Let Them Cry Out to God

“Give thanks to the Lord for he is good! His faithful love endures forever.” Psalm 107:1

When our kid were tots, we would sit and read certain books over and over again. We turned the pages of “Say the Magic Word” more times than most. Back then, I thought I was teaching them manners. I especially wanted them to say please and thank you.  As time went by and they turned from toddlers to teens, I began to understand that respect and gratitude were born out of knowing the truth about God.

He loves us and has done great thing for us.

“Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them. ” Psalm 107:8

We want the best for our children. There is no question about it. However, there is a question about what is best. Our culture will tell you the best is having the best and being the best.

The best clothes.

The best athletes.

The best grades.

The best cars.

The best of anything we can see, touch or say “I am.”

How then, can we raise thankful kids when we are drenched in a culture where the best is defined by what we own or what we can accomplish?

The words in Psalm 107:8 are repeated three additional times in this Psalm of thanksgiving. “Let them praise the Lord for his great love and for the wonderful things he has done for them.” (vs. 15, 21, 31) Looking back on Israel’s history, we see that their thankfulness stems from knowing a God that saves, not from having it all and being the best.

They were in bondage, experienced illness, hopelessness and hardship. They caused some of their own pain, but at other times, they were caught in circumstances that were no fault of their own. They were at their wits end. (v. 27) Knowing that no man could rescue them from their trouble, they cried out to a loving and faithful God and they were thankful.

The entire Psalm in chapter 107 represents the redemptive story we see throughout the Old Testament. Through failures, suffering, and hardship the people of Israel cry out to the Lord, and experience the restoration of a loving and faithful God.

Have faith dear friend, so will your children – if you let them.

Let them make mistakes and cry out to God.

“ ‘Lord help!’ they cried in their trouble, and he saved them from their distress.” (v. 28)

I never want to see my children fail. But failing is an opportunity to see God work in their lives and be thankful. Instead of interfering and fixing their failures, teach them to rely on God for his mercies.

They will be thankful.

Let them struggle and cry out to God

“Then they cried out to the Lord in their trouble, he saved them from their distress. He sent out his word and healed them; he rescued them from the grave.” (vs. 19-20)

I don’t ever want my children to struggle or suffer, but I do want them to know a God that heals our hurts and gives life! Through their struggles and in their suffering, help them turn to God through prayer and to the life-giving, life-changing truth of his Word. You will see them draw strength from the Great Healer.

They will be thankful.

Let them go without and cry out to God

“But he also turns deserts into pools of water, the dry land into springs of water.” (v. 35)

God is the provider of all things, our needs and our wants. Every child is tempted to cry out to their parents, or grandparents, for what they want. But giving them too much of what want or think they need, can lead to false hope in material satisfaction.

We experienced some hard-financial times that taught me and our kids that hand-me-downs, second hand finds and eating at home instead of eating out have nothing to do with happiness.

God provided all we needed, but most of all he turned or hearts toward him and taught us to be content in knowing and trusting him for all things.

There were times when my heart hurt for my kids. Even now, though they are grown, sometimes it still does. When they were young, I had to say no more times than I wanted. But now I see them say yes to relying on a God that turns deserts into pools of water.

Teach them that God is all they need, they will be thankful.

Let them see you cry out to God

“Those who are wise will take this to heart; they will see in our history the faithful love of the Lord.” Psalm 107:43

The closing verse in Psalm 107 calls us, yes you and me, to be wise and take to heart God’s invitation. When we see our children struggle, remember, so does God.  He is not on the sidelines waiting for your intervention, he is waiting for you to cry out to him.

We will not always be here to pick up the pieces for our children. But we can leave a legacy so that they see the faithful love of the Lord and his work in us. Share on X

When we cry out to God in praise for all he has done, we are telling the story of his great love – a story our children will remember.

And they will be thankful.