Parenting is often difficult, especially when our children make bad decisions or they seem to forget what we’ve taught them. 

Remember this… there are NO guarantees. 

Billy Graham was considered the greatest evangelist in the 20th century. He preached the gospel all around the world for over 70 years. But out of his five children, a couple of them went wild when they were young. Franklin Graham even got kicked out of school once. And renowned Bible teacher and author, Kay Arthur, had a son who lived far from the Lord. While he’s a strong believer now, she prayed for him for 3 decades.

And the Bible is filled with stories of wayward children. No wonder Jesus told the parable of the lost son in Luke 15:11-32. It’s a story of hope for every parent and grandparent.

So, if it can happen to Billy Graham, Kay Arthur, and many parents in the Bible, then it can happen to you and to me. And to be honest, it has happened to me.

When our children choose another pathway, or make poor decisions, we need hope. We need something to hold onto. And there’s nothing better to cling to than the promises given to us in Scripture. So, allow me the privilege of giving you some promises (you may want to speak them out loud as often as you can)…

Proverbs 22:6
Direct your children onto the right path, and when they are older, they will not leave it.

Psalm 112:1-2
Praise the Lord! How joyful are those who fear the Lord and delight in obeying his commands. Their children will be successful everywhere; an entire generation of godly people will be blessed.

Isaiah 44:3
For I will pour out water to quench your thirst and to irrigate your parched fields. And I will pour out my Spirit on your descendants, and my blessing on your children.

Jeremiah 31:16-17
But now this is what the LORD says: “Do not weep any longer, for I will reward you,” says the LORD. “Your children will come back to you from the distant land of the enemy. There is hope for your future,” says the LORD. “Your children will come again to their own land.”

Psalm 128:3
Your children will be like vigorous young olive trees as they sit around your table. That is the LORD’s blessing for those who fear him.

Joel 2:25
The LORD says, “I will give you back what you lost to the swarming locusts, the hopping locusts, the stripping locusts, and the cutting locusts.”

Isaiah 49:25
But the LORD says, “The captives of warriors will be released, and the plunder of tyrants will be retrieved. For I will fight those who fight you, and I will save your children.”

Romans 8:28
And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them.

Jeremiah 29:11
For I know the plans I have for you, says the LORD. They are plans for good and not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.

Proverbs 19:21
You can make many plans, but the LORD’s purpose will prevail.

Stay tuned for another blog post soon with ways we can pray for our children, specifically categorized verses/passages. 

Hope you found today’s post helpful. If so, please respond in the comment section and pass it on.

Blessings,