I turned my back for a few minutes and the entire room was destroyed. Building blocks were littered about, books were splayed open throughout the room. Small animals and army men were sprinkled in between. There appeared to be no toy unturned. It’s amazing what a toddler can accomplish when left unattended.
I knelt down and asked my son to begin picking up the mess and the look on his face said everything. I may as well have been speaking a foreign language. He couldn’t even comprehend where to start. It was too much.
And somehow that emotion, that helplessness, that feeling of standing knee deep in something so much bigger than yourself, made perfect sense to me. Because I’m his mom, and so often it feels as if that is exactly where I am standing, trying to raise a godly family in a broken world.
As parents, we are entrusted to oversee the physical, mental, and spiritual growth of the children we are blessed with, but this occurs in a world that looks less nurturing and more messy, destroyed.
Combine that with the fact that we are dealing with family issues, plus a level of moral relativity that we never experienced in our own growing up years and it is easy to feel helpless, ill-equipped for the task in front of us.
Fear becomes our reflex, indecision our norm.
It’s scary.
To feel that is normal, to stay there is unacceptable.
As Christians we are empowered by the gospel, by Truth, to live lives worthy of our calling (Ephesians 4:1). We can feel the fear, but we must choose not to stay there. Instead, we proceed in faith, in full confidence of the One who calmed these seas.
How do we begin raising a Godly family in today’s culture?
We prioritize truth.
Culture will brush the Bible off as outdated and archaic, but Paul tells us:
“…the word of God is living and powerful, and sharper than any two-edged sword, piercing even to the division of soul and spirit, and of joints and marrow, and is a discerner of the thoughts and intents of the heart.” Hebrews 4:12
The idea that the Bible is outdated simply does not stand in line with God’s word. Know the Word and know Christ. Know Christ and know Truth. God’s word will always be Truth, even amidst the shifting seas of culture. It is essential that we prioritize the knowledge and understanding of God’s Truth in our homes.
Ask for wisdom.
God has invited us to ask for wisdom; it’s time we take Him up on the offer. A culture of relativity is tough. There are issues we don’t readily know how to properly respond to. Our need to ask for godly wisdom is greater than ever.
James 1:5 says if we lack wisdom then we are to “ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.” But this verse is followed up with one caveat that we often fail to notice. Verse 6 goes on to say, “But let him ask in faith, with no doubting, for he who doubts is like a wave of the sea driven and tossed by the wind.”
When culture does not align with principle and we don’t know how to respond, we are to ask God for wisdom, fully believing He will provide.
Hold fast to hope.
It is easy to become overwhelmed and frustrated. It’s easy to watch the news or social media and feel overcome with the loss of innocence, the age of ignorance, we feel our children are incubating in. But when we settle there we have lost sight of the bigger picture as well.
Billy Graham said, “I’ve read the last page of the Bible, it’s all going to turn out alright.” He’s speaking to the bigger picture, the greater narrative we must not forget.
Hebrews 10:23 reminds us, “Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for He who promised is faithful.”
When we are confused and frustrated when culture seems to have gone off the deep end, when we feel overwhelmed by the idea of raising a godly family amidst rampant godlessness, may we never forget this. May this be the firm ground upon which we continue to stand.
He who promised is faithful.
Watch: Kirk and Chelsea Cameron talk openly about their family and how God has changed their life.
Katie Westenberg is a wife and mother of four, who is passionate about fighting fear and living brave. Married for 15 years, she lives in Washington state, enjoying life outside the city limits and any adventures that involve friends and family. She writes at IChooseBrave.com encouraging women to fear God and live brave.
