No Condemnation

Posted by AngelaP | 0 comments

No Condemnation

“Therefore, there is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus”
Romans 8:1a

Parenthood. With it comes many things. Things that are good and bad. Great things like seeing your child come to know the Lord or learning a new concept for the first time. There is not a better thing, as their teacher, than seeing that “light bulb” in their mind go off. The one that occurs when you really know they “get it.” I just delight in seeing life through my child’s eyes.

Yet, with the good comes the bad. Working through tough issues like the first time your child tells you they do not like you or that they want to leave and live with another family. Or worse yet when you find out your child is the difficult one when around other children.

Sometimes seeing our children 24 hours a day for 7 days a week limits our vision of them and their progress. To me sometimes it seems that there is little growth when it comes to the things that really matter—the issues of the heart.

We are currently going through a stage of disrespectful attitude. I cannot stand it when my child speaks to me or others with a tone of disrespect. I continually correct this over and over like a never ending cycle. I cry out to God to move in her heart to change it more into His image. Yet I see all the negative things day in and day out. They are continually in my sight. With that I have allowed a lot of false guilt to dominate my thinking. I cry out to God about it and ponder the idea of what I have done wrong. Have I let in too much of the world’s influence? Have I just not prayed enough? Have I let too many things fly under the radar because it was easier? Guilt, guilt, guilt to the limit.

Others however can give you a clearer perspective on the growth of our children. I saw it tonight as a special hug from the Lord. Tonight at our Upward Sports Awards night my child was chosen to receive the special Most Christ-like award. Only a few selected players received this. Talk about a special confirmation from the Lord. He has shown me that we all are a work in progress and He will keep working Himself in us to make our hearts like His whether we see it or not.

Parenting must be in faith for the long term goal. A goal that takes perseverance. Guilt is not an option. Christ does not want us to feel condemned at all in our child rearing. He chose what children we would have with His greater purposes in mind. He would not have given us our children if He didn’t already equip us with what we need to raise them up for Him.

So from one mom to another, hang in there. Continue to do what you need to do to grow them up in the Lord. Progress may seem limited but in faith God will bring it all to completion. He is true to His word.

Father, we love You so much. Thank You for entrusting us with our children. Thanks for equipping us fully. Help us to continually seek you out for those tools we need to raise children who are like You.

Angela Parsley, of the international ministry Refresh My Soul Ministries, is a wife and homeschooling mother to her 2 young daughters. Angela is also a contributing author to a devotional book entitled, “Standing on the Promises of God” and Radical Revolution, a devotional site for teen girls through Proverbs 31 Ministries.