“When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”
– Isaiah 43:2 (NIV)
Whether you have cuddly little preschool girls who are toddling around your house or budding young adults about to leave the nest, it is very important to understand how the culture is influencing their developing hearts and minds. We should never underestimate its force, which is like a powerful river that carries everything downstream with it. Protecting them from its ravages is far easier when they are young, of course—it becomes increasingly difficult with the passage of time. That is why a primary goal of parenting should be to introduce your children to moral and spiritual values during the early years. These underpinnings will help keep them afloat when the floodwaters come in spring.
Let’s talk about that challenge. In years gone by, the River of Culture was a gentle stream that carried children along toward adulthood. Most of my friends and I made the journey with hardly a ripple. Today, parents are aware that the quiet waters have become like the raging Colorado River crashing through the Grand Canyon. There are numerous places where the rapids threaten to drown those whose rafts are not piloted by an experienced oarsman.
Many of today’s teens are experiencing a river that flooded its banks in the sixties and seventies, long before this generation was born. That’s when a sexual and social revolution inundated the Western world. Overnight, an ideology swept over the landscape and convinced the younger generation that if it feels good, they should certainly do it and that there are no unpleasant consequences for defying time-honored standards of right and wrong.
I plead with mothers and fathers to be there for your kids when the pressure is on. You hold the keys to their survival, and you must not be too busy to notice what is coming down. My parents were there for me during a similar crisis in my thirteenth year, and they ushered me into a world of broad sunlight. You can do the same for the children who desperately need your love and attention. Teach them skills that will give them a sense of identity; treat them with dignity and respect, even when they fail to earn it at times; choose your words very carefully during periods of greatest sensitivity; and help them make friends by opening your home and your heart to lost kids looking for a safe place. There are no magic answers, but there are good answers. Remember that this girl who is driving you crazy will someday be your best friend, if you handle her with care.
From Dr. James Dobson’s book, Bringing Up Girls.
Pray Over Your Daughter
Dear Heavenly Father,
I come before You now, acknowledging the powerful influence our modern culture can have on my daughter. I recognize the challenges she faces, which are like a raging river threatening to sweep her away. I ask for Your protection and guidance, Lord, as I strive to instill in her strong moral and spiritual values. Help me to be present and attentive, offering love, support, and wisdom when she needs it most. Grant me the strength and discernment to navigate these turbulent waters alongside her, teaching her to find her worth and identity in You rather than in worldly achievements that won’t last. May I raise my daughter to fear and honor You above all else, standing firm in her faith amid the currents of cultural pressures.
In Jesus’ name, I pray. Amen.
Put It Into Practice
- Help your daughter know where her worth comes from. Remind her that beauty, popularity, achievement, and cultural approval are temporary. Teach her to find her identity and value in God.
- Be present when the pressure is on. Pay attention to what your daughter is facing, especially during sensitive seasons. Listen carefully, choose your words wisely, and make sure she knows she can come to you.
- Give her a strong spiritual foundation. Talk regularly about biblical truth and help her understand why your family believes what it believes. The values you establish today can help steady her when cultural pressures intensify.