Grace in Motion as a Family
My family and I spent two weeks on a mission trip in Europe. I expected the usual things. I knew I would enjoy the time. I knew I would see my husband covering people in prayer, something he carries with so much grace. I also knew I would be tired, maybe a little touchy at times. I knew the kids would face new time zones, new food, and new faces. What I did not expect was the deep joy of serving together as a family.
The greatest surprise was this. At the end of those two weeks, my kids did not want to come home. They wanted to stay. They served for hours and kept serving with joy. I did not expect how in sync we would be with one another. We have trained for this and prayed for this for years, yet the ease with which we loved one another and loved others still amazes me. It felt like grace in motion.
There were many moments I could share, but two stood out in a way that marked us.
On our first night ministering to a community of believers, after I finished sharing a message, we moved around the room and prayed for people. My youngest daughter felt led to give her heart shaped necklace to a woman. It was something she treasured. She said, “God wants me to give this to you so that when you see it, you remember He loves you.” The woman cried as she received it. She had recently lost her husband and was still carrying fresh grief. My daughter’s small act broke through any walls and reached her heart. Later that night my daughter cried over giving away something she loved, and I had the chance to teach her that meaningful giving sometimes hurts. That kind of sacrifice is holy.
On the last day of ministry, after I finished preaching, we prayed for the congregation. I prayed for a woman dressed in black with tattoos near her collar. She was quiet and avoided eye contact, yet the love I felt for her was strong. My daughter Audrey came to me and said she had a word for this woman. I encouraged her to share it, and she simply said, “The Lord says you are chosen.” There was no visible response, so we kept praying.
A few minutes later my son Noah came over. He had been praying for someone else. He said he had a word for the same woman. I told him to share it, and he said, “God says you are chosen.” Hearing the same word twice opened her heart. She began to cry. She shared that a year and a half earlier she had given her life to Christ and been baptized. Shortly after, her car malfunctioned and caught fire with her inside. She suffered major burns and lasting damage to her lungs. She believed the attack came because she was chosen, and that God kept her alive because His hand was on her life. We prayed for continued healing, and the kids saw how God uses His people to speak to His children. Audrey and Noah heard the same word, and together their obedience ministered to her in a powerful way.
Both stories came from words God spoke through my kids. Watching them minister with sincerity, courage, and real love was one of the most beautiful things I have ever witnessed.
Grace in motion.
Family in step with the Spirit.
The joy of serving Jesus together.
Prayer:
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of serving together as a family. Thank You for the way You speak to children with such purity and honesty. Thank You for the moments when You let us see Your heart at work in ways that surprise us. Teach us to listen closely and to obey without fear. Help our families walk in unity and kindness. Let our homes be places where Your voice is welcome and Your love flows freely. Strengthen those who are hurting, and remind them that they are seen and chosen by You. Amen.
Journaling Prompt:
Where have I seen God move in simple or unexpected ways through my family or through the children around me?
What did it show me about the heart of God?
Encouragement:
God delights in using every member of a family, even the youngest ones, to show His love. He is not waiting for you to be perfect or polished. He simply asks for a willing heart. If you have been longing to see your family walk in unity or purpose, take heart. The Lord is able to bring you into step with one another in ways that feel natural and full of peace. He is already working, and He will guide you each day as you follow Him.
