The Parenting Moment
You are in the middle of the school run, half a sandwich in hand, when your seven-year-old pipes up from the back seat: “Mum, is God actually real? My friend says He isn’t.” Your heart skips. You want to say exactly the right thing, but the words stick somewhere between your throat and your theology. Every Christian parent eventually faces the moment when their child asks if God is real — and it almost never arrives at a convenient time. That, perhaps, is exactly the point.
Biblical Foundation
“These commandments that I give you today are to be on your hearts. Impress them on your children. Talk about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up.” Deuteronomy 6:6-7
Notice what God did not say here. He did not tell parents to deliver perfectly polished sermons at scheduled times. He said to talk about faith on the road, at bedtime, around the table — in the ordinary, messy, unscripted moments of daily life. That back-seat question is not an interruption to spiritual parenting; it is spiritual parenting in its most authentic form. God designed children to ask hard questions in real moments, and He designed those moments to draw the whole family closer to Him.
The passage also begins with the parents’ own hearts: “these commandments are to be on your hearts.” Before you can impress faith on your child, you must be living in it yourself — not perfectly, but genuinely. That means it is entirely biblical to say, “That is a wonderful question, and I am still exploring it too.” Modelling a faith that keeps seeking is far more powerful than performing a faith that pretends to have everything figured out. Jesus Himself praised childlike faith precisely because it is honest, curious, and open.
Practical Wisdom
- Receive the question warmly, not defensively. Say something like, “I love that you’re thinking about that.” A child who feels safe asking will keep asking — and that ongoing conversation is where faith is built. Shutting the question down, even unintentionally, can close a door that is hard to reopen.
- Share what you personally know to be true. You do not need a theology degree. Try saying: “I can’t hold God in my hand, but I’ve seen Him answer prayers, I’ve felt His peace, and I trust what His Word says.” Personal testimony is one of the most persuasive apologetics a child can hear — especially from someone they love and trust.
- Use creation as a conversation starter. Go outside together and point to something extraordinary — a spider’s web, the night sky, a newborn lamb in spring. Ask your child, “Do you think all of this just happened by accident?” Romans 1:20 tells us that God’s invisible qualities have been clearly seen through what He has made. Nature is a classroom that never closes.
- Make the bigness of God feel safe, not scary. For young children especially, God’s greatness can feel overwhelming rather than comforting. Try framing it this way: “God is bigger than anything we can imagine — and He chose to love us anyway. That’s what Jesus shows us.” Rooting God’s power in His love keeps the conversation full of wonder rather than fear.
- Let your child see you seeking. Pray together out loud. Open your Bible at the table. Let them catch you reading a book about faith, or hear you say, “I asked God about that this week.” When children see that grown-ups still pursue God, it normalises a lifelong journey of faith rather than a one-time decision.
Encouragement for Parents
You do not have to be a theologian to raise a child who loves Jesus. You simply have to be honest, present, and willing to seek God alongside them. The fact that your child is asking these questions means they trust you enough to bring their biggest thoughts to you — and that is a profound gift. God is not asking you to have all the answers; He is asking you to point consistently to the One who does.
On the days when you stumble over your words or feel out of your depth, remember this: the Holy Spirit is at work in your child’s heart in ways you cannot see. You are not doing this alone. Every imperfect, grace-filled conversation you have is a seed being planted in soil that God Himself is tending. Keep talking, keep seeking, and keep trusting Him with the harvest.
Family Prayer
Lord Jesus, thank You for the gift of curious children and the holy privilege of guiding them. When we don’t have the words, give us wisdom. When our faith feels small, remind us that even faith the size of a mustard seed is enough in Your hands. Help us to make our home a place where big questions are welcomed and where Your love is always the answer we return to. May our children grow to know You not just as a concept, but as a living, present, and deeply personal Saviour. Amen.
If this post encouraged you today, why not share it with another parent in your life who needs it — or leave a comment below sharing how you have navigated these big questions with your own children? You never know whose faith your story might strengthen.