Michelle Duggar on Helping Her Kids Through a Crisis

Parentables

I often say that the emotional traumas that kids go through in life aren't a matter of if but when -- kids are going to encounter trials; they're going to feel discouraged. And then how will they handle it? I encourage my kids to talk and think about it, take it to the Lord because he said, "Come to me all ye that labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest."

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We all have different things that weigh us down. And sometimes it's tough, especially when it's grief, fear or sorrow or painful, hurtful things -- devastating things.

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I say to my children, "It's not a matter of if you're going to encounter a crisis of your faith some time in your life. Believe me, you will. It is going to happen. You're going to come up against a wall. And you're going to say, 'There is absolutely no way I can go on. I can't figure this out. I can't even know what I believe right now.'"

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When I look at the world I sometimes see destruction. I see painful choices that lead to devastating ends. I've told my kids that there's a choice for every decision. And if we are not choosing to seek wise counsel, to turn our heart to God in every decision -- small or big -- then we're going to face the consequences of that.

Freedom is not the right to do what I want, but the power to do what I ought. And we get that power from God; from grace. So I often remind my kids during those trials that choices are all around us, and that I've seen the benefits that come from choosing to honor, believe and trust."

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