Lions, Tigers, and Bears

I do not live in a fairy tale. I know that there are dragons and monsters that lurk not only under my child’s bed, but right within the clutches of his hands and the wonders of his eyes. I grapple with this world’s decadence of decay and evil. I wrestle between wanting the rescue of my Savior to take us out of it and the will to remain and fight against it instead.

My exposure as a young girl to things I should not have seen, heard, or experienced have been a grace – a grace to know my child, even if surrounded by protective borders, may still not be safe. How do you raise a child in this kind of world? And how do you shield them from the people and things that would have their minds, hearts, bodies, and spirits? I have only two answers for you: you equip them and pray for them.

Though my child is only four years old today, there have already been too many things for which this momma’s heart has been enveloped in worry and fear. I could allow this fear to leave me paralyzed and hopeless. I could allow it to cause me to kidnap my child and the purpose for which we were both created to hide in a cave. Or I could allow it to propel me to wage war. I choose war.

When you consider the abuse, violence, and dysphoria that encapsulates our day, there is great evidence that the enemy has declared a full-on assault against our children. He is taking them out early and often – from the womb, to the school and playground, to the homes and beds we think they should be safe in.

I could highlight statistics on how many children will be sexually, mentally, emotionally, or physically abused by the time they are six-years-old. How many will see pornography by the time they are ten. How many will commit suicide before they graduate high school. And how many have been gunned down in the schools where they are supposed to be free to learn. But the statistics do not matter as far as one child’s life is concerned. One is too many.

There is much to prepare our children for, for in this world, lions, tigers, and bears are inevitable. But I do not want you to become overwhelmed. I do not want you to even become numb. Like the Apostle Paul, I do not want you to be unaware and I do not want you to leave your children unaware of the dangers that await them. Rather, I want you to respond steadily and intentionally for the souls of your children.

Where have you felt uncovered and unprotected as a child? What is it you wish someone had equipped or prepared you for that you suffered and may still be suffering for today? What knowledge could have led you to make better and more fruitful choices? What did you need to feel safe to say this has harmed me or alarmed me and to trust that you would be believed and responded to appropriately? Start there.

And when you have given your children insight, wisdom, and understanding, repeat these lessons again. Give them your ear as you pray to have theirs. Give them your attention and time as many captors and deceivers standby waiting to do the same. Give them a word with which they may arm themselves. And then pray. Pray for their hearts to be ones that love discipline, correction, knowledge, and wisdom. Pray that their feet would not travel paths that ensnare their souls. Pray that the One who neither sleeps nor slumbers would watch over and protect your children. That He will go with them wherever they go and that He would redeem and restore the things ravaged and stolen already.

To this day, I believe it was the prayers of my mother going up to God that rescued me time and again from one particular evil in this world. We must return to the instruction of our God who tells us to teach our children and to fervently pray for His intervention in our land.

Not sure where to start? The Proverbs contain a wealth of wisdom to teach your children and topics to further explore for their instruction. The Psalms are great to use as prayers for God’s protection and blessing over your children. A few prayer books to consider are: Praying Circles Around Your Children, The Power of a Praying Parent, The Power of a Praying Mom, Praying for Boys, Praying for Girls.