Strong Confidence
When Benjamin started praying some time ago, we weren’t able to discern anything from his babble of sounds. Still he took it very seriously, always sliding off my lap to kneel, and then letting me know when he was finished. A few months ago scattered words began to be intelligible. The one topic we hear Ben pray about every day is his daddy’s work. “Lord God…… Daddy…work.”
To be honest, this gave me mixed feelings. Several years ago Tim started his own business as a builder/remodeler, leaving behind a regular salary. We are now much more obviously aware of our dependence on the Lord to provide for our family through sufficient good jobs than we were in the old days with an employer. It has been a faith stretching experience for us, not comfortable, but very good. We have seen the Lord’s grace and provision the past eight years in new ways. The last year was a particularly difficult one though. So, yes, praying for bids, for good jobs, for houses to sell, have become commonplace in our home. Would this make my children insecure, I wondered? Would it be better for them if we never mentioned financial or work issues?
While I was still wrestling with this in my mind, I ran across this verse in Proverbs:
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge. (Proverbs 14: 26)
There was my answer. Our children will be secure when they see their parents trusting in the LORD. And as they see that, they will also learn how to place their hope in Him, the only one who is completely trustworthy. (Contrariwise, when they see us fearful and doubting, they will also be fearful.) Yes, our children do see their daddy working very hard to provide for them with the work of his hands, but even more importantly, they are also learning that it is through the Lord that all good gifts, including work, come.
During the past couple of weeks we have had several opportunities to rejoice together at the Lord’s provision of a major remodel, a new home to build, and even as I was writing this, an offer on our spec house. Because they have been involved in praying through the slow times, our children’s thankfulness at seeing these wonderful answers to prayer has been great. Praise be to Him who gives each day as we require!
Psalm 128:1-4
How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house,
Your children like olive plants around your table.
Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
To be honest, this gave me mixed feelings. Several years ago Tim started his own business as a builder/remodeler, leaving behind a regular salary. We are now much more obviously aware of our dependence on the Lord to provide for our family through sufficient good jobs than we were in the old days with an employer. It has been a faith stretching experience for us, not comfortable, but very good. We have seen the Lord’s grace and provision the past eight years in new ways. The last year was a particularly difficult one though. So, yes, praying for bids, for good jobs, for houses to sell, have become commonplace in our home. Would this make my children insecure, I wondered? Would it be better for them if we never mentioned financial or work issues?
While I was still wrestling with this in my mind, I ran across this verse in Proverbs:
In the fear of the LORD there is strong confidence,
And his children will have refuge. (Proverbs 14: 26)
There was my answer. Our children will be secure when they see their parents trusting in the LORD. And as they see that, they will also learn how to place their hope in Him, the only one who is completely trustworthy. (Contrariwise, when they see us fearful and doubting, they will also be fearful.) Yes, our children do see their daddy working very hard to provide for them with the work of his hands, but even more importantly, they are also learning that it is through the Lord that all good gifts, including work, come.
During the past couple of weeks we have had several opportunities to rejoice together at the Lord’s provision of a major remodel, a new home to build, and even as I was writing this, an offer on our spec house. Because they have been involved in praying through the slow times, our children’s thankfulness at seeing these wonderful answers to prayer has been great. Praise be to Him who gives each day as we require!
Psalm 128:1-4
How blessed is everyone who fears the LORD, who walks in His ways.
When you shall eat of the fruit of your hands, you will be happy and it will be well with you.
Your wife shall be like a fruitful vine within your house,
Your children like olive plants around your table.
Behold, for thus shall the man be blessed who fears the Lord.
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