Kids, Weakness, and God

Kids, Weakness, and God - Parenting Like Hannah
Photo by cobalt123

Ever watch a bunch of young boys try to “out tough” each other? It’s a wonder any boys make it to adulthood!. These sessions designed to prove one has no weaknesses, have probably resulted in the creation of more than one extreme sport and quite a few body parts in casts.

There is something in all of us, that wants to put on a brave front. Maybe it is because we fear showing our weaknesses will turn us into the laughing stock of our neighborhoods and workplaces. Perhaps there is a little bit of pride and ego in the mix. Maybe we have been taught by society that only the strong survive, and fear exhibiting weakness will place us at the bottom of the pecking order.

Unfortunately, God expects us to show our weaknesses. Whether it is sin in our lives or just fear, we need to be able to share them with God. Our children need to see us admit our sins and ask for forgiveness. Society may mock weakness, but God values our honest appraisal of our need for Him.

Read through the book of Psalms. Many of these were written by David. David became king of Israel. There was no higher position David could have held in Israel at that time. Yet, it is very apparent David was totally dependent on God. David turned to God for help with the problems in his life, whether it was his enemies or with the sin in his life.

As a parent, it is tempting to pretend you have all of the answers. We think it will somehow prevent our children from questioning our authority. In actuality, the best gift we can give our children is to admit our weaknesses to them. Model for your children how to ask for forgiveness. Explain to them the concept of God’s grace and how God expects us to give grace to others as well.

Help your children admit their own weaknesses. Encourage them to ask for help when they need it. Teach them how to confess their sins and ask for forgiveness. Help them understand that only by being willing to admit their weakness can they truly tap into God’s amazing strength and power. Impress upon your children that the true way to strength is always through God. By doing so, you will give your children the tools to tap into the godly strength they will need to live a Christian life.

Published by

Thereasa Winnett

Thereasa Winnett is the founder of Teach One Reach One and blogger at Parenting Like Hannah. She holds a BA in education from the College of William and Mary. She has served in all areas of ministry to children and teens for more than thirty years and regularly leads workshops for ministries and churches. She has conducted numerous workshops, including sessions at Points of Light’s National Conference on Volunteering and Service, the National Urban Ministry Conference, Pepperdine Bible Lectures, and Lipscomb’s Summer Celebration. Thereasa lives in Atlanta, GA with her husband Greg, where she enjoys reading, knitting, traveling and cooking.

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