This episode’s question comes from Sarah in Minnesota:  Timestamp 3:25

Question:

"With all the changes happening in the world, how do I keep my kids safe in what feels like an increasingly dangerous environment?"

The Goal:
Our primary job as parents is not to make sure our kids are always safe, but to help them become strong and resilient. Safety is important, but it is part of a bigger goal: preparing kids to thrive in a challenging world.

Common Misconception:
Parents often think their main responsibility is to protect their kids from every risk. However, a better approach is to prepare them for life's challenges, equipping them to face danger with wisdom and confidence.

Staying on Track in Parenting

1. God Prepares Strong Disciples, Not Just Safe Ones:
   • Throughout the Bible, God continually leads His people into challenging situations. He didn’t always protect them from hardship but used struggles to help them grow stronger in faith and character.
   • As Romans 5:3-5 says, suffering produces endurance, which builds character and leads to hope. Risk and struggle are necessary for growth.
2. Fear Shouldn't Drive Parenting Decisions:
   • While safety is a concern, fear should not be the driving force behind our parenting choices. By preparing kids for danger, we help them face the world with confidence rather than fear.
   • God is not afraid, and perfect love drives out fear (1 John 4:18). This truth should guide how we approach our children’s development.
3. Risk and Suffering Are Essential for Growth:
   • Risk and suffering are not obstacles to avoid but tools for developing resilience. Giving children appropriate levels of challenge at each age helps them learn to navigate the world.
   • Preparing the child for the road—not clearing the road of challenges for the child—is key to raising confident, capable adults.

Favorite Quotes from This Episode

• "Our job is to raise strong kids, not just safe kids."
• "God's goal is to raise strong disciples, not just safe disciples."
• "If we remove all the wind, the tree won't grow strong roots."
• "Fear should never drive our parenting decisions."
• "Prepare the child for the road, not the road for the child."

Key Points Takeaways:

• Strength over Safety: Parenting isn’t just about minimizing risk, but about preparing children to handle challenges with strength and faith.
• Risk is Part of Growth: Appropriate challenges and risks help children build resilience and confidence.
• Fight Against Fear-Driven Decisions: Keep fear from controlling how you parent. Instead, trust God and focus on preparing your children for the world’s challenges.

Conclusion:

In this episode, Greg and Cody discuss the difference between raising safe kids versus strong kids. The Bible provides many examples of how God uses challenges and suffering to help His people grow. As parents, our role is to prepare our kids to face risks with strength and wisdom, not to eliminate all danger from their lives.

Learn more at:
www.gracebasedfamilies.com
Produced by: The fine folks at Gum Audio
www.gumaudio.com