RELEASE
When Love Lacks Correction:
“Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6) “Those whom I love I rebuke and discipline. So be earnest and repent.” (Revelation 3:19) Beloved, I want to speak to your hearts today, not with condemnation, but with compassion and truth. Parenting is one of the most sacred assignments God entrusts us with. It’s a calling filled with love, joy, sacrifice, and wisdom. And yes, sometimes it comes with mistakes too. Some of us, out of deep love for our children, gave them everything they wanted but not always what they needed. We opened our wallets, but sometimes closed our mouths when correction was needed. We gave comfort, but often held back the guidance. And now, as they’ve grown, we’re seeing the fruit of seeds that were never properly cultivated. They’ve become adults who argue, who won’t listen, who resist correction, because correction was never a regular part of their upbringing. Now they bring their friends around, those who mirror the same behavior, entitled, inconsiderate, and without a sense of responsibility. They enjoy the blessings of your home, your food, your kindness, but not one of them offers to help, because they’ve never been taught to. But here’s the good news: God’s grace is bigger than our past mistakes. If you’re watching your adult children live out patterns you now regret helping shape, take heart. God is not done. You may not be able to fix them, but HE can. Don’t carry the burden alone. Give them over to the ONE who knows them better than you do. Pray. Intercede. Release control and trust that God, the ultimate FATHER, can discipline in love where we fell short. The Bible says in (Hebrews 12:6), “For the Lord disciplines the one he loves, and chastises every son whom he receives.” Sometimes our silence in discipline wasn’t love; it was fear, fear of breaking their spirit. But love, real love, corrects. God does it with us, and HE calls us to do the same with those we raise. So if you see your children acting in ways you know aren’t right, don’t blame, don’t shame, just begin again at the altar. Stand in the gap for them. Pray for godly friends to enter their lives. Ask the Lord to soften their hearts and restore what was broken. And as for their friends, yes, even them, set boundaries. You’re not called to rescue everyone who walks through your door. Love them, yes. Be kind, yes. But don’t enable behavior that dishonors your home or the God you serve. You don’t need to make up for lost time by giving more things. Give them truth. Give them prayer. Give them room to grow by letting go. Only God can do the deep work of correction in a heart grown callous to discipline. So hand them over, not in defeat, but in faith. HE’s able. “With man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.” (Matthew 19:26) Amen