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One of the cultural refrains of our time claims that “You are enough!” The phrase is well-meaning, and I think we are tempted to find comfort in it because it counters what we know to be true about ourselves. We look around at our lives and can immediately draw the conclusion that we are not enough.
This reality was impressed on me once I became a parent. I look at my child lying on the floor in the middle of the grocery store, as shoppers navigate around us, and I realise how little control I have in the situation. Inside, I’m battling the fear of others’ opinions and facing the temptation to angrily whisper bribes or threats of consequences. I am not enough.
It can be easy to fall into discouragement as parents, especially when we believe the lies that we’re enough. Praise God that he knows that we aren’t! We have everything we need in him, and not within ourselves. He’s given us his word to guide and shape us, his Spirit to strengthen us, and experienced brothers and sisters to offer encouragement and biblical wisdom.
A few of those brothers and sisters have kindly written some wonderful resources that point to the hope and grace we have in Christ as parents. Here are a few quotes from some of the parenting resources we have here at The Good Book Company:
"Remember who you are: you are a sheep with a Shepherd, a child with a heavenly Father. You’re not alone in your parenting. There’s grace which can cover your failings and there’s the Holy Spirit who can change you. Your family culture can increasingly reflect Jesus’ lordship over you. Your parenting can increasingly reflect the Shepherd’s love for you." - Ed Drew, Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World
"The Lord is creating opportunities to shower more grace on you, to draw you closer to him as you rely on him to give you strength. Just as your own baby expects you to come to them when they cry, so God comes to you when you cry to him as a weak and helpless babe." - Liz Wann, The End of Me
"We are to seek to be like God in how we show grace to our children. But more than that, we are to try to show them that God’s grace is far greater than ours." - Ed Drew, Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World
"Grace doesn’t mean no discipline. Instead, it changes the way we discipline. We combine discipline with love and acceptance. We discipline our children and point to the forgiveness won on the cross. We accept our children as they are, but with an agenda for change." - Tim Chester & Ed Moll, Gospel-Centred Family
"Our purpose as parents is clearly defined here: we are to make disciples. That includes our children. I’d argue that, for parents, our children are our priority in making disciples. The Great Commission begins in the home." - Chris Swain, Write It On Their Hearts
"We all have different ideals and ideas for ourselves and our children, but sometimes reality comes crashing in to take their place. And yet, the unexpected was God’s plan all along: a plan to draw us to himself, to get us to rely on his strength in our weakness." - Liz Wann, The End of Me
"The goal of parenting is to witness to our children about Jesus and, if the Lord works to bring them to faith, to then disciple our own brothers and sisters in Christ." - Ed Drew, Raising Confident Kids in a Confusing World
"I will be honest, discipling your children will not be easy. It may even be one of the most difficult things you do. But I promise you this: you will never regret the time and effort you put into investing in your child’s spiritual growth." - Chris Swain, Write It On Their Hearts
At The Good Book Company, we’re honoured to create biblical resources for parents to help them to be equipped for every good work that’s prepared for them. You can find all that we have available here.
Abigail Talbott is the Publicity Manager at The Good Book Company. She and her husband Thomas and daughter Evangeline attend Grace Church in Martinsburg, WV. She enjoys coffee, classic literature, and nachos.
