Turbulence

The announcement comes over the loud speaker. “Traffic control says we will experience turbulence the rest of the way into Denver.” One more hour in a small plane and it’s gonna be bumpy. EEEKKK.

How do we navigate turbulence in our world? God promises there will be trouble, even though we want to protect our children from pain. As adults, we already know challenges actually shape us and grow us but they hurt. Our actual job, as parents, is to teach our children. So we have a choice: we can teach them to avoid tough stuff or we can teach them how to navigate through turbulence. What if we teach them the second part of that verse – “In this world there will be trouble, but take heart, I have overcome the world.” John 16:33

To us, seashells represent things like summer, smiles, beach, beauty, making memories, adventures to be had or memories already collected. To sea animals, they represent turbulence. A change of the familiar, a time of growth, the search for a new home are steps that take place for a shell to become what it is for us.

Many of us are walking through tough journeys and it’s really hard to see the beauty around the corner. It’s sometimes impossible to understand the story God is writing around our lives. It takes faith.

What is your path to deeper faith? Do you journal? Do you read the bible? Do you find yourself talking to God more in challenging times? Probably the biggest question is do your kids see you walk the walk? When do you teach this lesson? Do you teach it in the heat of the moment such as the first time your third grader is bullied? Do you choose to model it every time your child sees you seek the Lord? Do you tell them these things are coming in their life and they should be prepared?

This week let's tell our kids about God’s promises. The good ones and the hard ones.

At a time when you can have a chat, ask if they know any of God’s promises. Let them share and then you share with them.

God promises life is going to be hard.

God promises he’s got this.

God promises to never leave you.

God promises to protect you.

God promises to teach you how to live the best life possible.

God promises if you keep his commands you will have rewards.

God promises he will help you to grow…but growing hurts.

God promises there will be people in your life who hurt you.

God promises he will help you.

God promised to send a Savior and he did.

There are many more…share your favorite ones.

My mom’s favorite: Exodus 20:12

“Honor your father and your mother, so that you may live long in the land the Lord your God is giving you.

Take it a step further when your children are old enough for a discussion. Ask them which promises are their favorites or which ones they need to hide in their hearts.

The biggest thing for all of us to remember is that GOD ALWAYS KEEPS HIS PROMISES.

Whisper for the little ones: Say, “God always keeps His promises.”