We were having lunch after church and he just asked it straight up. Why does God let people get sick? Why did his friend's dad leave? I froze honestly. I gave him some answer about free will and God's plan but I don't know if it landed. I want him to have real faith, not just the stuff we tell kids to make them feel better. How do you guys handle the hard questions from your kids?
Kids ask the hardest questions, right? I think it's okay to say you don't have all the answers but what you do know is God's there with us through the tough stuff.
That's a real question and the fact that you didn't dodge it is what matters. I'd say something like sometimes bad things happen but we get to choose how we respond and help others through it.
That's a tough one. I remember my oldest asking something similar a few years back. Ended up having a real conversation about faith meaning we trust even when we don't understand. Not sure I nailed it but at least he knew I was taking him seriously.
Heavy stuff. I've had this conversation with my boys too. What helped was focusing on how we can be part of God's answer - like how doctors help heal people, how communities support each other. Made it less about why bad things happen and more about what we do about it.
Sign in to join the conversation.
Man, those are the questions that keep you up at night. I think the honest answer is admitting you don't have all the answers. My kids actually respected me more when I said 'I don't know, but here's what I believe' rather than trying to have some perfect response.