that little ones ask lots of questions. So allow your children to do the same. Test the knowledge given to them so that when they come to a full realization of their faith, they can also have a ready response when asked why they came to the conclusion to believe what they believe.

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Deuteronomy 11:18-19

Photo Credit: © Getty Images/Thitaree Sarmkasat

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