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How to Trust God with Your Kid’s Future

October 16, 2019 By Jennifer H. Yates

16 Oct
How to Trust God with Your Kid's Future

When our son left for college, he was planning to become a profiler with the FBI–maybe not the highest-paying job out there, but certainly one that comes with a measure of status.

After about a month at Liberty University, he told us the Lord had called him to full-time missions. This mama’s heart was so happy that he was following the call of God on his life, yet also anxious at what that might look like in a world that is increasingly intolerant of Christianity.

Seeking the Best for Our Kids

I’ll admit, we had friends who questioned his choice–the work will be dangerous, difficult, and with very little monetary reward.

Part of being good mamas is wanting the best for our kiddos. We want the best schools, teams, and clubs for them. We pray for them, teach them, and do our best to set an example for them of what it means to follow Christ.

But what happens when God calls them to something that isn’t necessarily safe or doesn’t look like success in the world’s eyes? Will we ask the Lord to grant them favor, or will we trust them in His hands?

Salome was a woman who loved and followed Jesus (Mark 15:40-41).

She was one of the women who stayed with Him at the cross (Matthew 27:55-5).

She is also a woman who allowed her love for her sons to cloud her understanding of Jesus’ kingdom and what it meant for her boys to serve Him.

“Then the mother of Zebedee’s sons came to Jesus with her sons and, kneeling down, asked a favor of him.

‘What is it you want?’ he asked.

She said, ‘Grant that one of these two sons of mine may sit at your right and the other at your left in your kingdom.'”

Matthew 20:20-21, NIV 84

What It Means to Follow Jesus

We have to understand that like most of the Jews in her day, Salome probably believed that the Messiah would set up His kingdom on earth and deliver God’s people from the hands of the Roman Empire.

Her request wasn’t as outlandish as it may at first seem. She probably had already noticed that her sons, James and John, were part of Jesus’ inner circle (Matthew 17:1-2, Matthew 26:36-39, Luke 8:50-55), and therefore her request would have been a reasonable one.

Oh, I know her heart! Don’t we so want the best for our children? We want them to be successful and ambitious, perhaps obtaining higher salaries or having greater opportunities than we did.

Salome, however, didn’t consider the ramifications of what following Jesus really meant.

“‘You don’t know what you are asking,’ Jesus said to them. ‘Can you drink the cup I am going to drink?'”

‘We can,’ they answered.

Jesus said to them, ‘You will indeed drink from my cup, but to sit at my right or left is not for me to grant. These places belong to those for whom they have been prepared by my Father.'”

Matthew 20:22-23

We know that Jesus was referring to the cup of suffering. And from history, we also know that James was the first disciple to be martyred. John was eventually exiled to the island of Patmos. Following Jesus wasn’t the easiest or safest path to take in life.

Service and Sacrifice

If we want God’s best for our children, we have to consider that His plan for them may not be as safe and comfy and prosperous as what we really want for them.

And if they go into full-time ministry, we may still desire for them to obtain a good position, be in a safe location, and not be far away from us. I have to admit, I have often prayed for that.

But you know, I think God understands. Jesus didn’t rebuke Salome. He just asked the boys if they realized what they were getting into. He told them they would indeed face suffering if they continued on with Him.

Jesus used their desire to reign with Him as a lesson in what it really means to serve.

“Jesus called them together and said, ‘You know that the rulers of the Gentiles lord it over them, and their high officials exercise authority over them. Not so with you. Instead, whoever wants to become great among you must be your servant, and whoever wants to be first must be your slave–just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to give his life as a ransom for many.'”

Matthew 20:25-28

We want our kids to become great, to be first in school, on the ball field, and in social clubs. We want the very best in life for our children, just as Salome wanted for her boys.

But if we truly want them to follow Jesus, we have to remember that in God’s Kingdom, that looks like service, not necessarily high salaries. Following Jesus means sacrifice, not necessarily status and success.

Trusting God with Our Kids

Just as Salome had to trust God with James and John, we have to trust Him with our children, understanding that this life isn’t all there is. If we want to raise kids who love God and make a difference in the world, then we have to let go of our idea of what that looks like and trust His plan for them.

The disciples of Jesus were all persecuted, but their influence is still felt today. We have much of the New Testament because of the eyewitness accounts of these men and the writings of some of them, including Salome’s boy John, who wrote the Gospel of John, 1, 2, and 3 John, and the Revelation.

When we encourage our children to follow Jesus, we must accept His plans for them, even if that means letting go of our own ideas about their futures.

But when we give them the freedom and support to follow the call wherever it leads, they flourish in His plans.

Remember, Salome was among those women who stayed with Jesus at the cross and was there at the empty tomb. She may have had to deal with some harsh realities about the cost of following Jesus, but she had also experienced the reality of His death and resurrection.

When we fully grasp the majesty and power of God, we will understand that He is sovereign over all things. Our children are a blessing from God, and we have the opportunity to raise them in His ways (Deuteronomy 6:4-9, Proverbs 22:6).

But if we truly believe that God is who He says He is, we can also trust Him with their lives and their futures.

Because when we truly understand who Jesus is, there’s no better way than His way. I think even Salome would agree.

Want to learn more from women of the Bible? Get my book, Just Like Us: 7 Ways Biblical Women Were Just Like Us (And Why It Matters).

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Filed Under: Bible Study, Women Tagged With: Bible studies for Women, Biblical Women Just Like Us, Christian Bible studies for women, Christian devotional, Christian parenting, Salome in the Bible, Seeking the Best for Our Kids: Lessons from Salome, trusting God with our children, Women and Jesus, women in the Bible, women of the Bible

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Hey there, my friend

Hey there, my friend

I want you to know that you don't have to be overwhelmed, confused, or too busy to be fruitful and productive. You can be grounded in the Word and growing in your faith.

Even if you have encountered chaos, hypocrisy, legalism, or suffering. God's Word is the truth we must be grounded in to thrive and bear fruit.

I'm Jen, and I want to encourage you with practical strategies and helpful resources to grow your relationship with Jesus one intentional moment at a time. Even if all you can give right now is 15 minutes, you CAN seek Jesus and grow your faith.

Come hang out with me in my Facebook community, download some free resources, or take the FOCUSED 15 Challenge to get started.

You can get God's Word into your heart so that you can be transformed to live a life that is fruitful for the Kingdom!

Jen

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jenniferhyates

jenniferhyates
I hear from women almost daily who struggle to hav I hear from women almost daily who struggle to have daily time in God's Word.

The biggest challenge is finding the time.
The second is being able to focus.
The third is knowing where to start.

But here's the thing: If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you.

The key to having consistent time in the Word is the desire to be changed by it.

If you KNOW you need God desperately, you will find the time, the focus, and the ability to study the Word. 

It really comes down to priorities.

And if you need a little encouragement and direction to get started, check out my FOCUSED 15 Challenge. #linktree in bio
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👉 Do you doubt your value and identity as a wom 👉 Do you doubt your value and identity as a woman?

👉 Do you long for clarity about your purpose in life?

👉 Do you wrestle to overcome fear, doubt, and insecurity?

You're not alone. In fact, the need for validation, acceptance, and approval dates all the way back to the Garden. In the Bible, we have examples of women who were just like us, who struggled with these very same issues.

Women such as Sarah, Hannah, Rahab, and the woman at the well also faced questions, doubts, and fears. But their stories teach us God's answers to the questions that nag our hearts and leave us restless.

In her new book, Just Like Us, best-selling author Jennifer Hayes Yates takes us on a guided tour through the pages of Scripture, stopping to visit each of these women and what the Lord longs to teach us through them.

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Join this biblical journey and find your place in the kingdom as a beloved woman of God. 

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Do you consider yourself a student of God’s Word Do you consider yourself a student of God’s Word?

The English word disciple comes from the Greek word mathetes, meaning “disciple, student, follower; a committed learner and follower."

Sometimes we shy away from the word disciple (because it sounds too much like discipline) or the word student (because it sounds too much like school), but our hearts should be drawn to know and understand God’s Word.

“Do good to your servant according to your word, O LORD. Teach me knowledge and good judgment, for I believe in your commands" (Psalm 119:65-66, NIV).

Women in Jesus’ day were not allowed to go to school or learn under rabbis. They were considered unable to learn or understand the Torah, and so they were taught to take care of the home.

But Jesus countered their cultural traditions. He had many women followers (Luke 8:1-3), and He taught women, considering them capable of learning and understanding His truth (Luke 10:38-42).

Jesus affirmed women’s thirst for truth and encouraged their role as disciples.

Our roles as wives, mothers, and homemakers do not exclude our role as students of the Word. I love being a wife and mother. I love taking care of our home, providing meals (okay, I don’t really love cooking, but I do enjoy choosing healthy foods for our family), and I like decorating our space to make it cozy and inviting.

I also enjoyed many years of teaching and working outside the home. But I have really loved the opportunity to sit at Jesus’ feet as a student, to listen to His Word being preached, to study the Word for myself, to search out its meaning, and to seek to apply it in my life.

We don’t have to wait for others to spoon-feed us the Bible. And as influencers in our homes, we need to know and understand God’s truth so we can teach our children (Deuteronomy 6:4-9).

I’ll admit, there are areas of the Bible that are difficult to understand and that can cause confusion. But with a few principles to guide us, we can learn to be students of the Word.

Read the rest at jenniferhyates.com #linktree in bio.

#seekingtruth #bedeeplyrooted #growingyourfaith #groundedandgrowing #christianblogger #womenintheword #justlikeus
"But now a righteousness from God, apart from the "But now a righteousness from God, apart from the law, has been made known, to which the Law and the Prophets testify. This righteousness from God comes through faith in Jesus Christ to all who believe. There is no difference, for all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God and are justified freely by his grace through the redemption that came by Christ Jesus" (Romans 3:21-24, NIV).
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#seekingtruth #bedeeplyrooted #growingyourfaith #groundedandgrowing #christianblogger #womenintheword #justlikeus #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #focused15challenge #womenoftheworld #intheword #jesusandwomen #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus #linktree
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a c Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us also lay aside every weight, and sin which clings so closely, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking to Jesus, the founder and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy that was set before him endured the cross, despising the shame, and is seated at the right hand of the throne of God.

Consider him who endured from sinners such hostility against himself, so that you may not grow weary or fainthearted.

I am rewriting Let's Run, my very first book, a Bible study on Hebrews 11 and the faithful call to endure.

I'm so excited to go back through this study and add things I've learned since then. I pray it will encourage the faithful to endure to the end.
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#seekingtruth #bedeeplyrooted #growingyourfaith #groundedandgrowing #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #focused15challenge #womenoftheworld #intheword #jesusandwomen #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus #linktree
Competition has no place in the kingdom of God. J Competition has no place in the kingdom of God.

Just think how God's kingdom could grow if we rooted for each other and encouraged one another's faith?

Paul said if you want to outdo one another, try outdoing each other in love and honor.

"Love one another with brotherly affection. Outdo one another in showing honor" (Romans 12:10, ESV).

When you encourage a sister in the Lord, both of your faiths grow. 

Let's root for each other and watch each other grow, 🌿
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#seekingtruth #bedeeplyrooted #growingyourfaith #groundedandgrowing #christianblogger #womenintheword #livewithintention #shareyourheart #faithwriter #womenencouragingwomen #wordoflife #seekgoddaily #wordbeforeworld #jesusandcoffee #daughteroftheking #fiercelyhis #womenlivingwell #girlfriendsintheworld #faithblogger #givemejesus #graceupongrace #faithoverfear #seekhimfirst #focused15challenge #womenoftheworld #intheword #jesusandwomen #shereadstruth #butfirstjesus #linktree
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