I remember a time, not so long ago, when I thought I’d missed my chance. You see, I didn’t raise my older three kids in a Christian home. I spent much of their early years wandering through life without any real direction. I was caught up in some pretty dark places, far from the light of God’s love. I grew up in a strict, unhealthy and toxic Christian cult based out of Ohio, and by the time I hit my twenties, I’d rebelled and rejected everything about my faith. I explored other religions, paganism, and atheism—searching for anything but the God I thought I knew.
It wasn’t until my late thirties, after a divorce and remarriage, that I found my way back to God. Not through force or fear, but through love. Through seeing His hand working in my life—pulling me out of my own sin, my failures, and showering me with blessings, even when I didn’t deserve them. I could finally see His forgiveness, His grace, His endless love. And that’s where this story really begins. It’s a story of how, even after all my mistakes, my kids—now teenagers—began to find their way to Him too. God’s plan is good.
This post isn’t about how perfect I am as a mom. Spoiler: I’m not. Far from it. And even though my teens are finding their way to God in small but significant ways, the journey has only just begun. It’s about what God’s doing, what He’s been doing all along. And how He can work in your life and your teens’ lives, no matter your history or how far you feel you’ve fallen. If you’re feeling hopeless or think it’s too late for your teens to know God, let me encourage you: It’s never too late. Keep praying. God hears you.
“The Lord is near to all who call on him, to all who call on him in truth.” (Psalm 145:18)
I’ll be sharing bible verses throughout this post that have uplifted me in recent months and years.
My Journey Back to God—and How My Teens Followed
When I started attending church again and filling my home with Bibles and devotionals, my kids were confused, having never been exposed to God’s word in their earlier years. I didn’t push them to come along. I just quietly went about it, praying and reading the word of the Lord. Slowly, I noticed changes. My eldest daughter, at 16, asked if she could come to church with me. My heart soared—I couldn’t believe what I was hearing.
Standing in church with her for the first time, tears fell down my cheeks as I felt awed by God’s work in her life. In previous years, she had insisted God was not real and that I was “crazy” for being Christian. Her younger brother followed two years later. He now takes his Bible to school, reads it on the bus, and watches Christian influencers online.
For a long time, I had feared it was too late. I hadn’t given them a Christian home, hadn’t shown them what it meant to walk with God. They didn’t have youth groups and motivational youth pastors, they weren’t surrounded by and supported by young people with a deep love for Jesus Christ. But I prayed for them—consistently, even when I wasn’t sure if anything would change, even during difficult times when it seemed utterly hopeless. I prayed for God to open their hearts and minds, to put good people in their lives. And God answered those prayers in ways I never could have imagined. “Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old, he will not depart from it.” (Proverbs 22:6)
If you’ve stumbled on your journey as a parent, if you’ve been away from God for years, know this: He’s not done with you. It’s not too late for your children. God loves all His children, and He is watching out for your teens, even as they begin their own lives and journey toward adulthood. We just need to guide their spiritual growth, even as young adults, into knowing and loving God.
God’s Calling for Parents
As parents, we’re called to guide our children toward a life of faith. It’s easy to think this calling only applies when our kids are little, during those early years when they’re so impressionable. But the Bible makes it clear that our responsibility as parents never ends. Deuteronomy 6:6-7 says, “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.” This doesn’t stop when they hit their teen years.
God wants us to be intentional about guiding our children toward Him, and there are ways to do this—even when they’re older and more independent. If you’re feeling the same regret I sometimes do, remember: God is in control, and He can redeem the time you think is lost. It’s never too late to help your young adults find their way to God’s kingdom.
Here are 10 things that have helped me guide my teenagers toward God, and I pray they help you too!
1. Create Uplifting Book Boxes (and read read read!)
Teens need to see Christianity as part of everyday life, not just something reserved for Sunday mornings. I’ve found that one way to subtly but powerfully introduce God’s presence into our home is by filling it with life-giving Christian resources. I’ve set up little book boxes in different rooms—places where the teens are apt to hang out. The boxes are filled with devotionals, inspirational books, and, of course, Bibles.
Some of our favorites include Jordan Peterson’s 12 Rules for Life, C.S. Lewis’s The Chronicles of Narnia, and Live on Purpose by Sadie Robertson Huff. I make sure there’s always a modern, easy-to-read version of the Bible available, like the NLT Thinline Bible, so they can grab it when they’re curious.
Additionally, I’ve been reading inspiring fiction books by Christian authors (I found lots of great recommendations from Sally Clarkson’s resources page). Most recently I’ve read Hannah Coulter by Wendell Berry, and I just finished up The Scent of Water by Elizabeth Goudge. Both have given me some great conversation points over the dinner table with my family!
I’ve noticed that when these books are lying around, my kids will pick them up and start asking questions. I try to make sure the word of God is accessible to them anywhere in our home. “Your word is a lamp to my feet and a light to my path.” (Psalm 119:105)
2. Be Fully Present
As someone deep in my career hustle, I often found myself too absorbed in my work. My teens would come home, and I’d barely look up from my computer, too immersed in a conversation or a task. They’d talk to me, but I’d keep staring at my screen, half-listening. But I’ve learned that ministering to my kids starts with the simple act of being fully present.
It took some practice, but now, when they walk into the room, I put down my work, turn my body toward them, and greet them with warmth. Just a little change, but it’s opened the door to so many conversations.
Our kids need us to be emotionally present to build a foundation of trust, and that trust is key to leading them toward faith. “Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone.” (Colossians 4:6)
3. Set Aside One-on-One Time
Between work, household responsibilities, and younger kids pulling at my attention, it’s easy to forget how much a young person nearing adulthood still needs connection and undivided attention. How odd it must be, as a child, to go from being doted upon every moment of the day and fussed over, to one day finding yourself a young man or young woman who doesn’t receive much direct attention anymore.
There were some books and podcasts in my life that made me realize how my children must feel in this stage of life, and now I make sure to set aside time, at least once a week, for just me and one of my teens. We grab coffee, bubble tea, or just go for a drive. These moments, free from distractions, are when they often open up about their struggles, their friends, and even their questions about God and world vision.
Young adults naturally begin to separate from us as they grow older, but carving out this time shows them that they still matter, that they’re seen and valued. I recommend you meet your kids in the spaces where they are comfortable – go to their world. Play a game with them, go on a hike (we’ve been exploring the trails up Bradbury Mountain in Freeport, Maine), drive to the beach.
4. Hug Them—a Lot!
I used to hug and snuggle my kids all the time when they were little, but as they’ve grown into their teenage years, those hugs became fewer and farther between. As they went through puberty and some awkward stages of growth, the physical connection happened less and less until one day I realized that I couldn’t remember the last time we snuggled on the couch or I gave them a hug.
One day I asked my teenage son, “Can I have a hug?”—and he came to me and gave me the biggest hug. It’s amazing how much a simple hug can build emotional closeness. Now, I make sure I hug them every day they’re home. And while I hug them, I pray silently over them, asking God to bless them, protect them, and draw them closer to Him. One other trick I learned recently is to never be the first to let go of a hug. Hug your children tight until *they* release!
“Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you.” (Ephesians 4:32)
5. Use Music!
Music has such a powerful way of setting the tone for our home. While I cook dinner in the evenings, I like to rotate through Christian pop, beautiful Celtic songs, traditional worship songs, and instrumental hymns. I want to create positive associations between family, nourishing meals, the warmth of home, and Jesus. I’ve noticed how it uplifts the atmosphere, making our home feel more peaceful and centered on God.
There’s something about cooking a meal, surrounded by the warmth of beautiful music, that brings the family together and reminds us of God’s presence. It creates an environment where faith can grow organically.
I’m intentional about also having nights where I ask them what music they want to play during meal prep so that the Christian music influence doesn’t drive them away, but rather acts as a subtle thread.
6. Share Positive Content
Social media is a part of our modern teens’ lives, so I’ve tried to meet them where they are. I make sure to follow Christian influencers, homemaking accounts, and inspirational content on my own Instagram, so I can find content worthy of sharing and inspiring my kids. I’ll often send my teens a reel that I think they’ll like—as a small way of sharing faith in their world.
If you’re looking for some great accounts to follow on Instagram that are Christ-centered or just positive and uplifting, here are 7 Uplifting Instagram Accounts for Moms:
- Sarah Clarkson (Sarah Wanders)
- Boy Mom Quotes
- Laura Wifler (From the Risen Motherhood podcast – she’s amazing!)
- We are the Homemakers
- Mike the Parent Coach
- Paul Ziegler
- Empowered Moms and Kids
Even if it’s just a quick glance at a video, it’s one more way to remind them of God’s love (and mom’s!). Practical tips like these have helped me integrate faith into my teens’ lives in a way they can relate to.
7. Openly Pursue God and Study His Word
I keep my Bible out on the counter because I want my kids to see that studying God’s word is part of my daily life. When I have a few minutes of quiet, I’ll sit down and read or journal in my Bible, and if they walk in, it often sparks a conversation.
I’m not preaching to them; I’m simply living out my faith in front of them, showing them that following God requires continual learning and devotion.
“But be doers of the word, and not hearers only, deceiving yourselves.” (James 1:22)
8. Use Visual Resources Like The Bible Project
Sometimes understanding the Bible can be hard, even for adults. I’ve found The Bible Project on YouTube to be an incredible tool. They explain complex biblical concepts in simple, visual ways that make it easier to understand.
I like to put it on in the background while I’m cleaning, and sometimes case it to the big TV in the living room, so my teens can hear it too. It’s sparked some great discussions and made the Bible feel more accessible to them. Knowledge of God’s word is a source of hope for them, and I want to make sure they have all the tools they need.
9. Call Attention to God’s Creation
God’s creation is all around us, and there are endless opportunities each day to point it out to our kids. After dinner, I’ll frequently call them to the porch, watching the sunset, and I’ll say, “Look at this beautiful world God made for us.” We’ve made a game out of spotting “God rays” when the sunlight breaks through the clouds. I find times and different ways to tell them, “I am so happy that God made you and gave you to me. I love being your mom.”
At dinner, I like to ask what my husband is praying about this week and share what’s on my heart too, and then ask the kids if there’s anything that I can pray about for them. It’s a simple way to keep God in our conversations and remind the kids that He’s always present.
“The heavens declare the glory of God; the skies proclaim the work of his hands.” (Psalm 19:1)
10. Own Your Mistakes
Parenting is hard. Faith is hard. And I’ve made more mistakes than I care to count. But I’ve learned the power of owning those mistakes in front of my kids. When I lose my temper or act in a way that’s not Christ-like, I don’t hide it. I’ll tell them, “I messed up. I didn’t show patience or understanding. Will you forgive me?” Or “I am ashamed because I realized I haven’t been acting Christ-like in this situation. I can do better.”
This shows them that it’s okay to make mistakes, that God’s grace is always there for us, and that we can be forgiven and move forward.
“Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” (James 5:16)
Closing Thoughts: It’s Never Too Late
If you’ve been where I’ve been—thinking it’s too late, that you’ve missed the chance to give your kids a Christian foundation—please hear me. God can redeem the time. Keep praying. Keep showing up. Keep living out your faith in front of your teens. God is always ready to work in their hearts, no matter where they are in their journey.
“Pray without ceasing.” (1 Thessalonians 5:17)
Our home does not look like the perfect Christian home. I still wrestle with my faith. I still stumble, multiple times a day. I worry a lot about whether I’m making the best choices. It’s messy, imperfect, and full of the chaos that comes with raising teens and toddlers.
But it’s also full of love, faith, and the presence of God. And that, more than anything, is what I hope my children carry with them as they grow into young men and women.
I pray these ideas bless you and your family. May God guide you as you lead your teens toward Him, and may He work miracles in their hearts just as He has in mine.