I am so excited to have Julie Loos contribute to this week’s series called, Parenting Like God. Julie and I met through COMPEL, a Christian writer’s training and community site. You can read more from Julie at unmaskingthemess.com,  and check out her social media sites listed below!

Am I doing enough to teach my children about Jesus? {Tweet This}

My daughter is a sophomore in high school this year. Time is flying, and her independence is increasing daily.

I’m having a hard time letting go, and my biggest fear is that I didn’t “do” enough to bring her to Jesus.

I mess up, and many times I’m not a shining example of how God wants me to be. I’ve failed miserably at family devotions at dinnertime. I forget to pray with them as they walk out the door into a new day. I blow it and swear. I honk, or worse yet I give the middle finger to another driver who frustrates me.

Did I just admit that?

My kids see it. All. Of. It.

I want to follow God’s example when parenting my children, but I fall short often.

What if I didn’t do enough, and my kids don’t choose Jesus?

What if they run away from Him?

Could my children lose their faith, and choose unbelief?

When these thoughts like to overcome me, I turn to the book of Jonah.

 Jonah was brought up in faith. The first verse in Jonah says, “The Lord’s word came to Jonah.” He knew who God was, and he knew God had a job for him to do.

God wanted him to preach to the people of Nineveh, and get them to repent of their sins. Jonah thought he knew better, and decided to run from God. He got on a ship and sailed as far as he could from God’s destination.

Now the word of the Lord came to Jonah the son of Amittai, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it, for their evil[a] has come up before me.” But Jonah rose to flee to Tarshish from the presence of the Lord. He went down to Joppa and found a ship going to Tarshish. So he paid thefare and went down into it, to go with them to Tarshish, away from the presence of the Lord. Jonah 1:1-3

A storm came up, and made the journey difficult. The crew on the boat figured out Jonah’s actions were affecting their journey, so they decided to throw him overboard. Once Jonah was overboard, the storm ceased, and it was peaceful sailing.

Jonah, however, was gulped up by a big fish and spent three days in the belly of this fish. On the third day, the fish coughed him up onto dry land, which happened to be in the vicinity of Nineveh. God again asked him to go, and Jonah obliged. Jonah began his ministry in the city of Nineveh.

What does the story of Jonah teach us, especially as parents? {Tweet This}

1.  Kids can have faith and still run from God.
2. Jonah grew up in a faith-filled home, and chose by himself to disobey.
3.  Everyone has a purpose in God’s kingdom.
4. God is full of mercy and compassion when kids don’t follow Him.
5. No one is too far removed from God.

I could always be doing more in light of showing my children God, but my faith is not their faith. It is not my fault if they choose to run from God. The beautiful truth is God is in control.{Tweet This} God is full of mercy, compassion, and He has my children’s best interest in mind. My children will experience hardships, in fact it is promised in the Bible. Problems can bring them closer to God. My children’s mistakes can be a starting point for greater faith within them, and also bring others to Him.

I will never do enough as a parent. I will always fall short, but the amazing truth is on the cross, Jesus has done it all. We, parents, are enough in Him, and He will lead His children to their purpose and life eternal.

Prayer: Dear Heavenly Father- Thank You for giving me Your examples in the Bible. You always seem to show me nuggets of wisdom when I spend time in Your Word. Parenting is hard, and I fall short daily. I ask You to create the seed of faith in my child, and the desire to learn more about You. Please prick my child’s heart for You so they want to do life with You forever. Keep them close to You! In Jesus’ name. Amen

Follow Julie on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest!