Why Children are God’s Ultimate Gift of Faith

The day was particularly grueling. Breakfast was a scrambled mess with a fresh side of irritation, our homeschool morning ended in eye rolls and defeat (me), and the day spiraled into a discouraging rage of tears and meltdowns. 

Being one to keep her cool, I usually could keep my peace, patience, and poise to move forward and conquer a day gone pear-shaped. But when you let the enemy take a foothold in a corner of your heart or mind, he takes it all. He is a thief who loves to steal the joy on any given day.

So where I normally could step back in my mind cave and gain an eternal perspective, I became very short-sighted. Not only allowing my disgruntled behavior, I let my resentment have full reign of my body. What might that look like? Speaking harshly, visible eye rolls, too many consequences and not enough positive reinforcement, an attitude of entitlement: why are you (my kids) bothering me right now???

Just that week, I had gathered with other moms of littles to discuss spirtual and emotional health. The leaders took us through a quick exercise where we wrote 2-3 feelings words using a feelings wheel that described our current emotional state. I wrote three words on my paper, summing up the first part of my day: “rushed, frustrated, aggravated.” Maybe you’ve had similar feelings on any given day?

Every mom at my table nodded in agreement as we went around and discussed why we were “tired,” “overwhelmed,” and “stressed.”

There were a few “peaceful” and “content” but overall the consensus was that as moms, we oftentimes had a hard time seeing our children as blessings. As I’ve written before, we should be so thankful for this “job,” right? (I promise not to audibly sigh).

So as we discussed, we came to the conclusion that yes, we would like to blame our children for these embittered feelings, but the honest truth is, we can only blame ourselves for the way we feel: whether defeated, emboldened, or just plain content (hmm, I’m going to have to come back to that one).

“Children are a gift [or blessing] from the Lord; they are a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3

In many ways, we take lines from the Bible out of context and use them for our own prosperity gospel. When we think of a gift, we think of something that will bring satisfaction, fulfillment, or contentment. 

And yet, Jesus’ definition of a “blessing” differs from our version of the word. We might think of the perfect Amazon package delivered to our doorstep, just waiting to be opened and enjoyed. But Jesus never offers things of this world. He offers something even better.

When Jesus preached the Sermon on the Mount, he recounted blessings that were counter-cultural. Let me take you to Matthew 5 (the Message version, which I feel most obviously showcases our blessings point) where we will discover just how God intends children to bless us.

The Beatitudes of Motherhood

3 “You’re blessed when you’re at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.

Every day, moms and dads pour out from a well. This well will either run dry due to our humaness or not grow faint or weary because we are finding our source of life from God. Children bring out the parts of us we thought we had tucked away from sight, and yet these are the parts that need the most work. When our sin is sacrificed to the sanctification process, we are filled with more of God.

4 “You’re blessed when you feel you’ve lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

What might be most dear to parents everywhere is time for self. Time to waste. Time to wonder, what will I do with all this time? Children strip away our self-idolatry, our pride, and they bring us straight to the Father. We have to constantly deny Self. And without the help of God, we will burn out.

5 “You’re blessed when you’re content with just who you are—no more, no less. That’s the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can’t be bought.

Contentment is having a present state of mind in the moment you find yourself. For so long I felt I was not where I needed to be. If I was home with my kids, I really wanted to be back at work. If I imagined myself back at work, I wanted to be home with my kids. It wasn’t until a few years down the road that I realized right where God has me is exactly where I want to be. As Corrie Ten Boom said, “The center of His will is our only safety—let us pray that we may always know it!” And who He is molding me to be is exactly who I want to be. No more, no less.

6 “You’re blessed when you’ve worked up a good appetite for God. He’s food and drink in the best meal you’ll ever eat.

I go many days on my own strength. Actually, I take that back. Now with kids, I can go a few hours in my own strength. But once I’ve run out of my own strength, I thirst for the living God. Nothing else will satisfy except for a moment in His presence or a quick reading of scripture. In moments of despair, I am reminded of my desperate need for Him and that I am not meant to parent alone.

7 “You’re blessed when you care. At the moment of being ‘care-full,’ you find yourselves cared for.

Caring for our kids is a huge, daunting task. The whole process takes us out of our comfort zone. All we do is care (and worry). We care for their little bodies, souls, minds, hearts. We want nothing more than for them to know how much our good God loves them and how much we love them.

We want them to know that God sacrificed his own son, Jesus, to die for our sin, to make us right with God, and to bridge the gap between our sinfulness and His holiness. Knowing God came and found me, drew me to Him, and will never let me go, I have faith that while He is taking care of me, He is also taking care of my kids who also draw me closer to Him.

8 “You’re blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.

When I am mentally healthy, I can see God, who He is and how He loves us in my interactions with my kids. In everything they do, I am amazed at how God could love such a sinful woman as myself. I am able to remove the plank from my eye for just a moment and observe how similar I am to my children and yet I have just a smidge more wisdom than their little minds to discern how God might perceive me. WIth this knowledge, I can posture my heart in humiliity toward God and all that He has done for me, asking for forgiveness and mercy. 

9 “You’re blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That’s when you discover who you really are, and your place in God’s family.

This last one is true everyday if you have multiple littles. Each day there is something that sets off a sibling, and we are there to put out fires, harness kindness, and teach thanksgiving and gratitude. I want to teach my kids how to be lovers and not fighters. As I teach my children, I remind myself that meekness is not weakness. Showing the other cheek is radical love.

Summing it all up, when we put in the bone-grinding work of raising children, our humanness is realized and our need for God is evident. Children are blessings because they draw us closer and sanctify us to God. Our hearts become complete when we pour out all of who we are and are filled with all of who God is. Children bring humility and holiness.

Jesus beckons for us to come to him when we are “weary and burdened,” and we know we can look to Him for our rest and our portion. More of Him means less of me, and that is the ultimate gift God gives.

Your Turn

It’s easy to feel overwhelmed and frustrated in the daily struggles of parenthood. But as we’ve seen, our greatest challenges with our kids can bring us closer to God, shaping our hearts in ways we might not expect.

Take some time to reflect on these questions. You may want to write down your answers or bring them to God in prayer.

Where am I on my journey of seeing my children as blessings? Are there areas where I struggle to view them this way, especially on tough days?

What parts of myself do my children bring to light? Consider the qualities—both positive and challenging—that arise when you’re with your kids. How might God be using these moments to grow you?

How often do I seek God’s help in parenting? Am I quick to turn to Him for wisdom, patience, and strength, or do I try to manage everything on my own?

Where can I let go of my expectations? Reflect on areas where self-criticism or “perfect parent” standards make it hard to feel peace and contentment in your role as a mom.

I pray you see God’s lovingkindness in your motherhood and how much He cherishes you, mama. You are His beloved.