Trust and Fear

 Joshua 1:9

9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the lord your God will be with you wherever you go."

God spoke these words to Joshua as he was preparing for battle, but they are just as applicable to our lives today. The key to overcoming fear at work, in relationships, or in parenting, is trust in God. Anyone who has raised a two-year-old or a teenager knows what it means to be terrified and discouraged! And yet God does not ask us to be courageous — He commands it.
How can we build the kind of faith that overcomes fear — fear that our kids will hurt or be hurt by others, abuse substances, make sexual compromises, or not come to know the Lord? Trust in God develops as we obey His Word and experience His love. We may not know God's purpose in many of life's events, but our peace comes from knowing Him.
Trust in God conquers fear in parenting.

I believe that this does not apply to only parenting (although I'm reading this Parenting by Design Daily Devotion) but applies to our everyday lives. It reminded me of the many events that has happened these past few weeks. A lot of uncertainties in my life as well the life of others and yet, somehow, timely message has been shared to assure that He is ever faithful.

Be it bad or the good that happens in our lives, we question and wonder if ever God is still with us. I'm thankful that we can hope when we are hopeless, have peace when we are uncertain, knowing that in the end, the things He wants for us is perfect. No matter where you are in life, know that Jesus loves you!

God's will is

Totally sovereign,

Gloriously redemptive,

Sometimes puzzling,

ALWAYS PERFECT

Discipline, Character and Hope

Romans 5:3-5  

3 Not only so, but we also glory in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance;4 perseverance, character; and character, hope.5 And hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured out into our hearts through the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us.

 
When our children suffer, whether from their own bad choices or those of someone else, we want so badly to rescue them from the pain or to tell them how to avoid finding themselves in that predicament again. But, God has another plan — to perfect them through their trials. Character-building lessons are rarely learned from the triumphs of life. Rather, it is the trials in our lives that teach us how to persevere despite the pain. Taking trials away from our kids deprives them of the chance to grow, build character, and learn to hope in God.
The best character-building lessons are learned from trials. Don't inhibit your child's growth by rescuing them from or taking over difficult situations.