The true heart of parenting is this: Hannah said to the Lord, if you give me a child, I will give him back to you. This is the guideline of what true parenting entails. The Bible states that children are a gift from God. Therefore the child belongs to God before they belong to the parents. Parents are likened to stewards or managers. When a child enters this world, they are utterly helpless. They are likened to a blank sheet of paper. The parents are given the role not only to rear the child but to teach them the ways of the Lord so that when that child has matured and possesses understanding, they will follow the Lord and fulfil purpose. Everyone on this earth has a purpose. Everyone has to fulfil what God has predestined for them.
Consider the following stories in scripture
When the Lord purposed to use Joseph, He permitted his brothers to sell him into slavery and lie to their father, claiming that he was eaten by wild animals. Jacob agonized over the death of his favorite son for many yrs. Joseph’s suffering did not end there. Potifer’s wife seduced him and he fled from the scene. This landed him in prison for 12 years. The Lord did not intervene; he chose to prepare him for his destiny in that prison. When He was finally a ruler and his brothers came to Egypt seeking for food, he said they should bring Benjamin. They pleaded with him so that they would not do that because due to the “death” of Joseph, their father had grown increasingly attached to the boy. Jacob was still grieving the “death” of Joseph yet the Lord did not spare him the pain. Why? It was not about him; however, about what the Lord wanted to do through Joseph.
Additionally, our Lord Jesus Christ died for our sin at the age of 33. Mary witnessed the child she bore endure excruciating pain. She watched on as he took his last breath yet, the Lord was fulfilling the Father’s will. That moment was not to intentionally hurt her.
When a parent’s ambition overrides the Lord’s will
Today, many parents inadvertently obstruct the divine path by imposing personal ambitions on their children. Although they may observe that their child is artistic, they will coerce the child to pursue traditional professions such as law in efforts to uphold the intellectual status in the home. The child pursues their parents desires and misses their purpose in life. I read a story where a young woman who was mid enrolled in nursing school was instructed by the Lord to go to Bible school. Shockingly, her parents disowned her for that decision. When parents don’t exercise caution and disregard discernment, they can unwittingly cause their children to miss the paths the Lord had meticulously preordained for them.
The strategy of the evil one
The enemy capitalizes on the authority of parents to steer their adult children in the wrong direction and cause them to miss their purpose entirely. He is cognizant of the fact that many possess an inherent reverence for their parents and therefore seek their approval. Thus, they will obey them. The Lord warned us that whoever loves parents more than Him cannot be his disciple( Luke 14:26).
Regard fearing the Lord and fulfilling purpose above only job acquisition
The role of a parent is to teach their child that they belong to the Lord. They should steer the child in the direction of the Lord’s leading. They should not obstruct clear direction from the Lord.
A job is not the highest achievement in life. It may be rewarding to witness your child mature to be responsible and be able to pay their own bills. Yet, the highest satisfaction a parent should feel is when their child has accepted Jesus Christ and fulfils destiny. Sadly, this joy is achieved through minimum effort. When the child matures, secures a job and is a responsible adult, most parents feel that they have fulfilled their role. If that child only manages to be a responsible citizen yet misses their destiny, did that parent truly steer the child in the right direction? The answer is no.