Have you ever seen parents weeping at the altar, crying, “God, why my children?” — while heaven whispers back, “But you’re the one who pushed them away from Me.”
It is a painful truth: many parents who once dedicated their children to God later become the very obstacle between their children and Him.
Bringing a child to church for dedication is more than a ceremony — it is a spiritual commitment. In that moment, parents make a vow before God and His people to raise their children in His ways and in His Word. Hannah declared, “For this child I prayed, and the Lord has granted me my request. So now I give him to the Lord” (1 Samuel 1:27–28). To dedicate a child is to surrender the child to God’s purpose and promise to nurture that purpose faithfully. Yet, many parents forget this vow once the dedication service is over. Dedication without follow-up discipleship is empty.
As children grow, some parents begin to discourage their involvement in church activities — youth services, choir rehearsals, or Bible studies — thinking they are protecting them from overinvolvement. In reality, they are disconnecting what they once dedicated. Such actions send mixed signals: first saying, “God, take my child,” and later, “God, not too much.”
When parents restrict their children from fellowship and service in the house of God, the world quickly fills the gap. The enemy takes advantage of spiritual emptiness, introducing negative influences, ungodly habits, and destructive lifestyles. Proverbs 22:6 warns: “Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old, he will not depart from it.” Preventing a child from growing spiritually halts the foundation of their faith.
Then comes the painful moment when those same parents cry, “God, why me? Why my children?” But often, God’s gentle answer is: “You pushed them away from My presence.” Even then, His mercy remains. It is never too late to turn back, repent, and intercede for your children. Parents must take their rightful place as spiritual guides — praying with their children, not just for them, and leading them back to church rather than wishing for change.
A Word of Caution to Parents
If you recognize yourself in these words, take heed. Do not allow pride, fear, or personal preferences to undo what you once entrusted to God. Every time you hinder your child’s spiritual growth, you risk creating a gap that the enemy can exploit. Your influence is powerful — it can either be a bridge to God or a barrier. Examine your heart honestly: Are your actions guiding your child toward God, or are they steering them away? Repent where needed, recommit to your dedication vows, and actively partner with God in raising your children for His glory. Your obedience today can change the spiritual trajectory of your family for generations.
God’s promise still stands: “I will restore to you the years that the locust has eaten” (Joel 2:25). Even if things have gone wrong, restoration is possible. God can bring back the wayward, heal the broken, and revive what was lost. But it begins when parents honor the vow they made — to raise their children for the Lord and never stand in the way of what they once dedicated to Him.
By Pastor Augustine Erskine, Evangel Assemblies of God, The Gambia
Very powerful word spoken.
God bless you Pastor for this insight.
I have read and it very encouraging