“But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen you and guard you from the evil one.” 2 Thessalonians 3:3
How many of us desire for our children to be safe and healthy? No sane parent would wish harm on their children! I often think of Joni Earekson Tada when I think of my children’s health and safety. Did her parents pray for her to be a quadriplegic so she could spread the gospel? Of course not! But the Bible is clear that we shouldn’t just pray for our children to be healthy and happy, but to trust God with them and their lives. God’s purposes will always prevail. Joni has reached millions of people with the hope of Christ; millions she probably wouldn’t have reached had she not broken her neck and become paralyzed. She can empathize with those suffering greatly, because she has suffered greatly. She can show them the hope she has in Christ, despite the immense suffering she has endured for most of her life.

So I encourage you to pray for your children’s health and safety, but pray that you (and your children) will trust the Lord with their health and safety. Pray that they will learn to seek Christ as their refuge in the storms of life (because storms will come…we are promised that). Pray that they seek His strength when the enemy’s arrows are flying.

The Lord is faithful. He will strengthen you. He will guard you from the evil one.

-Jenn