Children Grow Up
- Strength For Life
- 8 hours ago
- 4 min read
“Train up a child in the way he should go: and when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Proverbs 22:6).
Children grow up.
It sounds simple enough, but every parent eventually discovers how quickly those words become reality. One day they are reaching up for your hand, asking you to carry them across a stream. The next day they are following your footsteps across mountains, eager to prove they can do what mom and dad do.
A few days ago, I found myself standing at the base of Sheep Eaters Cliff in Wyoming. The cliff rises high above the valley, surrounded by some of the most beautiful scenery God ever spoke into existence. The mountains stretch into the distance. Pine trees cover the hillsides. The wind carries the unmistakable smell of wilderness that reminds a man just how small he really is.
At forty-two years old, I looked up at that cliff and decided I could still climb this same cliff I did as a teen, but this time my 12-year-old daughter watched.
I picked my route and started making my way up. I climbed over rocks that the years had cast down, found handholds as I reached the steep, vertical face of the cliff, and slowly worked my way higher. When I reached the top and looked down, I noticed something that made me smile: My daughter was climbing too.
Here is one of the great truths of parenting. Children are always watching. They listen less than we think and observe more than we realize. They watch how we treat our spouses. They watch how we handle frustration. They watch how we speak to strangers, how we respond to disappointment, and how we worship God.
That is why Proverbs tells us to train a child in the way he should go. The verse does not promise that every child will always make perfect decisions. Any parent who has ever raised a child knows that children stumble, wander, and sometimes test every lesson they have been taught. The promise is found in the last part of the verse: “when he is old, he will not depart from it.”
Children are still learning. They are still growing. They are discovering who they are. They will make mistakes. They will occasionally ignore good counsel. They will sometimes choose the hard way when wisdom has already shown them the easy path.
Years later, when they are adults facing life’s challenges, the truths of childhood often come rushing back. The Scripture memorized as a child suddenly has meaning. The prayers offered around the dinner table become their own prayers. The example of a faithful father or mother becomes a pattern they follow.
As I watched my daughter climb that cliff, I realized she was doing more than climbing rocks. She was learning courage. She was learning perseverance. She was learning that difficult things are often worth doing. Most importantly, she was learning by my example.
Children grow up. And soon they become the adults they have been preparing to be all along.
The beauty of God’s creation reminds us of another truth. Everything God created grows according to His design. The tiny seed becomes a mighty tree. The fawn becomes a deer. Growth is part of God’s plan. Just as Peter said, “Grow in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ” (2 Pet. 3:18).
In many ways, Christians are like children. The moment we trust Christ, we are born into God’s family, but we do not instantly become mature believers. We must learn from the scriptures, from the elders, and from the Spirit, just as Peter encouraged believers, “As newborn babes, desire the sincere milk of the word, that ye may grow thereby” (1 Pet, 2:2).
A young Christian who studies the Bible, attends church faithfully, and learns from Godly pastors and teachers is much like a child receiving proper training. The Word of God provides direction. Godly mentors provide encouragement. The local church provides fellowship and accountability.
Paul wrote that God gave pastors and teachers “for the perfecting of the saints” (Eph. 4:12). In other words, they do not merely fill time on Sunday mornings. Their purpose is to help believers grow into mature Christians. Just as parents guide children into adulthood, God uses His Word and His servants to guide His people into stability.
A believer who spends years learning Scripture develops deep roots. Trials may come. Storms may rage. Temptations may appear. Yet those truths learned early continue to anchor the soul. And as we age, the lesson from Proverbs 22:6 remains. The Christian who is trained in the Word of God may stumble at times, but the truth does not disappear. The foundation remains beneath his feet.
That day at Sheep Eaters Cliff, I enjoyed the view from the top. The mountains were magnificent. The valleys were breathtaking. God’s creation showcased a display no photograph could fully capture. But what I remember most is not the scenery. I remember looking down and seeing my daughter climbing. Growing. Because children grow up.
And by God’s grace, if we train them well, teach them faithfully, and live before them consistently, the lessons we plant today will guide them for the rest of their lives.
The same is true for Christians. We begin as children in the faith, needing guidance and instruction. Yet through God’s Word, faithful teaching, and years of growth, we become stronger than we once were.
Children grow up. Christians should too.
And as you stumble, as you grow, “thine ears shall hear a word behind thee,” the voice of Jesus Christ, saying, “This is the way, walk ye in it” (Isaiah 30:21).
The above article was written by Jonathan Thornton. He is a military veteran and member of NorthStone Baptist Church in Pensacola, FL. To offer him your feedback, comment below or email us at strengthforlife461@gmail.com.
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