Teaching Kids to See God in Tough Times

Teaching Kids to See God in Tough Times- Parenting Like HannahOur family was able to enjoy this past weekend in New York City. I loved my years living there and thoroughly enjoy exploring it again with the family I am now blessed to have. New York City can be a very tough, harsh place though. There are noises, dirt, crime and millions of people with stories that would break your heart. Living there has broken many a person, I am sure.

In this picture though, you can see one of the photos I took in the middle of Manhattan. An old abandoned rail line in what used to be a not so great area of town has been reclaimed and turned into an elevated park. When I look at this photo and others I took during our trip, I see God.

The Bible tells us every good thing comes from God. We live in a fallen world. Because of that fact, bad things happen and will continue to happen until Christ comes again to take us home. Yet even in the dark times, when our kids have a bad day – or if they are faced with terrible news – or their life plans are changed in ways which make them sad, God will send them His love notes.

Now, I can’t point to a verse that specifically says God knows the love notes you individually need and sends them your way when you need to be reminded He loves you (If you can think of the verse, please let me know!). I do believe with all of my heart though, that a God who loves me enough to know the number of hairs on my head, would love me enough to want me to know He does when I am in pain. The same Jesus who wept with Mary and Martha because their brother had died, would want me to know He is by my side loving me when I am hurting. The God who has plans for me, has a plan I can trust even when things look rough ahead.

Teach your children to find God’s little love notes when they are in pain or hurting. You know what your children love and what touches their hearts. When they are experiencing tough times and God sends them love notes, point them out. After awhile your children will be able to see them on their own. While you are looking to help point them out to your kids, don’t forget He sends them to parents, too!

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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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