Parenting is definitely not a task that we can do alone and without the help of our Heavenly Father. As parents, we sometimes feel that the progress with our young ones should come faster than it does. So we try to help God by trying to influence our children ourselves.

We go through various stages with our children. As newborns, we go through the stage of our child constantly needing us and our attention. We eventually want that baby to start walking soon and gaining a little more independence from us. We get tired of changing diapers and carrying the baby around. Soon they enter a new stage.

After he begins walking and gains a little more independence, we worry about the baby hurting himself and he won’t stay out of anything. Those night time snuggles aren’t happening as much as they used to and before we know it, our baby is in school.

As children continue to age, we try to find more and more activities for them to get involved in. We become their taxi drivers with all of the practices and games. Nothing is more exciting than cheering on your little one while they play in a game. It fills your heart with joy to see your child so happy and succeeding.

But then we enter the teenage years and we start a whole new stage of life. Now our children don’t want to be around us as much and want to start doing their own thing. They want us to give them what they need or what they want from us and then leave them alone. Our advice is no longer sought after and teenagers often think they know better than we do as parents. They think that we don’t understand their struggles or what they are going through.

When the struggles become too much, we find ourselves complaining to God and asking why this change happened to our child. We pray for a change and for God to intercede in his life, but it doesn’t happen as quickly as we would like. Does God hear my cries? Why isn’t He doing something about this?

And that is when we decide to take matters into our own hands. Instead of being patient and letting God do His job, we decide that we are better equipped than God to perform this task. This is when we miss the will of God for our children’s life.

There is a story in the Bible where Jesus taught his disciples a valuable lesson. Mark 10:13-14: And they were bringing children to him that he might touch them, and the disciples rebuked them. But when Jesus saw it, he was indignant and said to them, “Let the children come to me; do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of God.  

In other words, Jesus says to bring our children to Him in prayer and leave them at His feet. Pray for your children, confess God’s word over them, and let God do the rest.

I can testify that in my personal life I’ve had some struggles with one of my children. Sometimes I feel like my tank is gone and nothing was left for me to give. However, I continued to pray over him and knew that in a matter of time, his life would turn around. So today, I can say that the Lord has changed him.

Just the other day, he said these words to me:  “Dad, I am sorry for the things I have put you through. You didn’t deserve what I said and did to you. God has been helping me in many ways and I know it is Him.  I wanted Him to reveal Himself to me on a personal level.  I know that He is real and I want to pray to Him.  I have more interest than ever before.”

Hallelujah.  The day is coming when everyone will see His marvelous answer to our prayer. It doesn’t matter how long it takes. He is God and His timing is perfect. God, Jesus, the Holy Spirit, and the angels all have your back.  All you have to do is bring your children to God in prayer and leave them at the feet of Jesus. He promises the kingdom of God for the little ones.

It doesn’t matter where your children have been.  The Father can talk with them and change their heart when you bring them to His feet in prayer.