Love always trusts; we know this verse, yet many do not apply it to God and our kids. So let me expand. If we love God, we will trust Him with our kids’ lives. He entrusted them to us. He knit them together, He formed them in the womb, and He loves them more than we do. In fact, our love for them pales compared to His love for them.
Often parents’ love is conditional: if their kids listen, if they do well in school, sports, occupation, we love them a lot. But as soon as they are disrespectful, or dishonoring, or not live up to expectations in school, sports, or they get what we think are lousy jobs, or we do not approve of their mate, disappointment sets in and our love wanes. That is not agape love.
God loves them, even if they don’t obey His word, sin big time, fall down in their education or any part of their development; God loves them unconditionally. There was never a time that Jesus didn’t love them. Parents should follow the Master, who shows us the way to the zoe life, where family can have Maximum Impact.
When we see our kids falling short, in sin, in disrespect, in any area, we start to press, control, exercise our right as parents to demand a higher level of effort, or holiness. Parents think this is the right of parents, because we brought them into the world and want the best for them.
But is this way the best? Not according to Paul.
2 COR 1: 23 Moreover I call God as witness against my soul, that to spare you I came no more to Corinth. 24 Not that we have dominion over your faith, but are fellow workers for your joy; for by faith you stand. (2Cor 1:23-24, NKJV)
According to the Barnes commentary, Paul had apostolic authority over the Corinthians, but he did not utilize it. He did not use his “power to command obedience.” He did not bring discipline to get the Corinthians to grow their faith.
His goal was to promote their “highest happiness” so he “chose the mildest and gentlest manner possible…(but) sent an affectionate and tender letter.” He refused to “lord it over God’s heritage.” Faith must be free, and religion must be free, or they cannot exist at all.