God’s Training You in the Way You Should Go

Teach children how they should live, and they will remember it all their life.

(Proverbs 22:6, GNT)

It’s been said that weeds don’t need anything special to grow. They don’t necessarily need water, sun, the right soil, or loving attention. They will grow under any kind of conditions, and in some places real or useful plants could not survive. But I’ve also heard it said that you don’t have to pull hard to get a weed to come up, their root system is not  as deep as a plants, a little tug and usually they will yield and come out with your hand. But flowers or plants have a deeper rooting system and you may have to work a bit harder to get them to come up from the place they are planted.

Solomon speaks a profound word here about child-rearing that can also be applied to other areas and things of life. Can even be applied to how God raises us up as children of his kingdom. Train up a child in the way they should go, teach them the things that are important, the life lessons that will hold them throughout life, give them the guidance they need even when they don’t know they need it, even when they are resistant, help them discover their gifts, talents and natural bent, help them become rooted in the things that matter, instruct them in the ways of kindness, goodness, self-control, perseverance, patience, integrity, anger-management, frugalness and good stewardship, kindness, compassion and the like, and when they become older, grown and living independently, they will not depart or forget these things that have been deeply planted in them; not even when they are into old age these ways will not be forgotten but still practiced.  

True, weeds don’t need anything. They will grow and go wild and become directionless all on their own, but children, even God’s children, like flowers or beautiful plants need plenty of tending and care and a watchful eye. Like a good and attentive parent tends and trains up their children, God tends and trains us up also. Let’s Pray,

In the kingdom of God, children of all ages need training up. Thank you, Lord, for continuing to train us up as we go through this life so when we are old and more mature we will not depart from those good things you have planted within us. with your training you make sure we are beautiful flowers and plants and not weeds. Amen

Questions for Soul-Tending:

What happens when you think of yourself, at your present age as a child that God is still training up? How is he training you? What life-lessons has he used to train you up?