Keep Fighting

You're in that same place with that same child once again, and you wonder if he's ever going to learn. You realize that every time you faithfully discipline him, you're fighting. Fighting for his soul. Fighting for him to master Self, so it doesn't master him for the rest of his life. Fighting against your own weariness and discouragement. You're fighting for the unseen, and it often wears you down.

Sometimes it's hard to walk this way, the way of faith, especially when we're so goal-oriented, so motivated by what we can see and touch.

But the seeing and touching isn't always immediately possible as we disciple these tender souls God has given us. When our child has sinned and been corrected but there's no fruit or repentance, it's easy for our spirits to grow heavy, weighed down by whispers of doubt.  "When will my child learn?"

We often want to do the work of the Holy Spirit. Of course, we know we can't, but our behavior and our thoughts reflect otherwise. Can you imagine how boastful and prideful we would become, how ignorant of our own sins we would be, if we could always SEE the fruit of our labors? We would actually begin to believe that this was fruit of OUR labors instead of the work of the Spirit, the grace of God.

Heart-tending is hard work. It requires more than just making a child obey.  It requires dying to ourselves, not growing weary in doing good, forbearing in love for the sometimes oft-repeated sin.  It requires humility and an utter dependence on the LORD. It requires walking by faith and not by sight, because though God in His goodness does show us the fruit of His Spirit in our children's lives, there are many days He leaves us searching.

"The Lord will sometimes strip you of the leaves of evidence to teach you to live by faith..."~Charles Spurgeon

So today when you child just doesn't seem to get it and your heart is aching because of it, when you long to see your child delight in this amazing love Jesus has for him, but he's just not moved by it, when you weep because your precious one is refusing life-giving instruction, continue walking, my friend, continue fighting for your child. 

Guard against trading God's parenting wisdom for man's. Desperate times often lead us to unwise remedies, as our hearts echo the age-old question,"Did God really say?"

Embrace the little spurts of growth that ARE happening in your child. A kind word to a sibling? Not grumbling about the food set before him? Giving a bigger piece of pie to his sister? Giving a kind word instead of an angry one? Write it down, and praise your child accordingly. "See, this is the work of the Holy Spirit in you!" "What a testimony of God's grace!" "Isn't the power of the gospel amazing?"

Love your child and keep your heart tender towards him. Repent of any bitterness and guard against letting the tiniest bit creep in. You know better than anyone when it's there.

Get serious about praying for your child. Really serious.

Remember God's patience and goodness to you, especially if you have a sin that you repeatedly battle. Remember His many mercies poured out on you.

Be faithful to know the state of your flock. Thank God for His goodness in showing you your children's sin NOW and for the privilege of training them up in the way they should go.

And trust God, our mighty God who keeps His promises, to finish this work He has started in your child and in you.

Love,

Trisha