“But What About Our Children?”

“It’s not me I’m worried about.”

I looked my husband dead in the eye and continued.

“When I see what’s happening in our country, when I see what’s happened in just a year, when I think of what could be coming, I wouldn’t be nearly so concerned if it were just me or just us, but …”, my voice trailed off, “What about our boys? I can’t stand to see them hurt.”

Anyone else feeling that struggle?

Anyone else feeling anxious for the lives and freedom of our children as we watch our country head downhill at break neck speed?

I don’t mind if I struggle, but I don’t want to see my children struggle. I don’t mind if I hurt, but I don’t want to see my children hurt. I don’t mind going without, but I don’t want to see my children go without.

But those thoughts have been the plight of every good parent since time began, haven’t they? The thought of our children feeling the harsh sting of this sinful world we live in has been a painful reality since Adam and Eve watched it tear at the hearts and lives of their children. Living in a sinful world and passing our messiness down from generation to generation means that suffering is passed down as well.

And all of a sudden we are staring down possibilities we never thought we would. We remember our childhood and we want our kids to be able to grow up with the same freedoms, the same joys, the same opportunities that we had. And it’s crushing, even anxiety inducing to consider the possibility that they might not.

But here’s the thing. God doesn’t promise that our kids will grow up just like we did. God doesn’t promise that our children will never struggle. God doesn’t promise that our children will have everything WE think they need. But He does promise that he see’s our children and knows their needs better than we do:

Look at the birds of the air: they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? (Matthew 6:26)

We know from His word and we know that if we step outside our very small, American perception of life to look at history and the world around us… the rise and fall of nations is nothing new. Suffering is nothing new.

And we really can’t guarantee what tomorrow holds for any of us, can we?

Do not boast about tomorrow, for you do not know what a day may bring. (Proverbs 27:1)

A Few Questions On That Note

WHAT IF??? That’s an easy question to ask right now isn’t it? And it can be a dangerous one if we aren’t careful. But what if we took our “What ifs” in a different direction? A productive direction? What if we asked our “what if” questions based on God’s faithfulness, not the fleeting chaos of this world?

But this I call to mind and therefore I have hope: The steadfast love of the LORD never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. (Lamentations 3:21)

So…

WHAT IF we grabbed hold of the fact that we don’t know what tomorrow holds and lived like we believed it were true? What if the little people in our lives heard speech which reflected that we trusted God with the future rather than trying to control it ourselves? Teaching our children that we must “number our days” and believe that God holds each one.

Come now, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we will go into such and such a town and spend a year there and trade and make a profit”— yet you do not know what tomorrow will bring. What is your life? For you are a mist that appears for a little time and then vanishes. Instead you ought to say, “If the Lord wills, we will live and do this or that.” (James 4:13-16)

WHAT IF we stopped wishing for what was and started embracing what is? What if we reminded our children that we don’t have to be afraid? And that what’s best for us is what God allows. God has made each day, whether it’s a good day or a bad day.

Say not, “Why were the former days better than these?” For it is not from wisdom that you ask this. In the day of prosperity be joyful, and in the day of adversity consider: God has made the one as well as the other, so that man may not find out anything that will be after him. (Ecclesiastes 7:10&14)

WHAT IF we treasured our children more, every snuggle, every giggle, every squeal, every milestone, every curious question, every deep conversation, every hug, every accomplishment, every single moment with our children, remembering that even when there are “enemies in the gate”, children are one of God’s greatest blessings to us? What if we made sure they knew how blessed we are by them? What if we spent more time treasuring them than worrying over them?

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate. (Psalm 127:3-5)

WHAT IF we displayed to watching eyes, the joy of the Lord rather than the burdens of this world? What if we refused to allow our current hardships to make us anxious, bitter, snippy, and pre-occupied. What if we even lived a little more, laughed a little more, loved a little more? What if we said yes to our little people sometimes rather than constantly saying no? What if we played that game? Read that book? Snuggled a little longer? Went out for that treat? What if we stayed up to count the stars just for fun? What if we basked in the simple joys of this life? Who knows whether we have one year or 80 years to enjoy our blessings here on earth.

And I commend joy, for man has nothing better under the sun but to eat and drink and be joyful, for this will go with him in his toil through the days of his life that God has given him under the sun. (Ecclesiastes 8:15)

WHAT IF we stopped pitying our children and started teaching them to be bold and courageous? What if we reminded them that our God is bigger than our greatest fear and “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control.”? What if we taught them that while we aren’t strong enough alone, we serve a mighty God who says: “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.”? What if God uses this generation for something incredible because they may see days where He is all they have? What if, rather than teaching them to hide from adversity, we trained them to be warriors?

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. (Joshua 1:9)

What if we spent more time giving our children the GOSPEL than we did hoping they’ll just quiet down so we can read that article or make that post or scroll through the latest updates? What if we woke them every morning, walked with them every day, and settled them into bed every night with constant reminders of the only truth that will ultimately matter in this world? What if we allowed our current climate to drive us, not to anxiety, but to urgency… urgency to speak truths to little hearts with every opportunity we are given? What if we took every advantage of the chances we have to give them the only hope they need to take on whatever may come in this life.

And these words that I command you today shall be on your heart. You shall teach them diligently to your children, and shall talk of them when you sit in your house, and when you walk by the way, and when you lie down, and when you rise. (Deuteronomy 6:6-7)

What if, when our children are grown, we can know that we set a foundation for them on which to live that cannot be shaken? What if our best for them isn’t a life of financial, physical, or spiritual ease? What if it’s being able to look at them, rain or shine and say:

But as for you, continue in what you have learned and have firmly believed, knowing from whom you learned it and how from childhood you have been acquainted with the sacred writings, which are able to make you wise for salvation through faith in Christ Jesus. (2 Timothy 3:14-15)

In Closing

I hope you know, I’m preaching this to myself. These are difficult days and it can be hard to see the light in the darkness, truth in the midst of so many lies, and comfort where there is chaos. But for our own sake and for the sake of our children, we must cling, not to our roller coaster of emotions, but what to we KNOW to be true of God and of us. We must entrust our greatest gifts to the greatest Giver.

Have you ever sang that old classic “Because He Lives?” I’ll leave you with my favorite lines… perhaps it will spark hope in you as it does in me:

How sweet to hold a newborn baby
And feel the pride and joy he gives
But greater still the calm assurance
This child can face uncertain day because HE LIVES.