OPINION:
Sending kids out the door to school in the morning is daunting. Besides making sure they have their homework, backpack, lunch, and matching shoes, parents wonder if they are sending their children out the door fully equipped to handle whatever the school day will bring.
The truth is there is one more thing that our kids need that parents can provide to equip them: life-giving words.
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With the growing concern about the darkness influencing children in entertainment, gaming, and even in our school system, the most important thing parents can provide for their kids that equips them for the day are words to focus them on being God-confident, not self-confident.
Being self-confident sounds admirable, even attainable. The world praises seemingly self-confident, self-made people.
“Find your inner strength, you can do it,” is what the world will tell us.
But there is always some challenge that can’t be conquered in the moment. Loving our kids means steering them towards truth. And the truth is this: They can’t do it on their own. All humans are flawed. No human has the wisdom, skill, maturity, or capacity to handle every situation that they will experience in a day with perfection. Relying solely on yourself to meet daily expectations is quite a heavy burden.
According to a 2021 report from the Barna Group, feelings of failure run rampant in children. In the Gen Z generation (ages 9 - 24 years old), 56% feel “pressure to be successful” and 42% feel “a need to be perfect.”
So what can parents do to combat this?
Parents have the opportunity to breathe truth into their children and to lift this heavy burden before the day even starts. Kids don’t have to be alone or be perfect. Reminding children God made them and loves them and He is with them all day gives them peace. Our children can have confidence in God’s wisdom, skill, and capacity, after all according to the Bible, He is the creator of the universe, created every cell in their body and has numbered every hair on their head. They are never alone in their challenges whether they are academic, physical, social, or emotional in their school day.
But how do you help your children make that shift from striving for empty self-confidence to surrendering to the peace of God-confidence, especially on a busy morning?
Three simple, yet intentional, questions can help. Words matter and they set the tone for the whole day. Consider asking these questions to your children every morning to give them God-confidence.
The first question is, “Do you know that I love you and the way God made you so kind (or fill in the blank)?”
This affirms to them they are loved by you and by God and you are calling out how He made them special. Proverbs 16: 23-24 says, “Kind words are like honey, sweet to the soul and healthy for the body.” Our kids need this affirmation of love.
The second question is, “What’s one thing you are concerned or excited about today?”
This gives them a safe place to think and talk about what’s on their mind. They might be concerned about a test at school, a relationship issue, a sports tryout or excited about a pizza party or even a snowstorm. When parents ask pointed questions and truly listen and don’t interrupt, kids feel heard, valued, and connected. Jesus was a master at stopping and listening to people, valuing them, and connecting with them.
The third and last question is, “Ready to pray over your day?”
Taking a few seconds at breakfast or before you walk out the door or in the car on the way to school to pray to God over the above specifics you just discussed will not only help your child to have confidence in God for their day, but you are modeling how to do it and creating a life-long habit.
So drink that coffee early and be intentional about choosing your words in the morning for your children. Assure them that they are loved, heard, and valued by you and by God, and that God is with them. With God-confidence, they will be fully equipped to face their day without fear.
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Kori Pennypacker is the CEO of Bible2School, where she oversees the mission and speaks to businesses, churches, and community leaders on the topic of the importance of spiritual training for children in our communities nationwide. She has over 20 years of experience in children’s ministry and leadership.
Bible2School equips communities across the nation to provide free elective Bible classes to elementary school children DURING their public school day. Their vision is that every public school in the nation would have a dynamic Bible program taught during their school day as allowed by national released time court rulings.
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