What I’ve Learned About God By Being A Parent

The Lord your God in your midst,
The Mighty One, will save;
He will rejoice over you with gladness,
He will quiet you with His love,
He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17

We have two daughters getting married this spring. At this point, it’s one wedding down and one to go. When my children were small, I always thought that I would be sad when they grew up and got married. But so far they have chosen well, and I find that the joy I get out of seeing my children happy makes it alright.

Whether it’s watching a toddler squeal in delight over a game of peekaboo or seeing your adult daughter snuggled up with her husband watching tv, seeing your children happy is one of the great rewards of parenthood. I believe that God as our Father must feel the same delight when He sees His children enjoying the blessings He has provided.

He will rejoice over you with gladness…
Zephaniah 3:17b

Providing for the child is a parent’s primary concern. From day one, a mother will be up at all hours to feed and console her infant. And just as parents sacrifice for their children, God does for us what we cannot do for ourselves.

…He will quiet you with His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.
Zephaniah 3:17c

Throughout the years we do whatever it takes to put food on the table and to provide clothes and shelter for our kids. Furthermore we go out of our way to provide opportunities that will enrich our children’s lives, or sometimes just to make them happy. Parents spend many hours driving kids back and forth to practices, performances, games, amusement parks, concerts, plays, etc. And generally speaking, we are happy to make those sacrifices for our kids.

I will very gladly spend and be spent for your souls.
2 Corinthians 12:15

Sometimes we are willing to give our child something, but we wait to see if he or she will ask. Our Heavenly Father loves to lavish us with blessings, but sometimes I think He is waiting to see if we will ask.

…you do not have because you do not ask…
James 4:2b

Other times we don’t give our kids what they want. Sometimes we know it’s not in their best interest. As a parent, I begin to understand why God sometimes says “no” to my prayers.

It may seem to kids that limits are just there to keep them from having fun rather than for their protection. It’s the same with us and God, don’t you think? As His children we sometimes feel deprived. Pop culture makes sin look so cool. And normal. Casual sex is a fait accompli. Foul language must be included because it’s realistic. Drunkenness is how you have fun.

Satan wants us to think that our Father is just a mean old fuddy duddy, but remember, it is God who created good things for our enjoyment. He didn’t create them just so He could keep them from us. That’s not what a loving parent would do. He puts limits on things to increase our joy and to protect us from the harm that comes to us when we abuse and mis-use the good things He made for us. He’s been doing this since the Garden of Eden.

And considering that He always has our very best interests at heart, how it must hurt Him when we reject Him and choose sin instead. As parents we begin to understand that same hurt, when our children rebel, as all do in some form or other, at some point.

My son, do not despise the chastening of the Lord, nor be discouraged when you are rebuked by Him; for whom the Lord loves He chastens, and scourges every son whom He receives.” Hebrews 12:5b-6

And when they come back to us and apologize, seeking to restore the relationship, we begin to understand how God rejoices when we, His children, return to Him.

..there will be [great] joy in heaven over one sinner who repents.. Luke 15:7

And while I can’t imagine giving one of my children to die for my enemies, I would give myself to save my child. As a mother, I begin to understand how God could give of Himself to save His created children. He loves us that much.

Dear Heavenly Father, I thank you for my family and for the way family teaches me about my relationship with You. It’s hard to imagine how You could love me so much and be willing to forgive me for so much; yet being a parent helps me to believe that it is so. I love You and I ask for Your continued help that I can be Your faithful child. In Jesus’s name, Amen.

by Christie Cole Atkins

P.S. Happy Mother’s Day, Mom!