Consider something with me for a moment. You are the exact parents God gave to your exact children for this exact moment in time. Do you believe that?

The word “exact” means “not approximated in any way; precise.” Whether you’re considering the current global crisis or looking at your average day, you’re the ones God chose for the job. You are the exact parent God ordained for your kids at this moment in history.

Can God be trusted?

How does the above reality strike you? That truth can hit you as either refreshing or overwhelming depending on how you view God. Can God be trusted? Is he good? Does he want what’s ultimately best for you? And, will God use this situation for his divine purposes, or is he passively observing? Big questions indeed.

The book of Job gives us some guidance. The overarching theme throughout the book, and as Job comes to realize, is that though we can’t always see the reasons why we suffer, we can STILL trust God and trust that he is good. He is still worthy of our worship regardless of our circumstances. That’s a hard truth to grasp, but when we do, everything changes.

For Job, he was resigned to God’s goodness and providence regardless of his circumstance. He continually staked his existence on God’s trustworthy character, saying, “I know that my redeemer lives, and that in the end he will stand on the earth.” (Job 19:25)

Tested resolve

Now, looking at our current situation as parents… there is no doubt that our patience and resolve will be tested in nearly every way because of the COVID-19 pandemic. Blurring (erasing, really) the lines between home, school, and work so rapidly is not something many of us were prepared for. Add to that the potential of losing income or a job, and the stress is magnified.

• Will we be able to provide?
• Will we survive home educating?
• How can I think about providing emotional support for my kids if I can’t even provide for their physical needs?

No encouragement we can offer will make sense apart from trusting God. Only when we resign ourselves to his sovereignty (easier said than done!!) can we begin to feel his deep, lasting peace (John 14:27).

So, Christian, be encouraged. God has promised to work in every season for your good (Romans 8:28), he has promised to provide for your every need (Phil 4:19), and he has promised to never leave or forsake you (Heb 13:5). It is on these promises that we can—we must—rest as parents, trusting that he has called us to be the exact parents for our exact kids, to accomplish God’s exact purposes at this exact time.