Where Have the Patriarchs Gone?

I am always saddened by the statistics concerning the lack of fathers as the spiritual leaders in households, of fathers attending church, and even of fathers being in the home at all. Rough estimates show that about 20 percent of mothers in the U.S. are single. However, if a child’s father is a believer, they, according to some stats, are over 90 percent more likely to have faith in Jesus. 

So, where have the patriarchs gone?

A father’s influence cannot be squashed, nor should it be. Men have the advantage here. There is something innate in us as children, but I believe as adults too, we want to be led and guided by our father-figures, knowing they would never steer us wrong. 

So then, what should we do when our husband or the father of our children doesn’t step into this role? Give up? Never!

I had a conversation recently with a mother that reminded me of 3 John, verse 4. She was full of joy as she told me about how her young child had given her a glimpse into his heart, and it was moving steadfastly toward God! 

You see, she has an unbelieving husband. But she’d been praying hard, bringing her children to church on Sundays, praying with them, and simply bringing Jesus into their everyday life. And this child was receiving it. To God be the Glory! She was overjoyed to share about this victory in the spiritual realm. 

With excitement, I told her to keep doing what she was doing and took the opportunity to tell her a bit of my story. I had a single mother who steered my spiritual direction. My mom made Jesus the center of everything. I watched her depend on Him for mere survival on a daily basis. She took us to church on Sundays and read her Bible every morning. 

And I became a Jesus-follower and never looked back. 

This fellow mother confided that her story resembled mine in some ways. Her father was in the home, but her mother was the spiritual leader, and she came to faith at a young age. Now, even her own father is a believer. Think about the joy my friend’s mom has at seeing her loved ones walk in the Truth.

So, mothers, banish the statistics that try to steal your hope. My friend and I are evidence that there might not be a spiritual patriarch in the home, yet the children will still believe. You can trust this verse to be true, that you will have no greater joy when you see your children, or any under your spiritual care, walking in Truth.

Questions for Reflection:

1. Are you doing what’s needed to guide your children to Jesus, whether there’s a father in the home or not?
2. What do you need to add to your daily life to help banish those statistics?