For many years, the writings of Charles Spurgeon (1834-1892) have been a perpetual source of encouragement to me. Next to the Holy Scriptures themselves, no other writings have so enriched my walk with God. In my darkest moments, Spurgeon's scriptural reflections and applications have been a tonic to my soul.
No doubt one of the reasons that Spurgeon's words brought such great comfort to his hearers was because he himself struggled with depression. The apostle Paul tells us in 2 Corinthians 1 that we as believers are able to comfort others with the same comfort we ourselves have received from God.
One such word of comfort is extended to parents who find themselves disheartened in their child-rearing efforts. Parenting is one of the toughest challenges we face as believers on earth. We face many hindrances, not the least of which is our own fallenness and susceptibility to sin. Recall Jesus' words in Matthew 7 when He said, "If you then, being evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more shall our Father who is in heaven give what is good to those who ask Him!" (italics added). Compared to our holy heavenly Father, we earthly parents are evil. Still, we love our children and know how to give good things to them.
Yes, our own sinfulness as parents creates a hindrance in our attempts to shepherd our children. But provided that we are making it our aim to please Christ in all that we say and do, fighting the good fight of faith, the battle grows weary when our children persist in their sin. Nothing is more painful than when our children refuse the best that we can offer them: the gospel and all the promise it holds forth for their lives. Some reject the gospel altogether, showing no interest in having a personal relationship with Jesus Christ. Others "claim to know God, but by their actions they deny Him" (Titus 1:16). Still others are like the Galatians: after starting their Christian lives by the Spirit, they're trying to become perfect by their own human efforts - and failing miserably.
Be encouraged by what Charles Spurgeon writes in the September 17 morning entry of his devotional classic Morning & Evening. These are beautiful words for beleaguered parents, based on Jesus' words in Mark 9:19, "Bring him unto me."
Despairingly, the poor, disappointed father turned away from the disciples to their Master. His son was in the worst possible condition, and all means had failed. But the pitiful child was soon delivered from the evil one when the parent, in faith, obeyed the Lord Jesus' word, "Bring him unto me." Children are a precious gift from God, but much anxiety comes with them. They may be a great joy or a great bitterness to their parents. They may be filled with the Spirit of God or possessed with the spirit of evil. In all cases, the Word of God gives us one prescription for the curing of all their ills, "Bring [them] unto me." Oh, for more agonizing on their behalf while they are yet babies! Sin is there, so let our prayers begin to attack it. Our cries for our offspring should precede those cries that announce their actual advent into the world of sin. In the days of their youth, we will see sad indicators of that dumb and deaf spirit that will neither pray aright, nor hear the voice of God in the soul. Still, Jesus commands, "Bring [them] unto me." When they are grown up, they may wallow in sin and display enmity against God. Then, when our hearts are breaking, we should remember the Great Physician's words, "Bring [them] unto me." We must never cease to pray until they cease to breathe. No case is hopeless while Jesus lives. The Lord sometimes allows His people to be driven into a corner so that they may know how necessary He is to them. Ungodly children, when they show us our own powerlessness against the depravity of their hearts, drive us to flee to the Strong One for strength, and this is a great blessing to us. Whatever our ... need may be, let it, like a strong current, bear us to the ocean of divine love. Jesus can soon remove our sorrow. He delights to comfort us. Let us hasten to Him while He waits to meet us.