arenting has a way of bringing both our deepest joys and our deepest flaws to the surface. It’s one of the most beautiful responsibilities God gives us — and one of the most humbling. Every day, we’re reminded that we can’t do it perfectly, and maybe that’s the point. Parenting keeps us dependent on grace. It’s a slow, holy process of growth — for our kids and for us — and it requires patience, humility, and trust in the God who’s shaping all of us through it.

The first strategy Scripture gives us is simple but profound: model faith before you teach it. Kids learn far more from what they see than what they’re told. My son was only two years old when I caught a glimpse of this truth in action. I was leading worship one Sunday morning, and he wandered up to the stage with a tambourine. Someone took a photo of him standing beside me, looking up and mimicking my posture as I worshiped. That image has stayed with me. He wasn’t learning lyrics — he was learning love for God. Our example, more than our instruction, shapes the faith they’ll carry.

The second strategy is to discipline with grace and purpose. There was a night not long ago when my 16-year-old and I got into an argument over cell-phone rules. It was late, and I was tired — and instead of leading with patience, I met frustration with frustration. I missed a moment to shepherd his heart. But even in that failure, God reminded me of His grace. The same forgiveness He extends to me is the same forgiveness I’m called to extend to my son. Biblical discipline isn’t about control — it’s about connection. It’s correction that preserves relationship.

And that leads to the third strategy: pray and partner with God in their formation. As our kids grow, they begin to wrestle with faith on their own terms. That’s not rebellion — it’s development. I can’t manufacture my son’s faith; I can only keep praying that God captures his heart in a personal way. My wife and I pray every night for our kids, often saying, “Lord, draw them close to You.” Those prayers aren’t empty words; they’re acts of surrender. Parenting is less about managing outcomes and more about trusting that the One who began a good work in our children will carry it to completion.

Faithful parenting is a long game. You don’t always see results right away. But every small moment — every apology, every prayer, every act of love — creates ripples that move farther than you can see. The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. So keep showing up. Keep modeling grace. Keep trusting God with what’s beyond your reach. Because even in the chaos, God is writing a story that will echo for generations.