Hello, friends, and welcome back to Nations 4 Jesus. Today I want to talk about something that's deeply personal to me as a mom of six—something that challenges me, convicts me, and encourages me all at the same time.
It's about releasing our children to God. It's about raising them with an eternal perspective. And friends, it's about recognizing that the most important mission field we'll ever have might just be sitting at our kitchen table right now.
[Hannah's story - the powerful opening image]
Let me take you to a moment in Scripture that impacts me deeply every time I read it. Picture this: Hannah is embracing her little Samuel one last time. She's placing his small, timid fingers into the wrinkled hands of the old priest, Eli. And then... she lets go.
What thoughts must have filled her mind in that moment? What questions did she surrender to the Lord? As she looked back toward her son, what did her mother's heart feel? How could she walk away from the answer to all her prayers? How could she release this dream she had so desperately longed for—this dream that was now a real little boy looking up at her with questioning eyes and a quivering lip, trying to obey her loving instructions, trying to hold back his tears?
[The eternal perspective we don't have]
If only Hannah could have known at that moment how the story looks from our perspective! We know her Samuel would soon hear the audible voice of God. We know he would impact the entire nation of Israel. We know that this very act of her obedient surrender would be recorded and recalled for generations.
But Hannah didn't know the future. She only knew it was time to say goodbye and go home—childless once again. She must have turned her face quickly so Samuel wouldn't see her mixed emotions. As Hannah walked away, she released her little one into the mighty hand of God and chose to worship. And as she did, God's plan began to unfold.
Because this child was not just Hannah's dream—he was God's dream. At that time, the nation of Israel desperately needed a new spiritual leader, and God had found a mother desperate enough for Him to willingly yield to His plans.
[Our vital role as parents]
As parents, we don't always realize the importance of our vital role in the kingdom of God. Will we equip our children to fulfill God's purposes and reach for God's potential? Will we train our children to reach their world for Jesus? These aren't just nice questions—they're the questions that should shape every decision we make in raising our kids.
Through this podcast, I desire to light a spark for world missions—like God has lit in me—that will grow into a fire for the unsaved like you've never had before. I want God's love for unreached people to burn so strongly inside you that it will start spreading to others, specifically to your own children and to the young people you come in contact with.
[Personal struggle - the tension of faithfulness]
Now let me be really honest with you about something I wrestle with. Over the years, through Jeff's Air Force career, I've had opportunities to travel to dozens of countries and see many of our world's appalling needs firsthand. We lived in Japan, South Korea, and Hungary. We've adopted internationally. We've seen the needs up close.
But in this particular season of my life, I'm primarily called to be at home. I love being a mother, raising a family, and teaching children through homeschooling. But sometimes—and I'm just going to be real with you—I want to do more. Many days I wonder if I am "doing" enough, and I often struggle with a horrible "striving" mentality in my flesh.
When I hear of "big needs"—like the desperate need for world missions, the 3.4 billion unreached people who have never heard the Gospel even once—I feel this striving to want to do more. I want to be busy! I want to go! I want to be on the front lines!
Over 23 years of parenting six children I often feel like I'm meeting mostly "little needs"—like folding the clothes over and over, explaining that math problem again, cooking the next meal, washing the next dish, and simply watching my children grow. Can anyone else relate to this?
[The truth about faithfulness vs. striving]
Yet deep inside, I do know the truth. Raising and training children—and serving my husband—is important! "Striving," or mere "busyness," is not the same as "fruitfulness." All God really requires is for me to stay close to Him and obey Him, day by day.
Today the Lord is simply showing me to be faithful—that is, to love God and to support Jeff here at home. To be fruitful—to be a mother and to teach and train our children in the ways of the Lord. And to keep my eyes on the future—to eagerly anticipate the Lord's return and keep living in His joy.
Friends, this is what Proverbs 22:6 tells us: "Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it." And in the Great Commission, Jesus told us exactly what way we should go: "Go into all the world and preach the gospel" (Mark 16:15). We're called to raise our children to go into all the world!
[Jesus as our model - the ultimate missionary]
David Livingstone, the great missionary to Africa, said something profound: "God had only one Son, and He made Him a missionary." Think about that! Jesus came as our missionary to earth. He relinquished everything in heaven to provide the way for us—and all people—to come into relationship with Him. He knew the cost before Him, and the price He paid was beyond anything we could imagine.
Hebrews 12:2 says we are to look to Jesus, "the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame." Jesus' incredible love compelled Him to the cross. His burning desire was to fully obey the will of the Father, providing a way for humanity to be reconciled back to God.
Jesus was willing to sacrifice whatever it took: His position in heaven, His unsurpassed riches and glory, His reputation, and even His very life. He was whipped, beaten, tortured, and despised—all for the joy that was set before Him.
[The joy that led Jesus to the cross]
What was that joy? Isaiah 9:2-3 describes the joy of harvest as a light shining through darkness. There's rejoicing when a lost coin is found! There's joy when a shepherd finds a lost sheep or when a prodigal finally comes home! Luke 15:7 tells us that "there will be more joy in heaven over one sinner who repents than over ninety-nine just persons who need no repentance."
Friends, this is the joy that led Jesus to the cross—the joy of seeing lost people come home to the Father. So here's my question for us today: How many of us are so captivated by God's love that we would be willing to lay down everything to follow Him? And more importantly, are we raising our children to have that same captivation?
[Critical questions - examining our priorities]
We need to take a moment to consider our lives and our priorities from God's eternal perspective. Let me ask you some hard questions—questions I have to ask myself regularly. As we teach and train our children, what are we hoping they will achieve? Are we hoping they'll get into a good college, land a high-paying job, and live comfortably? Or are we hoping they'll impact eternity?
As we steward God's resources, what are we saving toward? A bigger house? A comfortable retirement? Or kingdom purposes? As we influence the next generation, what dreams are we instilling? Dreams of success and security? Or dreams of reaching the unreached?
And as we talk to God, what is the primary focus of our prayers? Our comfort and convenience? Or His glory among the nations?
[God's love flowing through us and our children]
As Christians, we must realize that God's love—His passionate, world-changing love—resides in us. Are we willing to allow this love to flow through us and through our children to the world? Second Corinthians 5:14-15 says, "For the love of Christ compels us... that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again."
Friends, like Hannah, we must realize that our child is actually God's child—entrusted to us for only a short time. We need to release our child to God and then follow His guidance to raise His child for His divine purposes! This is not our job; it's our calling. This is not our burden; it's our privilege.
[Five ways to raise mission-minded children]
So let me give you five practical ways to raise mission-minded children right now, right where you are. First, pray with your children for unreached people groups. Get a globe or a map. Pick a country from the 10/40 Window. Research it together, learn about the people there, and pray specifically for them.
Second, expose your children to missionary biographies. Read stories of Hudson Taylor, Amy Carmichael, Gladys Aylward, Jim Elliot. Let your kids see that following Jesus radically is normal Christianity, not exceptional Christianity.
Third, support a missionary family together as a family. Write letters, send care packages, pray for them regularly. Let your kids see that missions isn't just something "other people" do—it's something your family participates in.
Fourth, teach your children about persecution and the unreached. Don't shelter them from the reality of what's happening in God's global Church.
Fofth, release your expectations. Stop clinging to your own dreams for your children's futures. Ask God what His dreams are for them, and then parent toward those dreams instead.
[The hope - what God can do through surrendered children]
Friends, I don't know what God is calling your children to do. Maybe He's calling them to be missionaries in closed countries. Maybe He's calling them to be nurses who serve the poor. Maybe He's calling them to be business people who fund kingdom work. Maybe He's calling them to be faithful parents who raise the next generation of world-changers.
But here's what I do know: According to recent missions research, only about 3% of missionary efforts and resources are focused on reaching the 3.4 billion people in unreached people groups. That's a staggering gap! And God is looking for a generation of young people who will say, "Here I am, Lord. Send me."
Will your children be part of that generation? That depends largely on what we're teaching them today. What we're modeling for them. What we're praying over them. What we're releasing them to.
[The challenge - releasing them now]
So here's my challenge to you today: Start releasing your children to God right now. Not when they're 18 and leaving home—now. In your prayers, in your parenting, in your priorities. Stop holding them so tightly that God can't use them. Stop being so afraid of what might happen if they fully follow Jesus, that you subtly discourage radical obedience.
Hannah released Samuel when he was just a little boy, and God used him to change a nation. What might God do through your child if you release them fully to Him? You may never know in this lifetime. But one day in heaven, you might meet someone who came to Christ because your child was obedient to go. You might hear stories of lives changed, churches planted, and darkness penetrated—all because you raised your child to love the things God loves.
[Closing prayer and encouragement]
Let me pray for us:
Thank you for joining me today, friends. I know this episode might have challenged some of your thinking about parenting and priorities. That's okay. Let God stir your heart. Let Him show you what it means to release your children to Him. And remember, the most important mission field you'll ever have sits around your kitchen table.
Until next time, keep your eyes on the nations and keep faithfully raising the next generation of world-changers.
