Ty Houghtaling

I was reminded today that God “did not spare His own Son, but gave Him up for us all…” (Rom 8:32). God did not spare His Son. Christian parents, first of all, we can’t spare our children from all painful experiences, and secondly, we shouldn’t completely spare them hurt. God didn’t. Why did God allow His own Son to experience heartbreak, physical hurt, and loneliness? Scripture says it is “because of His great love for us” (Ephesians 2:4). That is also why we shouldn’t always spare our own children from pain or even suffering. Obviously, I am not saying we shouldn’t teach them how to be safe or protect them from danger, I am simply saying, pain and suffering can be good for our kids, and it can actually help them relate to our Savior. God did not spare His own Son, nor should we for the same reason; because we love them! Romans 8:18-39 should help us all think through the good that can come from suffering and pain. I am like you, I don’t want to experience things that hurt but like you I can see how God can use our present suffering, our kids enduring some pain, and His own grief over this broken world for our good, and thank God that He does.