Modeling Faith: Disrupting Spiritual Dilemmas in Our Children’s Lives

“Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength.
These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts.
Impress them on your children.
Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road,
when you lie down and when you get up.”
— Deuteronomy 6:5–7 (NIV)

When Faith Becomes More Than Words

Faith is meant to be seen, not just said. Deuteronomy 6 doesn’t just tell parents to teach their children about God; it calls them to live their faith so consistently that it spills into every part of life—sitting at home, walking down the road, lying down, getting up. In short, our homes are meant to be living classrooms of belief.

But here’s where many of us quietly struggle: we want our kids to know God deeply, yet we often settle for simply telling them about Him. We urge them to pray—but they rarely see us pray. We tell them to trust God—but they watch us worry. We talk about forgiveness—but they hear the way we rehearse old grudges. And somewhere along the way, they start to wonder if God really changes anything at all.

The Disconnect Our Kids Notice

Children are spiritual observers long before they become spiritual participants. They’re constantly learning—by watching. When our actions don’t match our words, it creates what I call a spiritual dilemma in their hearts:

“If faith is supposed to be powerful, why doesn’t it seem to shape the people who talk about it most?”

That question—unspoken but deeply felt—can echo for years. It’s not unbelief that drives most young people away from faith; it’s disappointment. They’ve heard about a living God, but they haven’t always seen Him lived out.

The Faith They See Is Likely the Faith They’ll Believe

Deuteronomy 6 calls us to embody love for God “with all our heart, soul, and strength.” That’s not a one-hour-church kind of faith—it’s a lifestyle that breathes God’s presence into everyday moments. When our children see us pray through our confusion, worship through our pain, and choose integrity when no one’s watching, they begin to understand something sacred:

Faith is not a theory—it’s a way of life.

And that realization disrupts every spiritual dilemma.

Let’s Be Honest

If someone watched your week play out on camera—your tone at home, your habits when you’re tired, your reactions when life stings—what would they learn about your God? That’s not a guilt question; it’s an invitation. Because the greatest witness to our children isn’t perfection—it’s authenticity. Let them see you struggle and still believe. Let them catch you repenting, forgiving, and trying again. That’s the home of credibility.

A Simple Challenge for This Week

Don’t just talk about faith—model it. Pray out loud. Say sorry first. Turn off the noise and read the Bible together. Let your kids see your love for God in action, not just in conversation. Because one day, when they face their own doubts, they won’t just remember what you said about God—they’ll remember what they saw in you.

Closing Prayer

Heavenly Father,
Help me to live a faith for myself and my children. When my words fall short, please let my actions reveal to  them who You are. May they see Your patience in my tone, Your mercy in my forgiveness, Your peace in my storms, and Your joy in my gratitude. May my life make You believable so that the faith that is seen becomes the faith that is believed. In Jesus' name, Amen!