Cultivating Faith

Does doubt sneak up on you? Does it whisper that you can't do this? That it's too hard?

Do you worry you aren’t doing enough? Do you believe you've fallen behind?

Why do we let these thoughts debilitate us? Is it because we think it's all up to us? That we are 100% responsible for our children's education?

We aren't.

Charlotte Mason tells us, 

When we recognise that God does not make over the bringing up of children absolutely even to their parents, but that He works Himself, in ways which it must be our care not to hinder, in the training of every child, then we shall learn passiveness, humble and wise. 

And there it is. The most important element of Masterly Inactivity.

Confidence in God. 

Without it, life feels overwhelming. Homeschooling feels burdensome. And the peace that Jesus promised becomes hope deferred~ an unreachable, unfathomable wish.

But with confidence in God, the belief that He is working in our children's hearts each day~ teaching them, guiding them, counseling them far more than we ever could~ we can homeschool from a place of rest. We are able to be kind, calm, and generous, practicing that wise passiveness of Masterly Inactivity, knowing the Holy Spirit is working in every area of their lives.

Our Children are His

God is responsible for our children. He only needs our cooperation to come alongside and guide what His Holy Spirit is already doing and planning to do in their lives. 

This Living Translation promise from God is for your children. Let's read it with this truth applied.

For [our children] are God’s masterpieces. He has created [them] anew in Christ Jesus, so [they] can do the good things he planned for [them] long ago. Ephesians 2:10

God uniquely created our children for good works—works He specifically purposed for each of them before they were ever entrusted to us. 

God is responsible for our children’s present and future, and He will ensure they move in the direction He has planned for them. 

It’s His job, not ours.

Our job is to trust God and seek His guidance each day. To cultivate the faith to believe He is able.

We often find ourselves worrying about tomorrow. 

Yet all the tomorrows of our children’s lives are in His hands. 

Charlotte Mason urges to reach for “the serenity of the Madonna.” God chose Mary to be His Son’s mother because of her faith. 

I wonder how often Mary worried over the strangeness of her child. Perhaps he wasn’t accepted by all the neighborhood children. I have to believe she sought to remember the truths God had shown her years ago, shaking off her fears and renewing her faith in God’s plan for her son, God’s own Son. 

They are Deeply Loved

See what great love the Father has lavished on us, that we should be called children of God! And that is what we are! 1 John 3:1

Indeed! Our very own children are as beloved to God as Jesus. 

I in them, and thou in me, that they may be made perfect in one; and that the world may know that thou hast sent me, and hast loved them, as thou hast loved me. John 17:23

When we ponder the breathtaking truth that God loves our children as He loved His own Son, how can we doubt He’ll work everything out according to His perfect will? 

Why would we worry and fret when our children are loved by God, led by God, and will be perfected by God in spite of our sometimes clumsy efforts as a mother? 

Charlotte Mason wisely cautioned us, 

Where many of us err is in leaning too much to our own understanding and our own efforts, and not trusting sufficiently to the dutiful impulse which will carry children through the work they are expected to do. 

That dutiful impulse is the Divine Life, the Holy Spirit, at work in them. 

He Has a Plan for Them

God has a plan to prosper our children. We’ve made mistakes, missed things, and have been imperfect. But God knew that when He called us to homeschool.

He’s bigger than our imperfections.

Cultivate the belief that God is working in your children’s lives. Trust that He’s got it all covered and that He’ll take care of everything—including weaknesses in your child’s character, academic ability, personality, and even faith. 

God loves our children exceedingly more than we ever could. He is more invested in them. And He has great things planned for them—greater than our own plans for them. 

Great plans for a future and a hope!

It’s assuring to consider God knew our children long before we did. That every single day of their lives were written in His book before a single day came to be. 

Your eyes saw my unformed body; all the days ordained for me were written in your book before one of them came to be.  Psalm 139: 16

And the days God ordained for your children included you as their mother. He chose YOU for them.

Trust in His Promise

The Lord will accomplish what concerns me;
Your lovingkindness, O Lord, is everlasting;
Do not forsake the works of Your hands. Psalm 138:8

Rest in this beautiful promise that the Lord will fulfill His purposes for your children. His purposes for you.

Cast your cares on Him and reach for the serenity of the Madonna each moment of each day as you homeschool these precious ones entrusted to your care.

For more Charlotte Mason insight read here.