Depending on the Lord for Our Children: Psalm 127

Depending on the Lord for Our Children

Psalm 127

Success depends on the Lord, not on our efforts.

Tremper Longman

Thousands of years ago, the men of the world gathered together to build a city and a tower. They desired a name for themselves and independence from God. They dreamed of a tower so great that it would reach to heaven. And in one act, the Lord caused them to cease building the city and drove them abroad over the face of the earth (Genesis 11:1-9). Not too long after this event, a man was born who would become known as the friend of God. We know that Abraham and his wife, Sarah, did not conceive a child until they were well past child-bearing age. But God had made a promise and God had a plan, and therefore “from one man, and him as good as dead, were born descendants as many as the stars of heaven and as many as the innumerable grains of sand by the seashore” (Hebrews 11:12). What an illustration of the truth from Psalm 127! “Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain” (Psalm 127:1). One city, built with massive human endeavor, comes to nothing. One man, incapable of producing an heir, becomes the father of innumerable descendants. And the difference? The Lord alone. In all our endeavors, we must depend on the Lord and seek His guidance. This can be painfully obvious in parenting.

Our children are a gift from the Lord (Psalm 127:3). He has given them to us as a blessing and has given instructions to us about our responsibilities as parents. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 communicate the importance of diligently teaching our children the words of the Lord when we sit in our house, walk by the way, when we lie down and when we rise up. This is in line with Psalm 127 which “stresses the importance of putting God first in life” (Longman). We are to build up our children, watch over them, and diligently work to train them up in the Lord depending on the Lord and looking to Him. Without Him, nothing will be successful. But with Him, nothing will be impossible. We must labor to teach them diligently about the Lord. We must devote ourselves to prayer for their souls. We must give ourselves to the training and nurturing of our children. But, we depend not on those efforts and not on any prideful assumption that we have the answers, but solely on the Lord. Unless the Lord converts the heart, unless the Lord gives them understanding and knowledge of His ways, unless the Lord dwells in them making them fruitful, our efforts cannot produce lasting change. This is not to say that all our endeavors are worthless if they do not produce the desired result of God-fearing children. Our faithfulness as Christian parents is how we demonstrate obedience to the Lord’s commands (Ephesians 6:4). We obey, and we leave the results to God. This is very freeing, as it removes ultimate responsibility of the outcome of our children off of us. But it is weighty in that we will be held accountable for our actions or inaction as parents.

Do you struggle with guilt over your parenting regrets? Confess those to the Lord and to your children. He is faithful and just to forgive us of our sin and to cleanse us from ALL unrighteousness (1 John 1:9), and that includes our sins as parents. Seek His help, depend on Him, to be the parent He wants you to be in whatever stage of parenting you are in now. Whether parenting adults or toddlers, all of those stages at once, or somewhere in between, we can begin today with new mercies. We must trust the Lord in all matters of life, especially in parenting. The conception of each one of our children was ordained by God. He knit them together while they were still in the womb. The years of sleepless nights and sweet cuddles when they’re babies. The toddler years of seemingly endless energy and inquisitiveness. The emotional, argumentative, yet still tender years of preteens. The teen years which can be so much joy or so much struggle (and sometimes both in the same week!). The young adult and adult years living independently from us as their parents. Every stage, every age, should drive us to our knees, looking to the Lord, depending on Him for wisdom for us and His guiding hand on them, leading them to Himself.

Whatever stage of parenting we are in and whatever the state of our children’s hearts, let’s pray through Psalm 127, depending on the Lord.

127:1-2 Unless the Lord builds the house, those who build it labor in vain. Unless the Lord watches over the city, the watchman stays awake in vain. It is in vain that you rise up early and go late to rest, eating the bread of anxious toil; for he gives to his beloved sleep.

Lord, we pray:

▫️We are crying out to You. We know that all our labors will be in vain unless You work in the hearts of our children. We pray for each one by name and ask that You would call them to Yourself and make them Your own children.

▫️We are asking for Your wisdom and blessing in building this house, this family. We desire to see our children nurtured in Your ways and Your truth. But we are inadequate in ourselves to accomplish it. As parents, we offer ourselves to You and we ask that You would equip us with the right heart, attitude, purpose, and will to obey Your commands to us as parents to bring up our children in the discipline and instruction of You.

▫️We ask that You would watch over our children. Help us to see the dangers they face, the pitfalls, the temptations, the struggles, and equip us to carefully watch over their souls and instruct them in the right way. However, we cannot see all or protect them from all the dangers. Watch over them, Lord. You see their hearts and every situation in which they are involved. Guard them closely, we pray. Pray about any specific concern you have for your child(ren).

▫️You are the giver of all good gifts. We ask You would bless us and our children with good things. The things needed for our regular bodies: food, sleep, shelter. The things needed for our emotional health, spiritual vitality, and mental health. We know You are Lord over all. Pray about a specific need your child(ren) have at the moment.

127:3-5 Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord, the fruit of the womb a reward. Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth. Blessed is the man who fills his quiver with them! He shall not be put to shame when he speaks with his enemies in the gate.

Lord, we pray:

▫️We thank You for the blessing of our children. We have so many desires for them. We submit all those desires to Your wise will. As we go through life, help us to remember in the ups and downs that our children are not our own, but You have given them to us for a time. They are Yours. You will do what is best.

▫️Gird up our children to fight the good fight of faith. Help us to demonstrate by example the beauty of who You are and to show them the kindness, love, and discipline of You. Prepare them for the battles they will face in this life. Strengthen them in You as their God. When they feel weak, insecure, uncertain, doubting, our estranged from You, lead them to the truth. Pray about a battle your child is facing.

▫️Our children would not be put to shame because they trust You. Cause them to know You. Make Christ their life. If they are in You and trusting You, they will be able to handle anything in this life. Bless our endeavors as parents to talk and live Your ways and Your words with our children as we sit together, do things together, share highs and lows, successes and failures together, and live life together. May You get the glory in our family.

May the Lord do exceedingly abundantly above all that we ask or think, for His glory and our good. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

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Photo credit to nixcreative

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