Even as Christian parents, believing with confident expectation is something we can all have a hard time with. The best way we can teach our old and young children about it is to be open and honest while guiding them through a study of what this means. Life experience alone isn’t always enough, which is why I’d like to share a few practical tips for teaching our kids to hope with confident expectation in a way that sticks.
Ways to Teach our Kids to Hope with Confident Expectation
Introduce them to the core value of hope.
God’s Word is always a great place to start when looking to define Bible things in Bible ways. With there being many Scriptures about hope, you can start with a definition of biblical hope, followed by different stories in the Bible that show hope in action. It’s also a great time to discuss the opposite of hope, which often is doubt. Choose a verse or two to highlight at a time and use them to do Word studies.
Highlight what hope looks like in daily life.
Teaching new things to our kids may not always connect at the time of teaching it. When it comes to this concept and raising confident kids, it’s important to help them make the connections sooner than later. Have them think about the different things they encounter throughout any given day and discuss any situations where they can exhibit godly confidence. This can be anything from trying something new to being unsure of how to approach something and the like.
Teach your kids the positive effects of living a lifestyle of confident hope.
Oftentimes, children may not understand why they need to live a certain way. It may not always be evident, which is why you can share with them the benefits of living hope. A few examples are:
- Overcoming peer pressure.
- Being in control of one’s own feelings.
- Truly feeling the power of the Holy Spirit.
- Having a way to deal with negative emotions.
- Enhanced social behavior.
- Living a life built on biblical truths.
Use a reliable study resource.
This can be a number of things. To help with a growth mindset in hoping with confident expectation, you may want to use a study Bible, concordance, journal, or a combination of them and other resources. As part of my Mommy & Me Scripture journal series, I focus on hope specifically revolving around confident expectation because I wanted my kids to be rooted in the kind of self-worth that branches from true hope in Jesus. Read more about this journal and grab your copy below.
Hope: Confident Expectation Mommy & Me Scripture Journals
This month’s theme focuses on hope. In the modern world, we use the word “hope” differently than the word is used in scripture. In our world today a child might say, “I really hope I get that special present for Christmas.” This use of the word “hope” is a sort of wishful desire or wishful thinking. There is no expectation that the child will receive the gift. The child simply desires the gift and hopes/wishes that his desire will come true. Like an adult might hope they meet the perfect date or land the perfect job.
As you read and copy the Scriptures this month with your children, we encourage you to read the verses aloud. Feel free to read the surrounding context and discuss with your children what hope means in the passage. Ask, “what is the writer confidently expecting from God?”
Final Thoughts
One of our biggest goals as believers is to not only raise children who are secure in their faith but who can also genuinely experience the unchanging assurance that their relationship with Jesus is secure. A lot of time is often spent on learning Scripture but we should also spend a significant amount of time on making sure they know how to walk it out.
Annette lived many years as an exhausted wife of 1 and mother of 6. Grab your fuzzy blanket, pour your favorite drink, and browse through our encouraging tips, printables, and curriculum options. Read more about me and the ministry here at In All You Do
This Post Has 4 Comments
Amazing advice! I love the idea of mommy and me Bible journaling. What a wonderful experience to share with your kids. I have done my own Bible journaling for years, and my kids also have their own Bible journals that they work through, but we don’t necessarily go through it together. Great idea!
It is a wonderful way to bond and build that relationship with your children, as well as with God!
Great read and I love the scripture journals!
Thank you!