April 8th, 2007
Our Children’s Hope
“We will not hide these truths from our children; we will tell the next generation about the glorious deeds of the Lord, about his power and his mighty wonders.”
Psalm 78:4
“Mom, does Jesus sleep?” Caleb posed this question totally out-of-the-blue this evening while playing with his plastic dinosaurs. I so often wonder what goes on inside my children’s minds. They ask such great questions at times when I would least expect them to be grappling with theological issues! It almost seems like there is a constant undercurrent of “God-thought” going on that, at times, surprises me as they voice their questions.
As a Mom, my greatest desire is to see my children grow to so deeply love the Lord that they will sacrifice whatever it takes, love whomever enters their lives, and be so focused on glorifying God that they don’t get discouraged as their lives dip, twist and turn. I don’t know what my children’s lives will hold – but I pray that I will be wise as I answer their questions and joyful as I focus on God’s goodness. Psalm 78 goes on to explain WHY we are to give our children a foundation of awe for God, “So each generation should set its hope anew on God.” I cannot guarantee my children that they will live in safety. I cannot assure them they will live healthy lives and die at an old age. However, I can give them a hope based on our faithful God. I can promise them that our God is loving but wrathful, forgiving but just. I can relate how He worked in history and how He works in my life. I can live the awe of “his power and his mighty wonders.”
I know as well as you do that there is not guarantee that our children will “turn out” like we want them to. The absolute best we can do is pray for them – no matter what age they are – and live lives reflecting the hope we have. After that, our responsibility is to relinquish our children to our Heavenly Father, even if that means that through our own lives’ dips, twists and turns we desperately grab hold of the hope – the hope of knowing that God is mighty and powerful - and beyond our understanding.
April 8th, 2007 at 12:07 pm
I feel it’s fabulous that your children are in awe of God, and I hope they continue to be in awe of his greatness. I also was wondering after reading this post, does God sleep?
April 11th, 2007 at 12:13 am
LOL - I assured Caleb that although Jesus, as a man, did sleep here on earth, he now does not sleep in heaven. Wouldn’t that be a bummer to have to wake up our God for him to hear us?!?