Paul described parenting his spiritual children as “again being in the anguish of childbirth until Christ is formed in you” (Gal 4:19)

What a description of Christ-centered parenting and discipleship.

It is wrestling, anguish, and frustration. It is asking the Lord to help you know when to speak and when to be quiet.

It’s fighting on your knees in prayer and it’s wiping away tears you don’t want them to see.

It’s loving them when they are unlovely and trying to contain your excitement when you see glimpses of Jesus in them.

Like physical childbirth, spiritual childbirth is labor! It’s exhausting, but because we have the hope of Christ being formed in those we love, we do not give up!

We do not give up!

No, we may get knocked down. We won’t always have the wise word or live our faith perfectly in front of them, but we keep going.

We press on!

We press on. Because more than anything else we could ever hope for those we love, and those God has allowed us to influence, is for Christ to be truly formed in them and for them to grow up in the faith.

For it is there, and only there, they will find peace and hope and joy. It is there they will find life and life more abundantly (John 10:10)—not because of us, never because of us, but because of Jesus (Eph 2:19).

For when we think back, we know how lost we were without Him. We know the emptiness and confusion that is a life without a real relationship with Jesus. (Eph 2:1-10).

But because of Jesus we are satisfied. Because of Him, we have purpose. For freedom Christ has set us free (Gal 5:1) to serve one another (Gal 5:13) and make disciples (Matt 28:19) -spiritual children.

Oh, is it easy? Nope.

But Jesus, who lives inside of us, will equip us for what He has called us to do! (Heb 13:21)

Lets remember what He has called us to do and keep doing it!

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