God's Promise for an Unbelieving Child
Perhaps, about the most painful thing is for a believing parent, man and/or woman of God raising their child in the way of God, and somehow that child disowns the Christian faith, value and way of God later in their life. Such an experience or scenario as seemingly painful as it may be should not be taken personally by the parents, but keep trusting that child to the unfailing promise of God as stated in the book of Proverbs at 22:6 that reads,
“Train up a child in the way of God (in the formative, early life) and when he is old, he will not depart from it”.
The study of Psychology teaches that the formative early life of a child, about the first ten years or so, is very important for nurturing, raising and training a child to solidify their faith and values into their adulthood. While other pressures and values of life may impact the value and choices made by growing child that may lure the child away, the parent should keep praying and believing in the sited promise of God in His word because God’s word is Yes and Amen to be ultimately fulfilled in the life of the growing adult child by His grace. Additionally, the parent should keep loving, caring and encouraging the child positively and continually in the way of God, but not intrusively. The Bible teaches that it is the Holy Spirit of God that does the work of conviction of sin and faith conversion toward the way of God as per Jesus’s word in John 16:8, “And when He, the Holy Spirit comes, He will convict the world concerning sin and righteousness and judgment”.
Perhaps, another appropriate illustration is the story of the Prodigal son also told by Jesus in the Gospel of Luke 15:11-32 who asked his father for his inheritance while the father was still alive, only to squander it in reckless and wide living, losing everything to the extent of feeding on swine food. And then he came to his senses remembering his loving home and how he had been nurtured and decided to return to his father’s loving embrace. This is an illustration of our heavenly Father’s unconditional accepting love of a wayward sinful person. No one is too lost or sinful for our God Christ not to warmly embrace and help towards a turn around life of truth, freedom from sin and humble righteousness.
Another way in which God’s promise of an unbelieving adult child may return back to Godly faith may through life’s challenges making for no peace and joy and seeking lasting solutions in their inner being. One could have good things of life, but restlessness and inner turmoils wondering where to turn for good joyful peace and inner contentment. While money and material goods are good to have, these by themselves do not ensure lasting peace and joy and contentment which are gifts from faith believing in God Christ. King Solomon of the Bible’s inspired word said that all is vanity without God in our inner being. He concluded by saying, “The conclusion, when all has been heard is: Fear God and keep His commandments”
Finally, we are all encouraged to accept the reality of our being human is our limitations and not knowing it all. We need God Christ, a power that is greater than us to live a fulfilled life that transcends beyond the physical and material through eternity. We all need God Christ and His promises to make our life worth living.
Those who have researched claim that the Bible contains about eight thousand promises of God for us who trust and have faith in Him.
May we humbly receive the grace of God to trust Him and be beneficiaries of His promises for the totality of our life for a great life of fulfillment, joy, peace and serene confidence and contentment in Christ Jesus’s name.