Children Are Who God Says They Are

It happened quickly, almost offhandedly. A casual joke about my child’s clothing choices slipped out during a conversation with other adults and while laughter bounced around the room, my spirit sank.

I wanted to take the words back the second they left my mouth. But they were already out there and they revealed something deeper a heart momentarily misaligned with the truth God speaks over children.

What names do we use for children and where do they come from?

It’s easy, even for devoted parents, to echo the world’s terms: chaotic, burdensome, overwhelming. In moments of fatigue or frustration, we may reduce the beauty of childhood to mere inconvenience. But Scripture paints an entirely different picture one we must reclaim, one that aligns our hearts with the Kingdom’s perspective.

Children are not “someday blessings.” They are God’s good gifts right now. Psalm 127 reminds us that “children are a heritage from the Lord… a reward.” That is not future tense. It’s a present reality. The fullness, noise, needs, and questions they bring? All part of that reward.

Scripture names children with honor

• Heritage–In Hebrew culture, a heritage was a sacred inheritance, passed down to preserve identity and blessing. Children, then, are not just ours to raise; they are God’s legacy placed into our care.

• Reward–God gives children not as burdens to bear, but as joyful treasures to cherish. A 2021 Barna study found that 70% of Christian parents view parenting as the most significant role they’ll ever play. That’s not pressure that’s holy purpose.

• Arrows–Psalm 127 continues with this image: “Like arrows in the hand of a warrior are the children of one’s youth.” Arrows must be shaped, sharpened, and aimed with care but they are, in and of themselves, powerful tools in God’s hands.

When we treasure the names God gives, our entire posture changes

Too often, we operate on survival mode, caught up in feeding, driving, correcting, and soothing. We start describing our lives in terms of exhaustion rather than joy. But when we view our children through the lens of Scripture as models of faith (Matthew 18:3), as recipients of God’s promises (Acts 2:39), as the very picture of what Jesus welcomes into His presence our speech begins to align with heaven.

Our words matter more than we realize

The power of life and death is in the tongue (Proverbs 18:21). And children are listening. Not only do our words reflect our theology, but they shape the self-image of the little ears that hear them. A mother’s jokes, sighs, and throwaway comments can echo in a child’s heart long after the moment has passed. But so can her affirmations, prayers, and joyful declarations.

Let’s be the kind of mothers who say, “I’m not busy, I’m blessed.” Who declare, “You’re not chaos, you’re Christ’s.” Who testify, “You’re not a disruption, you’re a divine gift.”

Jesus welcomed children and rebuked those who stood in their way

When the disciples tried to keep little ones away, Jesus said, “Let the children come to me… for to such belongs the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). What would it look like to let our children come not only to Him, but to us? To our laps, our ears, our hearts?

That might mean giving them our late-night time, our aching shoulders, our full attention. It might mean allowing them to play with our hair while they talk, or asking to hear the long-winded stories about their day. Every moment of presence is a holy offering. It echoes 1 Thessalonians 2:8: “We were delighted to share with you not only the gospel of God but our lives as well.”

We honor Christ by honoring our children

This doesn’t mean we ignore challenges or pretend motherhood isn’t costly. But even when seeking counsel, we can honor our children in how we speak. A 2023 Lifeway survey found that parents who regularly affirm their children’s value and purpose are significantly more likely to raise kids who remain in the faith into adulthood.

Let your gospel witness begin with your words about your own. Let it be heard in homes, echoed in church foyers, and seen on the sidelines.

Tell the truth about children not just what’s obvious, but what’s eternal

They are God’s gifts. They are treasures, not trials. And yes, they can be loud, needy, unpredictable and still be absolutely precious. One day, the house will fall silent. The crumbs will stop appearing under the couch. The noise will cease. And we will miss it all.

But today, we can choose to see through heaven’s eyes. And when needed, we can go back to our children not just to correct them, but to confess our own failings. That moment of honest reconciliation can be one of the most powerful demonstrations of grace they ever see.

Tell your child: “You are who God says you are. I’m honored to be your mother. You are my blessing, not my burden. You are not an inconvenience you’re my inheritance.”

Tell the world: Children are not chaos they are Christ’s.

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