Millions of Christian parents know the pain of raising a child in a Christian environment only to see that child far from God as an adult. If you are one of those parents, I want to encourage you.

I’m convinced that the shortest distance between the heart of your child and faith in Christ is you. Is it possible that God will lead your child to a vibrant faith in Christ apart from you? Yes. Could it be that the Lord has a plan to bring someone else into your child’s life who will encourage him or her to trust Christ? Certainly. Should we be praying for the Lord to use anyone and everyone to help our children follow God? Absolutely. But the way that God designed for children to come to Him is through their relationships with their parents. It’s the easiest and shortest route. No matter how strained, broken, or distant our relationship with our children, God has the power to use us and our unique roles as mothers or fathers to point our children to Jesus.