The Role of Faith in Our Parenting Journey

Parenting is an adventure—a messy, beautiful, and transformative journey that shapes not just our children but also ourselves. Through every joy and challenge, our faith has been the anchor that keeps us grounded. Even during the season when we put God on the back burner for nearly a year, He remained faithfully nearby, patiently waiting for us to turn back to Him. Parenting with faith isn’t just a choice for our family; it’s the foundation of everything we do.

Just as we love it when our kids come to us, asking for things we already know they want or need, God delights in the same from us. Why? Because it’s about communication, love, and respect. It shows trust and humility. Though God knows our needs and even the desires of our hearts, He longs for us to bring them to Him in prayer.

The Early Days: Learning to Trust

When we first became parents, we thought we had everything figured out. We’d read the books, listened to advice, and made detailed plans about how we wanted to raise our children. “We’ll do things differently than our parents!” we told ourselves. But then life happened. Sleepless nights, unexpected health challenges, and moments of complete exhaustion quickly showed us the limits of our own strength.

My mom always says, “Life is what happens while you’re busy making plans!” And she’s right. In those moments of weakness, we learned to lean on God. Proverbs 3:5-6 became our lifeline:

“Trust in the Lord with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths.”

Our family’s success wasn’t about having all the answers—it was about trusting the One who does.

Faith as Our Foundation

In a world that often feels chaotic, Christian parenting provides clarity and direction. Our faith shapes how we approach discipline, the values we instill in our kids, and the way we handle family challenges. We strive to model Christ’s love, grace, and forgiveness in our home—not perfectly, but intentionally.

The other day, Matt told our son, Ethan, “It’s Mom and Dad’s job to help mold you into the person you’re going to be when you’re grown. That isn’t always easy, but it’s necessary. Because we want the world for you. We want you to be better than us.”

One of the biggest lessons we’ve learned is that faith is caught, not just taught. Our children are watching how we live, not just what we say. Do we pray when things get hard? Show kindness to others? Admit our mistakes and ask for forgiveness? These daily actions shape the role of faith in our family.

When Matt or I make mistakes that affect our children, we go to them, admit our fault, and apologize. Why? Because if we expect respect from our children, we must show respect to them. Do unto others, right? This is called, “Leading by example.” Just as Christ led a life that we are to mimic to the best of our ability, and learn from the lessons he has given us in His word.

I’ll never forget the time our daughter asked us a question, and we responded with, “Yes, ma’am,” before providing instructions. A family member overheard and asked, “Why are you saying ‘ma’am’ to your daughter?!” Caught off guard by their surprise, I replied with an obvious, “Because I want my daughter to respect me because she deserves the same respect as a person.”

Handling Challenges with Faith

Parenting isn’t always easy. Financial struggles, relationship tensions, and the pressures of modern life can feel overwhelming. But our faith reminds us we’re not walking this road alone.

Philippians 4:13 is a promise we hold onto: “I can do all things through Christ which strengtheneth me.”

We’ve been teaching our children to turn to prayer when they’re scared, frustrated, or unsure of what to do. It’s a simple but powerful habit that will strengthen their own walk with God.

Building a Legacy of Faith

Our ultimate goal as parents isn’t just to raise happy, well-adjusted kids—it’s to raise children who know and love the Lord. We want our family to be a light in a dark world, showing others the hope and peace that come from parenting with faith.

This means prioritizing spiritual practices, like family devotions, prayer, and attending church together. It also means being honest about our own struggles. We openly admit failures and mistakes to our kids, showing them how we take the next steps to overcome them. Why? Because the best way to teach resilience is to model it.

How will our children know we’ve overcome challenges if we never tell them what we’ve faced? How will they see God’s power in our lives if we don’t share how He’s helped us through? Life isn’t a bed of roses, and we want our kids to see how faith equips us to navigate the thorns.

Encouragement for Your Journey

If there’s one thing we’ve learned, it’s that you don’t have to be perfect to parent with faith. God doesn’t call us to be flawless; He calls us to be faithful.

No matter where you are in your parenting journey, remember that God sees you, knows you, and loves you. Lean on Him for wisdom, strength, and patience. Surround yourself with a community of believers who can encourage you. And trust that, through every trial and triumph, He is shaping you into the parent your children need.

What’s Your Story?

How has faith shaped your parenting journey? We’d love to hear your stories! Share your thoughts by emailing us at [email protected]. Together, we can encourage and uplift one another as we navigate this beautiful adventure of Christian parenting—one experiment at a time.