Helping your kids make brave, God-led choices

As moms, we’ve all seen it—one child who wants to say yes to everything and another who wants to say no to anything new. One jumps in because they don’t want to miss out; the other hangs back because it all feels too big. These responses may look opposite, but both can be rooted in the same thing: fear.

Fear of missing something.
Fear of being uncomfortable.
Fear of being seen.
Fear of disappointing someone.

And here’s the truth: fear is never meant to lead our children.

One of the greatest gifts we can give our kids is helping them pause before making decisions and ask, “Jesus, where do You want me right now?” It’s a simple question, but it begins building discernment—teaching them to follow God’s peace instead of pressure, panic, or people-pleasing.

Every invitation—playdates, birthday parties, sports practices, school activities—becomes an opportunity for spiritual training. Not training them to avoid challenge or chase excitement, but to listen, notice peace, and obey God’s gentle leading.

We don’t need to push our kids into every opportunity or protect them from all of them. We simply need to walk alongside them as they learn to recognize God’s voice. When children learn to hear Him in small decisions, they grow into young people who can follow Him in the big ones.

Imagine raising kids who aren’t led by fear… but by the peace of Jesus. That’s the heart of helping them make brave, God-led choices.