Mitch Temple, The Fatherhood Commission

Let’s face it—our kids today face challenges we may never have imagined growing up so for Christian fathers and grandfathers, the role of parenting goes beyond providing and protecting, it means guiding children in truth and faith. Your influence, grounded in love and Scripture, can become a vital anchor during hard times. Here are a few lessons I’ve learned over 40 years of raising children and grandchildren. 

Be Present and Attentive

One of the most powerful ways to support your kids is simply by being there. Turn off the phone, tune out distractions, and listen. James 1:19 reminds us to be “quick to listen, slow to speak and slow to become angry.” Listening—without immediately trying to fix the problem—creates safety. It builds trust and invites your children to return again for guidance.

Show Versus Tell

Kids learn more from what we do than from what we say. Live your faith out loud—pray regularly, serve others, and rely on God through trials. As a child, some of my most lasting memories were of my dad reading his Bible in the quiet morning hours. When kids see their father turn to God for help and direction, they’re more likely to follow that same path in their own time of need.

Let God’s Wisdom Guide Them

You don’t always need to have the perfect answer—God’s Word already does. Help your children turn to Scripture for guidance. Verses like Philippians 4:6-7 and Psalm 34:17 remind us of God’s comfort and deliverance. When your children learn to seek truth in the Bible, they begin to find stability in a world that constantly shifts.

Pray With and For Them

Prayer connects us to God and to each other. Praying with your child during hard moments shows them they’re not alone. Even when they don’t seem to notice, they’re listening. And when you pray for them, especially when apart, they can be deeply encouraged knowing their father is interceding on their behalf.

Encourage Perseverance Through Faith

Remind your children that struggles don’t mean failure. God can use hardship to grow perseverance, character, and hope (Romans 5:3-4). Teach them to see difficulties as opportunities to deepen their faith and trust in God’s bigger plan. Your steady love, faithful example, and spiritual leadership can be a lifeline for a struggling child. Walk with them in grace and truth—and in doing so, reflect the heart of our Heavenly Father: always present, always faithful, and always full of love.