Deuteronomy 7: Parenting is so tough...

“And when the Lord your God delivers them over to you and you defeat them, you must completely destroy them. Make no treaty with them and show them no mercy. You must destroy all the peoples the Lord your God is delivering over to you and not look on them with pity. Do not worship their gods, for that will be a snare to you.” — Deuteronomy 7:2, 16 CSB

I just cannot believe how clear things feel to me now—when before, I might not have seen it.

At one point, I might have thought, Oh dear, what the Lord requires of us? We have such a load to carry. It might have felt like an impossible standard, almost as if I needed to be perfect. But now, I see it so differently. This is protection. This is kindness.

The repetition in Scripture isn’t about the Lord being harsh or rigid. It’s there because I need the repetition. He couldn't have been more clear, yet somehow we didn't hear or seem to understand the importance. He reminds me of so many things over and over because He knows how easily I forget. Maybe I don't pay attention to all of the details. Regardless He is kind in how He reiterates His plans.

As a parent, I often wonder if my kids can even begin to fathom how loved they are, how incredible the Lord is, and how deeply He cares for them. Then I realize how can they fathom when I can't or should I say don't—just as they are continuously learning, growing, and discovering, so am I. The Lord is still teaching me, shaping me, and protecting me, just as He was with the Israelites.

The warnings and commands God gives are not about punishment; it isn't cruelty, they’re about freedom. He knows what will ensnare us, and He wants to keep us from it. That is love. That is kindness. Im curious, what is the Lord repeating to you in this season? What truth is He lovingly reminding you of again and again?