Make it Plain Monday: When God Reveals His Heart Through Family Struggles
Today was what I’d call “a good day”- although good days in parenting rarely come without their share of challenges and revelations. As I sat preparing for our family meeting, going back and forth about how to address some summer break boundaries that had gone awry, God met me with unexpected insight that transformed not just the family conversation, but my understanding of His heart toward us.
The Revelation in the Struggle
Three weeks into summer break, our household was in shambles. We had started the season with grace, telling the kids they could stay up later and talk with friends without strict curfews, with one expectation: Be mindful of those around you. That mindfulness never materialized. Instead, we found ourselves with children staying up until dawn, loud phone conversations that echoed through our small apartment, and exhausted parents questioning the decision made. “What did they hear when we said we were willing to give more leeway?”
As i prayed about how to address the situation, God gave me a beautiful picture of His own parenting style. Just as He responds to us when necessary- not arguing or nagging, but allowing natural consequences to unfold- I realized I needed to step back from constant correction and create space for a meaningful conversation about choices and their ripple effects.
Following Jesus’ Model of Invitation
The breakthrough came when I remembered how Jesus called His disciples. He didn’t just ask them to abandon their lifestyles; He invited them into something greater. “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19). There was purpose behind the sacrifice, a mission that made the cost worthwhile.
This became my template for our family meeting. Rather than simply laying down rules about bedtime and device usage, I remembered that our two oldest had expressed disappointment with last summer, saying they want to “do more things” and have more fun. They had also shared dreams about moving from our cramped three-bedroom apartment into something more spacious- specifically a six-bedroom, seven bathroom house they’d seen in our neighborhood.
Casting Vision Beyond the Rules
Instead of focusing on what they needed to stop doing, I invited them into a vision of who we all could become. “If we want to live in the kind of home you’re dreaming about,” I explained, “we need to start living like the people who live in those homes.” This meant getting adequate rest, waking up refreshed, thanking God for each new day, taking care of responsibilities, and truly enjoying life- not just surviving it.
The transformation in the room was immediate. When I asked them to describe their dream bedrooms in the future home, their eyes lit up. They talked about shoe collections, manga and anime setups, skincare stations and wardrobes they’d love to have. As I shared my own dreams and aspirations, we were'n’t just talking about house rules anymore- we were creating a vision for our family’s future.
God’s Heart in Parenting
This experience revealed something about God’s heart toward us. Like any loving parent, he doesn’t just want compliance; He wants a relationship. He does’t argue with us about our choices, but He allows us to experience the natural consequences while remaining ready to guid us toward something better. Most importantly, He’s always “inviting us to believe higher in Him and ourselves,” trusting that what He promises will come to pass because it aligns His good and perfect will.
The stipulations I gave the children- turning in devices at midnight to get adequate rest- wasn’t just a rule. It was an invitation to step into the fulness of what God has planned for our family. Just as Jesus called His disciples away from destructive patterns toward the abundant life God has in store for us.
The Power of Shared Dreams
Our family meeting ended with hugs, “I love yous,” and a sense of unity I hadn’t felt in weeks. We weren’t just a family dealing with behavioral issues anymore; we were a tam working toward shared goals. As we turned in for the night, I thanked God of the hope He’s restored in our family and for the closeness that allows us to work together toward both individual and collective dreams.
My prayer moving forward is rood in Jesus’s greatest commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind… Love your neighbor as yourself” (Matthew 22:37-39). I want the children to develop a high regard for God, for themselves, and for those around them-starting with the people sharing our small apartment and extending to our future neighbors.
Gratitude for Divine Guidance
As I reflect on today. I’m overwhelmed with gratitude. God is our counselor in this journey of raising children “in the way they should go” (Proverbs 22:6). He guides our hands and steps as we guide theirs, revealing His own parenting heart through our daily struggles and victories.
Thanks be to God for answered prayers- and for using our family’s challenges to draw us closer to His heart and to each other.
