Acts 14:19-20 “19 But Jews came from Antioch and Iconium, and having won over the crowds, they stoned Paul and dragged him out of the city, supposing him to be dead. 20 But while the disciples stood around him, he got up and entered the city. The next day he went away with Barnabas to Derbe.”

BEAT DOWN

Wouldn’t you have loved to be there at this scene? Paul had been revered as a god just days earlier when he healed someone, but how quickly the crowd turned. (That should be a warning to us all concerning the praise of men, by the way.) They drag Paul out of the city and stone him, trying to kill him. But Paul just gets up and walks back into the city.

What!!!! I would have run as fast as I could out of town and kept running. But Paul, full of the Holy Spirit, goes back to town like nothing has happened. His calling was more powerful than his falling. Yes, I just made that up, lol.

TEACHING MOMENT

We need to teach our kids that nothing the world can throw at us, even stones, can keep us down if we trust the Lord. Did those stones hurt that were thrown at Paul? I am sure! Words that are “thrown” at us hurt too. But our calling to follow Him is so much more powerful. Even sometimes the Lord will shield us from the hurts.

Boldness is something that is learned through experience. It is a gift of God given when we are called to be bold. He allows us to encounter people or circumstances that require boldness and courage, and then He equips us with exactly what we need. Is that cool or what?

Your kids will face challenging things in their life that are only handled through His strength. There is NOTHING you can do, mom and dad. They have to face these events with His boldness, not yours. Trust Him to give it. Trust them to ask for it.