As a mother, one of the most difficult issues for me to delve into is child abuse. I shy away from reading news or books about it. And, to tell you the truth, when I was assigned this blog topic, my heart sank a little. It’s just too heartbreaking. I can’t imagine how a mother or father (or other relative) could brutalize a vulnerable child. A child hard-wired to love them. A child who trusts them to provide for every need and protect them from the dangers of this world. I can’t imagine wanting to harm my own kids.

And, yet, I can.

My kids can push all my buttons at once. Their social and emotional immaturity make them naturally self-absorbed, needy, and demanding. When my children were infants, there were days (and nights) when I was so exhausted and emotionally drained that I felt like I was losing my mind. When each of my kids was four-years old, they seemed to push me to the limit just for the satisfaction of making a grown woman cry. Kids can be a source of tremendous love and joy, but they also have the power to bring out the worst in us.

Now, all I have to do is strip away my safety nets–my loving husband, extended family and friends, and mommy-support groups. Take away my college education that enabled me to read and process thick parenting books and advice columns. Add some outside stressors, like a broken marriage, hunger, or not enough money to pay bills. And the truth I hate to face is, I could do it. I could beat my kids.

Around the world, child abuse is devastatingly common. And, while many poor people do NOT abuse their children, it is easy to see why the prevalence of child abuse and neglect is much higher among those experiencing poverty. Poverty is stressful. Parenting is stressful. Together, it can be overwhelming.

And there’s something else that enables child abuse to be the norm in many places. Satan’s lies. Many people have never been taught that each and every person is created in the image of God, with inherent, immeasurable value. They don’t understand that God created and owns everything; that we are only stewards of whatever we have, including our children. For those who believe that a child is a possession, something to be controlled, or just another mouth to feed, it is all too easy to perpetrate and justify abuse.

This month, we’re calling you to join us in praying for an end to child abuse. As we do, pray with compassion, not only for the children who are suffering, but for their parents as well. Please pray:

  • That God would protect and be present with every child experience abuse, neglect, poverty, or all of these.
  • That God would protect the hearts and minds of these children. Pray that they would know the truth–that they are loved and valued by their Creator–and not perpetuate the cycle of violence in the next generation.
  • That friends, neighbors, and churches would recognize the signs of abuse and intervene.
  • That parents would come to understand that their children are made in the image of God, and that they are called to steward their children’s well-being for His glory.
  • That parents, especially primary caregivers, would have the support and skills they need to care for their own mental and emotional health, as well as their children’s.
  • That churches would understand and teach the biblical truth of the value of every person; that churches would know how to support families, especially during stressful times.
Photo by Matt Hoffman on Unsplash