In a world full of noise, distraction, and pressure, raising children to know and love God can feel like cultivating a garden in unpredictable weather. The soil may be good, the seed may be strong, but unless we keep watch, weeds can quickly take root and crowd out what matters most.
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!We spend much of our summer pulling and being on the watch out for weeds. It seems that almost overnight, weeds can pop up! We spent many Saturday mornings or Sunday afternoons taking on the weeds in one area of the garden at a time. It became a family affair. We would spend time talking about the importance of pulling the weeds to our plants can grow and produce food for our family.
Just like in a garden, faith must be nurtured, and weeds must be pulled.
“Above all else, guard your heart, for everything you do flows from it.” — Proverbs 4:23
Model Faith Before You Teach It
Children catch more than they’re taught. When they see us pray, read Scripture, extend forgiveness, or trust God in difficulty, they learn what real faith looks like.
Do you find it hard to keep up with your readings and make time to find quiet time? That has always been a challenge for me. I tend to start my day going full speed ahead and not slowing down until bedtime.
I often remind myself of the importance of modeling quiet time for my kids, but I often seem to push it off. What have you done that works for you? One thing we tried this summer was to focus on the fruit of the Spirit. I found that if I brought the kids along with me, it was much easier to focus on reading scripture and incorporating it into our daily lives.
You are the soil their roots grow in. Make it rich with grace, truth, and consistency. Building consistency into our daily lives is important to building strong Christians. I hope that one day, through our daily talks that our kids will continue to want to learning through the bible. When do you find is the best time to model your Bible time? Do you have a certain time of day or do you just sprinkle it in whenever you get the chance?
“Follow my example, as I follow the example of Christ.” — 1 Corinthians 11:1
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children.” — Deuteronomy 6:6–7
Recognize the Weeds
In every child’s spiritual life, weeds will try to creep in. They might look like:
- Distraction (endless screens and entertainment)
- Doubt (cultural voices that mock faith)
- Busyness (no time left for rest or reflection)
- Bitterness (unresolved hurt or unforgiveness)
These things, left unchecked, can choke the good seed of faith. Be vigilant—not fearful, but attentive. Faith grows best in hearts that are tended with love and truth. Just as a gardener daily checks the soil, parents are called to gently notice when something is stealing their child’s joy, peace, or focus on God. Sometimes weeds begin small—an attitude, a friendship, a habit—but if left alone, they can take root and spread.
The goal isn’t perfection; it’s presence. We guard our homes and hearts not out of fear, but because we treasure what God has planted.
“The seed falling among the thorns refers to someone who hears the word, but the worries of this life and the deceitfulness of wealth choke the word, making it unfruitful.” — Matthew 13:22
Help Them Pull Weeds Early
We don’t just point out the weeds—we get in the soil with them. Teach your kids how to:
- Talk about doubts without shame
- Prioritize quiet over constant stimulation
- Forgive quickly and ask for forgiveness
- Rest and Sabbath even when others don’t
Faith doesn’t grow by force. It grows by tending. Real faith takes root when love, not pressure, leads the process. You can’t rush spiritual growth any more than you can make a flower bloom by pulling on its petals. Instead, it needs the steady rhythms of sunlight and water—the Word of God and the warmth of grace.
Children’s hearts open most when they feel seen, safe, and valued. When correction is paired with compassion, and truth is spoken in love, the soil of their soul stays soft and ready for God’s work.
Keep watering with encouragement. Keep pruning with patience. Keep trusting the Master Gardener, who knows exactly what each little plant needs to thrive.
“Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.” — Proverbs 22:6
“Bear one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.” — Galatians 6:2
Keep Planting, Keep Praying
Some seeds take time to sprout. You may not see immediate fruit, but God is always at work beneath the surface. Your consistency, your prayers, your patient love—it matters.
“Let us not grow weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.” — Galatians 6:9
“The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.” — James 5:16
Final Thought
Faith isn’t just taught—it’s lived. And like any good garden, the work is ongoing: sowing truth, watering with grace, pulling weeds with care. With God’s help, we can raise kids whose faith takes root, grows strong, and bears fruit that lasts.
“They will be called oaks of righteousness, a planting of the Lord for the display of His splendor.” — Isaiah 61:3