Have you ever felt this way?  If you are honest you have?  I know I did when I was in the middle of parenting, especially when my kids were teens.   I was forever questioning myself.  Am I too hard?  Am I too easy?  Why did  I say that?  I wish I would have said this instead!  And on and on and on.

But I have to tell you that the most successful parents I know are the ones who are a little scared.  Why?  Because they are constantly asking God for wisdom.  And according to James 1:5-8,

5 If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you. 6 But when you ask, you must believe and not doubt, because the one who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind. 7 That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord. 8 Such a person is double-minded and unstable in all they do.

That’s right, anytime we don’t know what to do or question if we did the right thing,  we can ask God for His help  because He gives  generously to all and He doesn’t find fault.   What an amazing promise!  I can ask God for wisdom and he doesn’t find fault with me when I screw up!  Hallelujah!!!!!!

It’s almost like God expects me to mess up because He gives me an out!

Notice verse 6 where he says “you must believe and not doubt”.  That means we can be confident that we are doing the right thing.  And we don’t have to constantly beat up on ourselves!!

And verse 7  says, “That person should not expect to receive anything from the Lord.” OUCH, THAT HURTS!  So don’t doubt yourself so much;  trust God and rest in the fact that He has given you wisdom.

So the next time you feel like you’ve blown it, you will know if you have.   And you know what, that ‘s ok because you can always go to God and He will help you.

I can say with confidence that this works.  Both of my children are in serving God in full time ministry and are great adults!

Remember constant questioning of your ability to parent is being double-minded and you can read for yourself what James says in verse 8.  So  be encouraged and walk in the confidence and strength of the Lord!

Blessings to you as you “train up your children in the way they should go”!