What do you do when a situation feels completely hopeless?

When you’ve prayed for years, when your child seems spiritually far from God, when a relationship feels beyond repair, or when circumstances look as lifeless as the dry bones Ezekiel saw in his vision—where do you put your hope?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, we continue our chronological Bible reading plan through Ezekiel 37–39, with special attention to one of the most famous passages in Ezekiel: the valley of dry bones.

Ezekiel 37 gives us a powerful picture of God’s resurrection power and His faithfulness to His covenant promises to Israel. God takes what appears completely dead and demonstrates that He alone has the power to bring life.

And while this prophecy specifically concerns the nation of Israel, it reveals something profoundly encouraging about the character of God for every believer: when all hope seems gone, God is still the God of hope.

In This Episode, We’ll Explore:

• The valley of dry bones in Ezekiel 37 and what this vision meant for Israel
• Why God sometimes allows circumstances to reach what feels like absolute rock bottom
• The Hebrew word ruach, meaning breath, wind, or spirit, and its connection to creation and the Spirit of God
• God’s promise to restore and reunite His people
• What Ezekiel 37 teaches us about God’s faithfulness when His people have been unfaithful
• Why biblical hope is not confidence in a particular outcome, but confidence in the goodness and character of God
• How Hebrews 11:6 faith changes the way we walk through suffering and uncertainty
• What the dry bones can teach Christian moms about perseverance when circumstances seem lifeless
• The picture of a united Israel under one shepherd and the promise that God will dwell with His people
• How the hope of restoration can encourage parents praying for a prodigal child
• Ezekiel’s prophecy concerning Gog and Israel’s future enemy
• Why God allows enemies and difficult circumstances to arise—and how He ultimately uses them to display His glory
• A preview of Ezekiel’s mysterious and highly debated temple vision

When God Allows Things to Die

One of the most challenging truths in this passage is that God is not always a God of prevention.

He is a God of restoration, resurrection, healing, and hope—but He does not always prevent suffering, loss, disappointment, or circumstances from reaching a place where we can no longer see a way forward.

Sometimes God allows us to stare at what looks like ashes and wonder how He could possibly bring beauty from them.

The valley of dry bones reminds us that God's ability to bring life is not limited by how dead something looks to us.

But there is an important distinction: our hope is not a promise that God will give us the outcome we want.

Our hope is in God Himself.

We can believe that He is good, that He is faithful, that He is working even when we cannot see what He is doing, and that He is able to use even our deepest trials for His purposes.

What Does Ezekiel 37 Mean for Christian Moms?

Ezekiel's vision wasn't originally given as a parenting lesson. It was a prophetic message concerning God's covenant people, Israel.

But the character of God revealed in this passage gives moms tremendous encouragement.

Motherhood will inevitably put us in situations where we don't know how to pray. We may watch a child struggle, make destructive choices, resist the Lord, or walk through circumstances we cannot fix.

We can influence our children.

We can teach them God's Word.

We can model repentance and faithfulness.

We can pray.

But ultimately, God is the one who gives life.

That means we don't have to carry the burden of being our children's savior.

Instead, we can faithfully point them toward the One who is.

And we can keep praying even when what we see looks as hopeless as a valley filled with dry bones.

The God of Hope

Ezekiel 37 reminds us that God's promises don't depend on circumstances looking promising.

Israel was divided, exiled, devastated, and seemingly without hope. Yet God promised that He would gather His people, reunite them, cleanse them, give them His Spirit, and dwell among them.

The chapter ends with one of the most beautiful promises in Ezekiel:

“My dwelling place shall be with them, and I will be their God, and they shall be my people.” — Ezekiel 37:27

This is the heart of The Dwelling Place: God has always desired to dwell with His people.

And for those of us who belong to Christ, we have the extraordinary privilege of knowing His presence now while looking forward to dwelling with Him forever.

A Word for the Mom Who Is Still Waiting

Perhaps you've been praying for something for years.

Maybe you're waiting for reconciliation.

Maybe you're praying for a child who has wandered.

Maybe you're faithfully parenting but don't see the fruit you hoped for.

Maybe you're simply exhausted and wondering whether your faithfulness matters.

The valley of dry bones reminds us that God sees what we cannot see.

Keep praying.

Keep obeying.

Keep trusting.

Keep hoping—not because you know exactly what God will do, but because you know who God is.

God is not glorified only when we receive the answer we wanted. He is also glorified when we continue trusting Him when we cannot see the answer.

That kind of faith is precious.

Scripture Mentioned

• Ezekiel 37
• Ezekiel 38–39
• Ezekiel 36
• Genesis 2
• Psalm 23
• Jeremiah 29
• Hebrews 11:6
• Romans 11
• John 10

A Prayer for Christian Moms

Heavenly Father, we praise You for Your unparalleled power over our physical and spiritual lives. You are the God who sanctifies us, and You don't simply call us to holiness—you equip us through Your Holy Spirit.

For the mom who feels lonely, unseen, exhausted, or discouraged today, remind her that You are near. Give her clarity about what matters, strength to remain faithful in the things that are good but hard, and wisdom to cast off distractions.

For the situations in our lives that feel dead and lifeless, give us unwavering faith in Your resurrection power while also giving us deep surrender to the outcomes You know are best.

Teach us to hold hope and surrender together.

Thank You, Jesus, that You are our resurrected Lord and that our ultimate hope is found in You.

Amen.Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

Ezekiel 31–36: The Good Shepherd, Repentance & a New Heart

What happens when God’s people have wandered so far that their hearts have become hard?

In today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through the chronological Bible reading plan in Ezekiel chapters 31–36. These chapters move from judgment and exile to some of the most beautiful promises of restoration in the Old Testament.

God exposes the pride of Egypt, appoints Ezekiel as a watchman, announces the fall of Jerusalem, and rebukes Israel’s corrupt shepherds. But then the tone changes dramatically.

God says:

“I myself will search for my sheep and will seek them out.”

He promises to gather His scattered people, care for the weak and injured, and establish one shepherd over them. This promise points us directly to Jesus, the Good Shepherd, who says in John 10, “I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.”

And then Ezekiel 36 gives us another breathtaking promise: God will cleanse His people, give them a new heart and a new spirit, and replace their heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

But restoration doesn't mean pretending the past never happened.

God's people will remember their sin, recognize their need for forgiveness, and experience godly sorrow that produces repentance.

For Christian moms, that raises an important question:

Are we simply trying to change our children's behavior—or are we teaching them to recognize sin, take responsibility, repent, and experience the restoration that comes through Christ?

In This Episode, We'll Study:

• Ezekiel 31–32: God's judgment against Egypt and the consequences of pride.
• Ezekiel 33: Ezekiel's calling as a watchman and the responsibility to faithfully warn others.
• God's repeated declaration that He takes no pleasure in the death of the wicked, but desires that they turn and live.
• The historical fall of Jerusalem and the fulfillment of Ezekiel's years of warnings.
• Ezekiel 34: God's condemnation of Israel's corrupt shepherds and His promise to personally shepherd His people.
• The connection between Ezekiel's Good Shepherd prophecy and Jesus in John 10.
• How Psalm 23 helps us understand God's tender care for His people.
• Ezekiel 35: God's judgment against Edom.
• Ezekiel 36: God's promises of restoration, cleansing, a new heart, and a new spirit.
• Why God's restoration isn't based on Israel's worthiness but on His holy name and faithfulness.
• The difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow.
• How repentance should shape our approach to biblical parenting and Christian discipline.

The Good Shepherd Is the Perfect Parent

Ezekiel 34 gives us a beautiful picture of God's heart toward His people.

The leaders of Israel had exploited the sheep rather than caring for them. They fed themselves, neglected the weak, failed to protect the vulnerable, and allowed the flock to scatter.

God's response is remarkable:

“I myself will be the shepherd of my sheep.”

He promises to seek the lost, bring back the strayed, bind up the injured, strengthen the weak, and provide a place where His sheep can dwell securely.

And then Jesus identifies Himself as this Shepherd.

“I am the good shepherd. I know my own and my own know me.” — John 10:14

What an encouragement for Christian moms.

We aren't the ultimate shepherds of our children.

Jesus is.

We are called to faithfully care for the children God has entrusted to us, but ultimately they belong to Him. And the same Shepherd who cares for us is the One who cares for our children.

Biblical Parenting Gets to the Heart

Ezekiel 36 describes God's promise to replace a heart of stone with a heart of flesh.

That is a powerful picture of what we should ultimately desire in our parenting.

We don't merely want children who know how to behave.

We want children whose hearts are being transformed by the Spirit of God.

That means biblical parenting can't stop at behavior modification.

When our children sin, we want to help them understand:

• What did I do?
• Why was it wrong?
• Who did I hurt?
• What responsibility do I need to take?
• What do I need to confess?
• How can I make things right?
• How does God's forgiveness change the way I live?

The goal isn't simply “Don't do that again.”

The goal is a heart that understands sin, loves righteousness, receives correction, and desires God's will.

Worldly Sorrow vs. Godly Sorrow

One of the most practical parenting applications from today's reading is the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow.

Worldly sorrow says:

“I'm sorry I got caught.”

Godly sorrow says:

“I'm sorry I chose to sin.”

Worldly sorrow makes excuses.

Godly sorrow takes responsibility.

Worldly sorrow blames someone else.

Godly sorrow confesses.

Worldly sorrow resists consequences.

Godly sorrow accepts correction and desires restoration.

Worldly sorrow wants to get off the hook.

Godly sorrow wants God's will.

This is a foundational principle of Christian parenting and biblical discipline: we aren't merely trying to produce compliant children. We want to shepherd their hearts toward genuine repentance and dependence on Christ.

“It Can't Be Heaven Unless We Agree About Holiness”

Ezekiel 36 reminds us that restoration doesn't require God to overlook sin.

It requires His people to recognize the seriousness of their sin and the greatness of His forgiveness.

When we understand how much we've been forgiven, we don't have to hide from our past.

We can acknowledge it.

We can confess it.

We can repent.

And we can move forward in grace.

That is true for us as mothers, and it is what we want to teach our children.

Christians aren't perfect. We're forgiven.

And because we've been forgiven, we can acknowledge our sin without despair because our Good Shepherd is merciful.

A Question for Christian Moms

When your child sins, what are you primarily pursuing?

Compliance—or repentance?

Are you simply trying to stop the behavior, or are you helping your child understand what is happening in their heart?

Biblical parenting calls us to go deeper.

We want our children to know the holiness of God, recognize their own sin, experience the mercy of Christ, and learn to walk differently through the power of the Holy Spirit.

Scripture Mentioned

• Ezekiel 31–36
• Ezekiel 33:7–11
• Ezekiel 34:10–31
• Ezekiel 36:22–32
• John 10:14
• Psalm 23

A Prayer for Christian Moms

Heavenly Father, thank You for being our merciful and forgiving God. Thank You for being our Good Shepherd who seeks the lost, strengthens the weak, binds up the wounded, and lays down His life for His sheep.

Give us new hearts and renew our spirits. Soften the places in us that have become hard through bitterness, selfishness, or sin.

Help us as mothers to shepherd our children toward You. Teach us to look beyond outward behavior and address the heart. Give us wisdom to teach our children the difference between worldly sorrow and godly sorrow.

May our families become places where confession, repentance, forgiveness, and restoration are practiced because we have experienced the mercy of Christ ourselves.

Thank You for replacing hearts of stone with hearts of flesh and for giving Your Spirit to Your people.

Jesus, thank You for being our Good Shepherd.

Amen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

Ezekiel 25–30: When Success Produces Pride | A Bible Study for Christian Moms

What happens when talent, success, beauty, wealth, and achievement begin producing pride instead of praise?

In today's episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through the chronological Bible reading plan in Ezekiel chapters 25–30. As God turns His attention from judging Jerusalem to judging the surrounding nations, one theme becomes impossible to miss:

God opposes the proud and gives grace to the humble.

Moab, Ammon, Edom, Philistia, Tyre, Sidon, and Egypt each experienced God's judgment for their rebellion, arrogance, violence, idolatry, or mistreatment of His people. Many of these nations were powerful, wealthy, influential, and strategically positioned—but their strength became a source of pride.

And that raises an important question for Christian parents:

Are we teaching our children to pursue greatness—or to glorify God with whatever gifts He has given them?

As moms, we naturally want our children to succeed. We celebrate their accomplishments, cheer them on in sports and academics, and want them to use their God-given abilities. But what if an opportunity that looks like success is quietly producing self-reliance, pride, or a love of worldly recognition?

Ezekiel reminds us that what matters most isn't how high our children climb.

It's who sits on the throne of their hearts when they get there.

In This Episode, We'll Study:

• Ezekiel 25: God's judgment against Moab, Ammon, Edom, and Philistia.
• How Edom's hostility toward Israel contributed to its judgment.
• The historical significance of the ancient Moabite cities mentioned in Ezekiel.
• Ezekiel 26–28: God's judgment against the wealthy and powerful city of Tyre.
• How Ezekiel's prophecy concerning Tyre was fulfilled through historical events.
• Ezekiel 28: The pride of the prince of Tyre and the debated passage that many interpreters understand as also pointing to Satan.
• The connection between pride and spiritual rebellion.
• Why Philippians 2 gives us the perfect contrast to the pride described in Ezekiel.
• Ezekiel 29–30: God's judgment against Pharaoh and Egypt.
• The repeated biblical declaration: “Then they shall know that I am the Lord.”
• God's promise of restoration and hope for His people.
• What the fall of powerful nations teaches us about God's sovereignty.
• How biblical parenting can help our children pursue achievement without making achievement their identity.

Christian Parenting Wisdom: Are We Raising Successful Kids or Faithful Kids?

Most of us want good things for our children.

We want them to work hard.

We want them to develop their talents.

We want them to succeed in school.

We want them to excel in sports, music, academics, or their careers.

We want them to have opportunities.

There is nothing inherently wrong with those desires.

But Ezekiel 25–30 reminds us that a gift can become dangerous when it begins producing pride instead of gratitude.

A child can receive a trophy and learn humility.

Or they can receive a trophy and begin believing they are better than everyone else.

A child can excel academically and use that ability to serve others.

Or they can begin finding their identity in being smarter than everyone around them.

A child can become successful and give God the glory.

Or they can begin believing, “My success proves that I don't need God.”

That is why biblical parenting isn't simply about helping our children become successful.

It is about helping them become faithful followers of Jesus.

Would You Rather Have a Humble Child or an Impressive One?

This is one of the questions Stephanie explores in today's episode:

Would I rather have my child humble with dirt on their knees because they bow to the lordship of Jesus Christ—or elevated on a pedestal with a gold medal around their neck?

That's a difficult question for parents because sometimes our own pride gets wrapped up in our children's accomplishments.

Their success can make us feel successful.

Their talent can make us feel proud.

Their recognition can make us feel recognized.

But our children don't belong on the throne—and neither do we.

The goal isn't to suppress our children's gifts or discourage them from pursuing excellence. Instead, we can teach them to hold their plans loosely and use their abilities for the glory of Christ rather than their own glory.

Teaching Children to Recognize the Danger of Pride

One of the gifts we can give our children is helping them recognize the early signs of self-reliance.

What happens when they win?

What happens when they lose?

How do they respond when someone else succeeds?

Do they need recognition?

Do they become angry when they're not the best?

Are they willing to serve when nobody notices?

Can they receive correction?

Do they thank God for their abilities?

These seemingly small moments can reveal what is happening in the heart.

Biblical parenting isn't merely about correcting outward behavior. It's about helping our children see what is happening in their hearts and continually pointing them toward Christ.

Jesus Gives Us the Opposite Picture of Pride

Ezekiel 28 describes a ruler whose wisdom, beauty, wealth, and splendor became reasons for pride.

Philippians 2 gives us the stunning contrast.

Jesus, who truly deserved all glory, humbled Himself. He took the form of a servant and became obedient to the point of death—even death on a cross.

The world tells our children:

Climb higher. Be noticed. Be the best. Make a name for yourself.

Jesus shows us something entirely different:

Humble yourself. Serve others. Give God the glory.

That is the kind of greatness we want to cultivate in our homes.

A Challenge for Christian Moms

As you think about your children's gifts and future, ask:

Is this opportunity producing more pride or more praise?

Sometimes the most loving parenting decision isn't simply asking, “Is this a good opportunity?”

It may be asking:

“What is this opportunity doing to my child's heart?”

We can encourage our children to pursue excellence while reminding them that their identity isn't found in a grade, trophy, position, talent, college acceptance, career, appearance, or accomplishment.

Their greatest achievement will never be what they accomplish for themselves.

Their greatest treasure is knowing Christ.

Scripture Mentioned

• Ezekiel 25–30
• Ezekiel 25:15–17
• Ezekiel 26:12–14
• Ezekiel 28:1–19
• Ezekiel 29–30
• Philippians 2:3–11

A Prayer for Christian Moms

Heavenly Father, help us to pursue humility rather than striving for our own glory.

Help us teach our children to use their gifts and abilities for Your glory. Give us wisdom to recognize when success is producing pride rather than praise. Help us not to overlook the small signs of self-reliance, arrogance, or love of worldly recognition in our children's hearts.

Teach our families to hold our plans loosely and remain surrendered to You. May our children grow not simply to be successful, talented, or accomplished, but to be faithful followers of Jesus Christ.

You alone deserve the glory.

Amen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

What do we do when following God costs us something we deeply love? And how do we keep God first when motherhood constantly calls for our attention, energy, sacrifice, and devotion?

In today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through the chronological Bible reading plan with Ezekiel chapters 19–24. These chapters are difficult, sobering, and at times deeply uncomfortable—but they reveal both the seriousness of sin and the extraordinary faithfulness of God.

From Ezekiel's lament over Jerusalem to the fall of the city, God repeatedly confronts His people with the consequences of their rebellion. Yet even in judgment, He promises restoration for the sake of His great name.

And then Ezekiel is asked to make an extraordinary sacrifice of his own.

When his beloved wife dies, God tells Ezekiel not to mourn publicly. Ezekiel's response is astonishing:

“On the next morning I did as I was commanded.” — Ezekiel 24:18

What could produce that kind of radical obedience?

As Christian moms, we may never be asked to make the kind of sacrifice Ezekiel was asked to make, but we are continually faced with the question: Is Jesus truly our first love?

Our families are precious gifts from God, but they cannot become more important to us than the God who gave them to us.

In This Episode, We’ll Explore:

• Ezekiel 19: A lament over the downfall of the Davidic kings and Jerusalem.
• Ezekiel 20: Israel's repeated rebellion against God and His determination to preserve His name and ultimately restore His people.
• Why God's statement that He gave Israel “statutes that were not good” in Ezekiel 20:25 does not mean that God's law itself is evil.
• The devastating sin of child sacrifice and idolatry and why God repeatedly condemned it.
• Ezekiel 21–22: God's judgment against Jerusalem and the injustice, corruption, false teaching, oppression, and violence that had infected the nation.
• Ezekiel 23: The graphic allegory of Oholah and Oholibah and what it reveals about Israel and Judah's spiritual unfaithfulness.
• Ezekiel 24: The beginning of Jerusalem's final siege and Ezekiel's heartbreaking personal sacrifice.
• What Ezekiel's obedience teaches us about following God when obedience is costly.
• Why Christian mothers must be careful not to make their families their first priority instead of Christ.
• How our children benefit from seeing a mother whose love for Jesus comes before everything else.

What Does Ezekiel Teach Us About Biblical Parenting?

One of the most important parenting reminders in these chapters is that our families cannot become our gods.

It is good and right for mothers to care deeply about their children. We are called to nurture them, teach them God's Word, discipline them faithfully, pray for them, and point them toward Christ.

But our children are not our ultimate purpose.

Jesus is.

When our identity becomes wrapped up in our children's success, happiness, behavior, approval, or faith, we can begin carrying a burden God never intended us to carry. We cannot control our children's hearts. We cannot save them. And we cannot make our families the center of our lives and still rightly understand what it means to follow Christ.

Ezekiel's life gives us a sobering picture of what it can mean to belong completely to God.

God Is Worthy of Everything

Ezekiel had already given up so much.

He was living in exile. He did not get to fulfill the priestly ministry he had likely anticipated. He was asked to perform strange and difficult prophetic signs. He repeatedly delivered God's message to a rebellious people.

And then God asked him to surrender something incredibly precious.

Yet Ezekiel obeyed.

His example challenges us to ask:

Do I believe God is worthy of everything—even when following Him costs me something?

For a mother, that question may look different.

It may mean choosing faithfulness when no one notices.

It may mean surrendering our plans.

It may mean loving difficult people.

It may mean saying no to something good because God has called us to something better.

It may mean trusting God with a child we cannot control.

It may simply mean choosing Christ again and again in the middle of the ordinary demands of motherhood.

The goal isn't to become a mother who does everything perfectly.

It's to become a woman who knows that Jesus is worth everything.

A Hopeful Perspective for Christian Moms

The book of Ezekiel can feel overwhelmingly heavy, but God's judgment is never the whole story.

Again and again, God promises that He will restore His people, not because they deserve it, but because He is faithful to His name and His promises.

That gives us hope as we read difficult passages—and hope as we live through difficult seasons of motherhood.

This life is not all there is.

For those who belong to Christ, our eternity is promised, purchased, and being prepared.

The trials we experience here will not last forever.

And that eternal perspective can change the way we respond to today's sacrifices.

Scripture Mentioned

• Ezekiel 19–24
• Ezekiel 20:25
• Ezekiel 20:40–44
• Ezekiel 22
• Ezekiel 23
• Ezekiel 24:15–18
• Romans 7
• Additional connections to Jeremiah and Hosea

A Prayer for Moms

Lord, help us to keep You as our first love.

When motherhood demands more than we think we can give, remind us that You are worthy of every sacrifice. Give us an eternal perspective when our circumstances feel overwhelming. Help us love our families well without allowing them to take Your rightful place in our hearts.

May our children see in us a woman who loves Jesus more than the pleasures and promises of this world. And may our faithfulness point them toward the One who is worthy of everything.

Amen.

Mom Ears Alone: Ezekiel 23 contains graphic and mature imagery, and this episode discusses some of those passages.Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

What does God really think about disciplining and judging sin? And what does Ezekiel teach us about the spiritual legacy we’re building for our children?

In today’s episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox continues through a chronological Bible reading plan with Ezekiel chapters 13–18. These difficult chapters reveal both the seriousness of Israel’s rebellion and the astonishing mercy of a God who does not delight in the death of the wicked, but calls them to turn and live.

This is a particularly important Bible study for moms because Ezekiel 18 addresses a question many parents wrestle with: How much does our spiritual heritage determine the faith of our children? While our parenting and example have tremendous influence, every person ultimately stands individually before the Lord.

In This Episode, We’ll Study:

• Ezekiel 13: The danger of false prophets who promise peace when there is no peace
• Ezekiel 14: Why even the righteousness of Noah, Daniel, and Job could not save an unrepentant nation
• Ezekiel 15: Israel as a fruitless vine and what it means to bear fruit
• Ezekiel 16: God's covenant relationship with Israel and the devastating depth of their idolatry
• Ezekiel 17: The eagle and vine imagery and the promise of the coming Messiah
• Ezekiel 18: Individual responsibility, repentance, God's justice, and His desire that sinners turn and live
• The difference between influence and control in parenting
• How our spiritual legacy can shape our children without determining their eternal destiny
• Why biblical parenting must address the heart, not merely outward behavior
• The hope of the gospel: God's justice and mercy ultimately meet in Jesus Christ

What Ezekiel 18 Teaches Christian Parents

One of the most encouraging truths in this passage is that our children are not spiritually doomed by the sins of their parents.

Ezekiel 18 repeatedly emphasizes that each person is accountable before God. A righteous father can have a wicked son, and a wicked father can have a righteous son. Even more beautifully, God gives the wicked an opportunity to repent:

“For I have no pleasure in the death of anyone, declares the Lord God; so turn, and live.”

This doesn't minimize the influence parents have. Scripture consistently calls us to teach our children God's Word, model repentance, discipline faithfully, and point them toward Christ.

But it does remind us that we cannot save our children.

We can influence.

We can teach.

We can model faithfulness.

We can pray.

We can discipline and disciple.

But only God can give our children a new heart.

That truth can bring tremendous freedom to Christian moms who carry the weight of believing their children's spiritual decisions are entirely dependent upon their parenting.

The Unfaithfulness of People Does Not Change the Faithfulness of God

Ezekiel 16 contains some of the strongest language in Scripture describing Israel's spiritual adultery. God's people took the very blessings He had given them and used them to worship other gods.

Yet even after describing Israel's horrific rebellion, God promises to remember His covenant.

What an incredible picture of God's character.

Our sin is serious. God's holiness is absolute. His justice is certain. And His mercy is astonishing.

The gospel gives us the ultimate demonstration of this truth. We don't receive forgiveness because we have earned righteousness. We receive grace because Jesus Christ paid the penalty for our sin.

A Biblical Parenting Challenge

As mothers, we have an incredible opportunity to cultivate a spiritual legacy in our homes.

But Ezekiel reminds us not to confuse faithful parenting with guaranteed outcomes.

Perhaps today you are carrying guilt over a child who is making unwise choices. Maybe you're looking at your family history and wondering whether your children will repeat the same patterns.

Don't lose heart.

Be faithful.

Teach them God's Word.

Correct them when they sin.

Model repentance.

Point them toward Jesus.

Pray for their hearts.

And trust the God who alone can make a heart of stone into a heart of flesh.

Your calling is faithfulness—not control.

And there is tremendous hope in serving a God who says, “Turn, and live.”

Scripture Mentioned

• Ezekiel 13–18
• Deuteronomy 4
• John 5:28–29
• Revelation 20
• Romans 8
• Genesis 12

Key passage: Ezekiel 18:23–32

A Prayer for Moms

Heavenly Father, You are fully just, fully holy, and fully merciful. Thank You that Your forgiveness extends even to sinners like us. Help us to remember that our children ultimately belong to You and that You alone can transform their hearts.

Make us faithful mothers who teach Your Word, discipline with wisdom, model repentance, and point our children toward Jesus. Give us freedom from the burden of trying to control what only You can accomplish.

Help our children choose life. Give them hearts that love You and desire Your ways. And for those carrying guilt over their own past sins, remind them that the blood of Jesus is sufficient and that in Christ, it is finished.

May our lives be a response to Your never-failing mercy.

In Jesus' name, Amen.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

What happens when God’s people repeatedly choose idols over the God who loves them?

In Ezekiel 6–12, we witness some of the most sobering passages in the Old Testament as God exposes Israel’s idolatry, injustice, and rebellion. Ezekiel is given a vision of the wickedness taking place inside the temple itself—and then, in a devastating moment, the glory of the Lord leaves the temple in Jerusalem.

Yet even in the midst of judgment, God gives His people hope.

He promises that He will gather His scattered people, give them “one heart” and “a new spirit,” and replace their hearts of stone with hearts of flesh. And for those of us living under the New Covenant, these promises point us toward the incredible reality that God doesn't simply dwell in a building. Through Christ and the Holy Spirit, God chooses to dwell with His people.

As we continue our chronological Bible reading plan, Stephanie Hickox walks through Ezekiel 6–12 and considers what these difficult chapters teach us about God's holiness, His presence, biblical discipline, idolatry, and parenting our children with wisdom and grace.

What Does Ezekiel Teach Us About Biblical Parenting?

One of the surprising applications in this episode comes from Ezekiel's repeated reminder that God judges His people according to their conduct.

This gives Christian parents an important framework for thinking about discipline. Biblical discipline isn't supposed to be an emotional reaction to our children's behavior. Instead, we can thoughtfully consider what response will help restore what has been broken.

When a child speaks unkindly to a sibling, simply separating the children may stop the conflict—but it doesn't necessarily restore the relationship. Biblical parenting seeks more than behavior modification. We want to help our children understand their sin, make things right, and grow in righteousness.

Stephanie also encourages moms who are parenting strong-willed or difficult children. Your child's challenging personality does not automatically mean that you are an ineffective mother.

Perhaps that very child is part of the way God is teaching you to depend more deeply on Him.

Just as the Holy Spirit equipped Ezekiel for an extraordinarily difficult ministry, God promises to equip mothers for the work He has entrusted to them. We don't have to parent in our own strength.

In This Episode, You'll Discover:

• Why God told Ezekiel to prophesy against the mountains of Israel
• How Israel's idolatry led to God's judgment
• Why God says that He was broken over His people's unfaithfulness
• What Ezekiel's vision of the temple reveals about hidden sin
• Why worshiping creation instead of the Creator is still a temptation for us today
• How God judges His people according to their conduct
• What Ezekiel can teach us about biblical discipline and parenting
• Encouragement for moms raising strong-willed children
• Why Ezekiel's obedience mattered even when people refused to listen
• The significance of the glory of God leaving the temple
• Why God's presence being available in Babylon was actually good news for the exiles
• God's promise to give His people a new heart and a new spirit
• How Ezekiel points forward to the New Covenant and ultimately to Jesus
• Why God's presence—not a building or location—is the believer's true dwelling place

Key Scriptures

Ezekiel 6–12

Especially:

• Ezekiel 6:9 — God sees the hearts of His people and their unfaithfulness.
• Ezekiel 7:27 — God judges according to their ways.
• Ezekiel 8 — Ezekiel's vision of idolatry inside the temple.
• Ezekiel 9 — God's judgment and His marking of those who belong to Him.
• Ezekiel 10 — The glory of the Lord departs from the temple.
• Ezekiel 11:16–20 — God promises to be a sanctuary to His people and give them a new heart and spirit.

A Biblical Parenting Encouragement for Moms

If you're parenting a child who seems particularly strong-willed, disobedient, or difficult, don't automatically assume that your child's temperament is evidence that you've failed as a mother.

Your responsibility is faithfulness, not control.

You cannot change your child's heart. Only God can do that.

But you can faithfully point your child toward Christ, lovingly correct sinful behavior, model repentance, establish wise boundaries, and continually depend upon the Holy Spirit.

Sometimes the children who require the greatest dependence on God become one of the ways He sanctifies us most deeply.

So instead of asking, “Why did God give me such a difficult child?” perhaps we can sometimes ask:

“Jesus, how do You want to use this child—and this parenting assignment—to make me more like You?”

The Dwelling Place

Ezekiel's vision of God's glory departing from the temple is heartbreaking—but it also prepares us for something much greater.

God's presence is not ultimately confined to a building.

Through Jesus Christ, we have access to God. And through the Holy Spirit, believers become the dwelling place of God.

That means we can seek Him wherever we are—in our homes, our cars, our kitchens, our parenting struggles, and our ordinary daily lives.

The Lord offers to be our dwelling place.

And our prayer as Christian moms can be simple:

Lord, reign on the throne of my heart. Give me a heart that is tender toward You, and use my life and my parenting to point my children toward Your glory.

Continue Your Chronological Bible Study

If you're following along with The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, keep reading through the chronological Bible plan with us as we walk through Scripture together.

You don't need hours of uninterrupted Bible study to grow in God's Word. You can open your Bible, listen during the drive or while you're doing dishes, and let God's Word transform the way you think about faith, motherhood, parenting, and everyday life.

Subscribe to The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast from Entrusted Ministries and continue studying the Bible chronologically with other Christian moms.

About The Dwelling Place

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms is from Entrusted Ministries and hosted by Stephanie Hickox. Each episode helps Christian women study God's Word and apply biblical truth to everyday life, including Christian parenting, biblical motherhood, faith and family, and raising children who love and follow Jesus.

Come dwell with us in the Word.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

What if your child's strong will isn't proof that you're a bad mom—but an opportunity to depend more deeply on God?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms, Stephanie Hickox begins the Book of Ezekiel by exploring chapters 1–5 and the extraordinary calling God gave the prophet. Ezekiel was asked to deliver God's Word to a rebellious people who, God already knew, would often refuse to listen. Yet Ezekiel was still called to be faithful.

That distinction—faithfulness rather than effectiveness—is incredibly encouraging for Christian moms.

If you've ever wondered whether you're failing because your child doesn't listen, obey, or respond the way you hoped, Ezekiel offers a different perspective. God doesn't ask us to control our children or guarantee their response. He calls us to faithfully point them toward Him while depending on His strength.

📖 In This Episode

Stephanie walks through the opening chapters of Ezekiel and discusses:

• Why Ezekiel's prophetic ministry began at such a significant moment in his life
• Ezekiel's incredible vision of the glory of the Lord
• Why God repeatedly calls Israel a "rebellious house"
• What the title "Son of Man" means in Ezekiel
• Why God tells Ezekiel to eat a scroll—and why God's Word is described as being sweet like honey
• How the Holy Spirit strengthens Ezekiel for an incredibly difficult assignment
• Why Ezekiel is responsible for faithfulness and obedience, but not for whether the people respond
• The unusual prophetic signs God asks Ezekiel to perform
• The meaning behind Ezekiel's model of Jerusalem, his 390 days on his side, and his unusual bread
• Why God tells Ezekiel to shave his head and scatter his hair
• What Ezekiel teaches us about God's holiness, sovereignty, and glory
• How God was preparing His people to understand that His presence would not ultimately be confined to a physical temple

👩‍👧‍👦 What Does Ezekiel Have to Do With Parenting?

For many Christian moms, one of the hardest parts of parenting is raising a child whose temperament or strong will seems to require more patience, consistency, and diligence than we feel capable of giving.

It can be especially discouraging when you look at another family and think, "Why does obedience seem so easy for their kids?"

But Ezekiel reminds us that faithfulness is not the same thing as visible success.

God knew Ezekiel would be speaking to people who often wouldn't listen. His assignment was still worthwhile because his responsibility was to faithfully deliver God's message.

The same principle can encourage us in biblical parenting. We cannot control our children's hearts, but we can faithfully teach, discipline, correct, love, pray, and point them toward Christ.

Your child's struggles are not necessarily evidence that you've failed as a mother.

Sometimes the very parenting assignment that exposes how little strength we have is the assignment God uses to teach us to depend on Him more deeply.

💪 You Don't Have to Parent in Your Own Strength

God didn't send Ezekiel into an impossible ministry and then leave him to figure it out alone. The Spirit entered him and strengthened him for what God had called him to do.

The same God who strengthened Ezekiel is the God who meets us in the exhausting, repetitive, sometimes discouraging work of motherhood.

Whether you're navigating a strong-willed child, repeated disobedience, sibling conflict, discipline struggles, or simply the daily weariness of parenting, you don't have to manufacture the strength yourself.

God calls you to parent with Him.

Your calling isn't to produce perfect children. Your calling is to faithfully steward the children He has entrusted to you, trusting Him with the results.

🍯 Let God's Word Be Sweet to You

Ezekiel's experience with the scroll is a beautiful reminder that God's Word must become part of us before we can faithfully give it to others.

As moms, we want our children to love Scripture, know God's truth, and recognize His voice. But that begins with our own relationship with the Word.

Before we can consistently point our children toward Christ, we need to continually dwell with Christ ourselves.

When motherhood feels overwhelming, don't run first to your own strength. Run to His.

❤️ A Word of Encouragement for the Mom Raising a Strong-Willed Child

If you've been feeling condemned because parenting your child seems harder than it looks for other families, take heart.

Your child's temperament does not determine your worth as a mother.

And your child's immediate response does not determine whether you are being faithful.

Ask God today for the strength to keep showing up, keep teaching, keep loving, keep correcting, keep praying, and keep pointing your child toward Jesus.

You may not see the fruit yet.

But faithfulness matters to God.

📚 Scripture Mentioned

• Ezekiel 1–5
• Ezekiel 1:28 — The glory of the Lord
• Ezekiel 2:1–7 — Ezekiel's prophetic calling
• Ezekiel 3:1–4 — Eating the scroll
• Ezekiel 3:24 — The Spirit strengthening Ezekiel
• Ezekiel 4 — The prophetic signs concerning Jerusalem
• Ezekiel 5 — Judgment upon Jerusalem
• Galatians 5:22–23 — The fruit of the Spirit

🙏 A Prayer for Christian Moms

Lord, thank You for the beauty of Your glory and for the way You strengthened Ezekiel for the assignment You gave him.

Help us remember that we don't have to parent in our own strength. Give us a dependence on Your Spirit and a hunger for Your Word.

For the mom raising a strong-willed or difficult child, bring encouragement today. Help her see that her child's struggles are not proof of her failure. Give her endurance to faithfully love, teach, discipline, and point her children toward You.

Help us release our desire for control and embrace our calling to faithful influence. May our children see mothers who depend on Jesus, pursue holiness, and keep faithfully pointing their families toward Christ.

And just as Your Word was sweet to Ezekiel, make Your Word sweet to us and to our families.

In Jesus' name, amen.

Listen to more episodes of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms as we continue through the Bible chronologically and discover how God's Word speaks into our faith, our families, and our everyday lives.

Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

Lamentations: How to Grieve with Hope | Biblical Lament for Christian Moms

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Entrusted Ministries

What do you do when life hurts—and the Christian answer isn't to pretend everything is fine?

In this episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast, Stephanie Hickox walks through the Book of Lamentations and explores what it means to bring our grief, disappointment, suffering, and unanswered questions honestly before the Lord while still clinging to the hope of the gospel.

Lamentations reminds us that biblical hope doesn't require us to deny our pain. Instead, Scripture teaches us to turn to God in our pain, tell Him about our pain, and trust Him with our pain.

Stephanie also shares wisdom from Pastor Mark Vroegop on the biblical practice of lament and explains how this can transform the way Christian moms respond to suffering—and teach their children to walk faithfully through hard things.

The Book of Lamentations is a powerful reminder that God's steadfast love never ceases, His mercies never come to an end, and great is His faithfulness.

In This Episode, You'll Learn:

• What biblical lament is—and why it is different from sinful complaining
• Why Christians don't have to choose between denial and despair
• How to bring grief and suffering honestly before God
• Why difficult circumstances don't mean that God has abandoned us
• How the gospel transforms our grief without pretending our pain isn't real
• Why suffering can be perplexing without being pointless
• How Lamentations points us toward God's sovereignty, faithfulness, and mercy
• Why Lamentations 3:22–23 is such an important passage for seasons of suffering
• How Jeremiah and the people of Judah responded to the destruction of Jerusalem
• How moms can teach their children to process suffering with faith, humility, and hope
• Why our children need to learn not merely to be "authentic," but to bring their whole selves to the Lord for transformation

Biblical Lament: Turn, Tell, Trust

One of the most helpful frameworks Stephanie shares from Mark Vroegop's teaching is:

1. Turn to Jesus in your pain.

Don't run away from God when you're hurting. Run toward Him.

2. Tell Jesus about your pain.

God doesn't ask us to bring only our praise reports. He invites us to cast our cares upon Him.

3. Trust Jesus with your pain.

Biblical lament doesn't end in despair. It moves us toward trust, obedience, and ultimately praise.

As Stephanie explains, lament is a prayer made in pain that leads to trust.

Lamentations 3:22–23"The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases; his mercies never come to an end; they are new every morning; great is your faithfulness."

These familiar words become even more powerful when we understand the suffering surrounding them. Lamentations doesn't offer shallow optimism. It shows us how to acknowledge the devastation of a fallen world while deliberately fixing our eyes on the character of God.

God's faithfulness is not dependent upon our circumstances.

Biblical Parenting: Teaching Our Children to Grieve with Hope

As Christian moms, we have an incredible opportunity to teach our children how to respond when life doesn't go the way they hoped.

We don't want our kids to believe that faith means pretending everything is okay. We also don't want them to become trapped in despair. Instead, we can teach them to bring their pain to Jesus.

When our children experience disappointment, suffering, rejection, or loss, we can model what it looks like to say:

"This really hurts—and God is still good."

That kind of faith doesn't ignore reality. It brings reality into the presence of the God who is sovereign, compassionate, and faithful.

Our goal isn't simply to raise children who can endure difficulty. We want to raise children who know where to take their difficulty.

Lament Is Not the End of the Story

Lamentations ends with a prayer:

"Restore us to yourself, O Lord, that we may be restored."

That is ultimately where biblical lament leads us—not deeper into ourselves, but back to God.

If you're walking through a difficult season, you don't have to rush past your grief. You can bring it to the Lord. You can weep. You can ask questions. You can acknowledge how hard it is.

And then, like Jeremiah, you can remind your soul of what is true:

Great is His faithfulness.

Scripture Mentioned

• Lamentations 1–5
• Lamentations 3:1–39
• Lamentations 3:22–23
• Lamentations 3:55–60
• Lamentations 5:21
• Psalm 102
• Romans 8
• 2 Corinthians 4:9

Resources Mentioned

Stephanie references Pastor Mark Vroegop's teaching on biblical lament and his book Dark Clouds, Deep Mercy, which explores how Christians can learn to lament well.

If you're a Christian mom trying to read the Bible consistently, understand Scripture in chronological context, and apply God's Word to everyday motherhood, join us for The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries.

Each episode is designed to help you dwell with God in His Word and grow in biblical wisdom for your family—one passage at a time.

What is one difficult circumstance you need to bring honestly before the Lord today?Because the goal isn't simply to get through the Bible. It's to let the Bible get into us—and to make our homes a dwelling place for Christ. Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms | Entrusted Ministries

As we come to the conclusion of the book of Jeremiah, we don't find a neat, happy ending. Jeremiah's life doesn't wrap up with a pretty bow, either. Instead, these final chapters remind us of something we desperately need as Christian moms: God is sovereign, God is just, and God is our strong Redeemer.

In Jeremiah 47–52, we read God's judgments against the nations surrounding Judah—including the Philistines, Moabites, Ammonites, Edomites, Egypt, and ultimately Babylon itself. The same Babylon God used to discipline Judah would eventually face God's judgment.

And that truth has a profound application for Christian parenting: we don't have to take revenge when we're wronged. We can patiently entrust justice to God.

As our children watch us respond to conflict, injustice, disappointment, and mistreatment, they are learning what it looks like to trust the Lord with vengeance rather than returning evil for evil.

📖 In This Episode

As we finish Jeremiah in our chronological Bible reading plan, we'll explore:

• God's judgment against the nations in Jeremiah 47–51
• Why God's discipline of Judah was ultimately intended for their good
• The significance of God's name Yahweh Sabaoth—the LORD of Hosts
• Why God can judge sin without delighting in destruction
• God's promise to preserve and redeem a remnant of His people
• The beautiful description of God as “the Lord their habitation of righteousness”
• Why Babylon's eventual destruction demonstrates God's sovereignty over the nations
• The difference between worshiping a god made by human hands and worshiping the God who formed all things
• God's promise: “I will plead your cause and take vengeance for you”
• Jeremiah's incredible faithfulness despite years of rejection, suffering, imprisonment, and persecution
• What Jeremiah's suffering can teach us about faithful Christian living
• Why God's justice allows us to patiently respond when we are mistreated
• How Christian moms can model patience and peacemaking for their children

🏡 What Does Jeremiah Have to Do with Christian Parenting?

One of the most practical lessons from these chapters is that God's justice frees us from having to pursue our own revenge.

When someone hurts us—or when our children are mistreated—it can be tempting to make things right ourselves. But Scripture repeatedly reminds us that God is the righteous Judge.

As moms, our children are watching how we respond when we're wronged.

Do we retaliate?

Do we hold grudges?

Do we demand that everyone understand our side?

Or do we patiently entrust justice to the Lord?

That doesn't mean becoming a doormat or ignoring genuine wrongdoing. It means becoming peacemakers who trust God enough to leave vengeance in His hands.

And that kind of response can become one of the most powerful lessons in biblical parenting our children ever receive.

❤️ “The Lord Their Habitation of Righteousness”

One phrase in Jeremiah 50 particularly connects with the heart of The Dwelling Place:

“The Lord their habitation of righteousness, the Lord, the hope of their fathers.”

God doesn't merely want to give His people rules to follow. He wants Himself to be their dwelling place.

As Christian moms, we want our children to see that righteousness isn't simply about outward behavior. We want them to see lives transformed by the presence of God.

Our hope isn't ultimately in comfortable circumstances, successful parenting, or even the behavior of our children.

Our hope is the Lord Himself.

✨ Jeremiah's Faithfulness

Jeremiah's ministry is a powerful reminder that faithfulness isn't measured by visible success.

He endured rejection, threats, imprisonment, violence, isolation, and suffering. Yet he continued to proclaim God's Word.

He didn't get to see the kind of earthly ministry success we might hope for.

But he was faithful.

That is incredibly encouraging for moms who sometimes wonder whether all their seemingly insignificant acts of obedience are making any difference.

The meals.

The correction.

The prayers.

The conversations.

The Scripture.

The countless opportunities to patiently redirect a child.

The unseen sacrifices.

Faithfulness to God is never wasted.

🙏 A Prayer for Moms

In this episode, Stephanie prays that we would learn to patiently entrust justice to God rather than returning evil for evil—and that our children would see in us what it looks like to trust the Lord with the things we cannot control.

“We pray that as our kids watch us patiently entrust justice to you, that they would also learn to walk in patience...to become peacemakers.”📚 Continue Your Chronological Bible Reading

If you're reading through the Bible chronologically with us, you've just finished Jeremiah!

This episode of The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms is part of our ongoing journey through Scripture, helping busy Christian moms understand the Bible in context, in chronological order, and with practical application for everyday motherhood.

If you've ever wanted to read through the Bible but struggled to know where to start—or wondered how all the prophetic books fit into the larger biblical story—come read along with us.

God's Word isn't merely something we check off a reading plan. It's where we learn to dwell with Him.

🔎 Bible Study Topics & Keywords

Christian parenting, biblical parenting, Christian motherhood, Bible study for moms, Bible podcast for women, Bible podcast for busy moms, chronological Bible reading plan, chronological Bible podcast, reading the Bible chronologically, Jeremiah Bible study, Jeremiah 47–52, book of Jeremiah, Jeremiah explained, Old Testament Bible study, biblical wisdom for moms, Christian family, teaching kids patience, biblical discipline, raising godly children, peacemaking, trusting God, God's justice, God's sovereignty, God's judgment, God's mercy, God's redemption, faithful Christian living, Yahweh Sabaoth, Lord of Hosts, biblical encouragement for moms, Christian moms Bible study, Scripture for mothers.

Key Scriptures: Jeremiah 46–52; Jeremiah 50:4–7, 17–20, 33–34; Jeremiah 51:17–19, 36; Hebrews 11:37; Romans 12:19–21; 1 Peter 2:23.

🎧 Listen to The Dwelling Place

The Dwelling Place Bible Podcast for Busy Moms from Entrusted Ministries encourages Christian moms to get into God's Word, understand Scripture in context, and allow the truth of the Bible to transform their everyday lives and parenting.

Because the goal isn't simply to get through the Bible. It's to let the Bible get into us—and to make our homes a dwelling place for Christ. Resources Mentioned:

• Entrusted With a Child's Heart
• The Again Podcast: Interview with Chris McKenna Part 1, Part 2
• Full-Circle Discipline Resources
• Journey Through the Bible

Commentaries Most Referenced: Moody Commentary, MacArthur Commentary