“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
Parenting is more than teaching manners or helping with homework; it is a sacred calling to nurture and guide each child according to the plan God has for them. Each child is fearfully and wonderfully made (Psalm 139:14), with unique gifts, callings, and destinies. As parents, we are entrusted not just with their physical needs, but with helping them grow into the people God created them to be.
To raise a child according to their purpose requires seeking God continually. It requires listening for His voice in prayer, observing their God-given talents, and encouraging them in ways that align with His calling. Like Samuel’s mother Hannah, who dedicated Samuel to God (1 Samuel 1:27-28), parents can dedicate their children’s lives to God, trusting Him to guide them.
God also reminds us that discipline is part of raising children with purpose: “Discipline your son, and he will give you rest; he will give delight to your heart” (Proverbs 29:17). Discipline, when rooted in love, helps shape character, teaches responsibility, and aligns children with God’s plan.
Every decision we make—from the words we speak to the environment we create—can steer our children toward their God-given purpose. Let us seek wisdom from the Lord, as James 1:5 says: “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God, who gives to all liberally and without reproach, and it will be given to him.”
When we raise children in the way they should go, we are not just shaping their present, but investing in their eternal destinies.