The Innocence of Children and God’s Love

There is something sacred about the innocence of a child. Every little one enters this world untouched by darkness, their hearts pure, souls radiant, and spirits glowing with the light of possibility. They are the very image of God’s love, precious in His sight, cherished beyond measure, and worthy of protection at all costs. Yet, as mothers, especially those travelling alone, we find ourselves constantly wrestling with an overwhelming question: How do we truly shelter our beloved children from the evils of this world?

Motherhood’s Lessons: Joys and Harsh Realities

Motherhood is a path paved with indescribable joy and deep, often painful lessons. The first time you cradle your child, their trusting eyes searching yours, you’re flooded with an assurance: this love will be enough. But soon, experience becomes your teacher, and you realize that love, while essential, is not the only thing your child needs. Protection, wisdom, courage, and faith, these become your new companions.

No one ever warned me that the world would find its way into the heart of my home, threatening the peace I worked so hard to build. No one said that heartbreak could creep in on an ordinary Saturday or that the innocence you treasured could come under attack in places you believed were safe. In the quiet moments, when my child’s sleeping or laughing, I sometimes catch myself mourning the world’s brokenness, the dangers that lurk in places that should offer sanctuary, like schools, even churches.

Motherhood has given me a window into human nature that I never expected. I have learned, sometimes painfully, that our children’s innocence is both a gift and a target. It is precious, yes, but also vulnerable to forces determined to destroy it.

The Myth of Complete Parental Protection

If you’re a Christian single mother reading this, I hope you know you are not alone in your fears and questions. It’s natural to believe that if you just love your children enough, protect them well, you can shield them from all harm. But the truth is harder: there is no such thing as complete protection this side of heaven.

The myth that your faith or vigilance alone can keep all danger at bay is seductive, and dangerous. We want to believe that if we’re good enough, strong enough, or spiritual enough, nothing will touch our children. But the reality is, you will not always be by your child’s side. You cannot be everywhere, every moment. There are places and moments when your arms cannot reach them, when your voice cannot call them back, and when your shield simply cannot cover them.

This realization is not meant to frighten you, but to free you. Free you from the crippling guilt that comes when something goes wrong. Free you from the false burden of believing it’s all on your shoulders to keep your child safe. The truth? There is One, ONLY One who can cover and protect them, always, everywhere, in every circumstance. And that One is Jesus Christ.

Faith and Parenting with Christ

Raising children solo can feel overwhelming, but as believers, we are never truly alone. We are called to raise our children in partnership with Christ Himself. He is not just a distant observer; He is a loving co-parent, ever-present, ever watchful. To “co-parent” with Jesus means to invite Him into every aspect of your parenting, your fears, your hopes, your doubts, your dreams. It means clinging to His promises when your own limitations are painfully clear.

When you are intentional about raising your children with Christ as your partner, you gain a peace that goes beyond understanding. You rest, not because the weapons will not form, but because they will not prosper. The storms will come, but you know Who calms them. The dangers may appear, but you know Who delivers. This is the true source of a single mother’s peace of mind.

A Real-Life Story: Star and Iran

Let me share a story, a real, raw, and unforgettable experience that forever changed my understanding of motherhood, innocence, and spiritual warfare. For privacy, I’ll call her Star, a dear friend of mine, a devoted Christian, and a single mother whose faith inspired me. Star had the kind of faith that radiated. She was filled with the Holy Spirit, steadfast in prayer, and led by love. Star didn’t become a single mom because of careless choices or moral failure; life’s storms come in many forms: divorce, loss, abuse, abandonment etc. Judging another’s story is easy until you walk their path.

Star was raising her son, Iran, (not his real name) with every ounce of grace, prayer, and intentionality she possessed. She was the singles ministries director at our church, serving a congregation of about 1,000 members in a city far from the one I now call home. The church also operated a school, running from pre-K through middle school, with a sweet community feel. Iran attended that school, a nine-year-old boy with a gentle spirit, impeccable manners, and a heart so pure, anyone would be proud to call him their son.

One weekend, our church hosted a singles retreat. It was Star’s first year leading, and she was eager, if not a bit nervous, to attend. I offered to watch Iran while she was away, since my own son who was about twelve years old at the time, was off at a church camporee in South Florida, a weekend of tents, nature, and (for me) too many mosquitoes to count. I’ve never liked camping.

The Unexpected Danger: What Happened

That Saturday began like so many others: routine, peaceful, and filled with laughter. After church, Iran and I shared his favorite lunch, creamy mac and cheese with sausages. We settled in the living room, the television playing “VeggieTales,” his laughter echoing through the house. It was, by all appearances, a picture of innocence. Soon my cell phone rang, and I ran upstairs to answer it. It was his mom, Star. But then, as I chatted with her on the phone upstairs, something shattered the calm. I heard strange sounds drifting from the living room, sounds that didn’t belong in a home full of love and safety. I told Star I’d call her right back. My heart raced as I rushed downstairs. What I saw dropped me to my knees, not from physical exhaustion, but from the sheer weight of heartbreak.

Iran, obedient, innocent Iran, was watching pornography on his iPad. My mind reeled, how? Why? I panicked, my hands trembling as I snatched the device away and struggled to switch it off. Naturally, the power button was right in front of me, but my hand was shaking so much from shock that I struggled to turn off the iPad. I finally managed to press the button, my heart still racing as I tried to steady my breath. The room felt strangely quiet, and I sat there staring at the dark screen, unable to process what had just happened. My fingers tingled and I could still feel the adrenaline coursing through me as I slowly set the device down, trying to regain a sense of normalcy.

The shock, the anger, the confusion, they all collided in that moment. I sat Iran down and talked to him, trying to understand. His explanation broke me. “Some boys in my class told me to watch it with them. They said it was not bad. They do it all the time. We watched it in chapel during worship.” Chapel, of all places! Where there should have been worship and praise, there had been corruption and deception. My heart ached, not just for Iran, but for every child whose innocence was shattered in the very place meant to protect them.

Star’s Guilt and Shame

I called back Star and we had a very long talk with him about what he looked at and why it was not good for him. Guilt and shame almost consume Star. After the talk, I believe she needed more therapy than Iran. You see, these intense emotions are not uncommon for mothers who discover their young children have been exposed to pornography. Many mothers immediately question their own actions and parenting, wondering if they could have done more to protect their children or prevent the exposure from happening in the first place. Star was no different.

The sense of responsibility was overwhelming, as she replayed every decision and moment leading up to the incident, searching for where things might have gone wrong. She explained that she had parental control software installed on Iran’s iPad to safeguard him from content that was not appropriate for his age, including pornography and potentially harmful websites, so she did not understand how that could happen. Her guilt was accompanied by shame, an internalized belief that she had failed in her role as his protector. She left the retreat prematurely and came home. I spent a good number of hours explaining to her that exposure to inappropriate content can happen despite a parent's best efforts, given the prevalence of technology and the internet. That we should focus on helping Iran through this difficult discovery and seek the assistance of a child psychologist if and when necessary.

The Aftermath: Facing the School and Community

That Monday, Star and I were at the school earlier than necessary, but we did not care. We were determined to confront what had happened. Iran bravely identified the boys involved, and the school’s principal called in their parents for a difficult but necessary conversation. The truth came out, piece by painful piece. The boy who introduced Iran to pornography was new to the school, his parents (mother and father) hoping a fresh start in a Christian environment might help him. Instead, he brought with him wounds and habits that quickly infected others.

Within weeks, more stories surfaced. The boy had been quietly introducing other students, boys and girls alike, to these images and ideas, creating a ripple effect of confusion, shame, and new temptations. Despite the school’s best efforts, his continued misconduct led to his expulsion. None of us could fully understand what drove him, what pain or emptiness he was trying to fill, but the consequences were undeniable. The innocence lost could not be restored with a simple apology.

As mothers, we often ask ourselves, “What could I have done differently? How did this happen under my watch?” The truth is, sometimes the enemy’s tactics are far more cunning than we expect. Sometimes, the battle comes to our door uninvited, disguised as a friend, hidden in places of worship, or lurking in the very devices we trust to keep our children entertained.

Spiritual Reflection: The Enemy’s Tactics

This experience forced me to confront a spiritual reality I had long known in theory but now understood in my bones: the enemy doesn’t wait outside the doors of the church. He walks the hallways, sits in chapel, and whispers in the places we feel safest. Satan wasn’t in hell when he first sinned; he was in Heaven. If he dared to tempt Christ Himself after prayer and fasting, he has no problem showing up in churches or schools. The enemy wants us distracted, discouraged, and defeated, especially when it comes to our children. He loves sowing seeds of doubt, fear, and guilt. But the power of a praying mother is underestimated at his peril.

When we cover our children in prayer, pleading the blood of Jesus over their hearts and lives, the enemy may visit, but he cannot destroy. Prayer is the shield, the covering, the assurance that God is fighting for us, even when we cannot see it. Iran is currently a pre-law student serving in the army. He is a fine Christian young man. Thanks to the prayer of his mother and all those who love him and the God who answers the prayers of every parent for their children. What the enemy tried to use to sow seeds of lust and immorality, the prayer of his mother uprooted those seeds and instead God’ s love and mercy were planted.

The Power and Necessity of Prayer

Prayer isn’t just comfort; it’s warfare. It’s standing in the gap for your children when they don’t even know danger is approaching. It’s declaring, over and over, “No weapon formed against my child shall prosper.” It’s believing that, even though the weapons will form, and they will, God’s promise holds: they will not succeed.

Do not underestimate the power of covering your children in prayer. When you pray, you invite the presence of the Holy Spirit into their lives. You draw a line of protection the enemy cannot cross. Remember the Passover story, the blood on the doorposts kept destruction at bay. In the same way, your prayers mark your children, setting them apart, guarding their hearts and minds.

Sometimes, you may not see the results right away. Sometimes, the battle rages on, and you wonder if your prayers are enough. But let me encourage you: prayer is never wasted. Your words echo in eternity; your tears are seen by God; your faith moves mountains on behalf of your children.

Encouragement for Single Mothers

If you are a single mother reading this, feeling overwhelmed, afraid, or inadequate, let me speak directly to your heart:

• You are not alone. God sees you. He knows your fears and your longings.

• You do not have to carry the weight of your child’s protection alone. Jesus is with you, holding your hand, guiding your steps, and fiercely loving your child even more than you do.

• Release the guilt. When things go wrong, when innocence is lost, God’s grace is greater. His love heals, restores, and redeems.

• Pray boldly. Cover your home, your child, their school, their friends, their minds, and their hearts in prayer. Speak life and truth over them, remind them of their identity in Christ, and trust God with the rest.

• Don’t let fear win. Yes, there will be dangers and disappointments, but faith means trusting God’s promises even when you cannot see the outcome.

• Build a safe village. Find trusted friends, mentors, fellow believers who can pray with you, encourage you, and walk with you through the hard seasons. We were never meant to parent alone.

• Hold on to hope. Innocence can be lost, but it can also be restored. God can take even the darkest moments and transform them for His glory.

Conclusion: Hope and Faith

The story of Star and Iran is a testimony of grace, resilience, and the relentless love of God. If Iran had not done that on that Saturday who knows how long he would be doing it until it becomes a practice and practice forms habit and habit forms character, and character forms destiny and destiny determines your permanent resting place. Trouble is everywhere, but so is God’s presence. God’s promises stand unbroken. As single mothers, we are called to do our best, to love, to teach, to protect. And when our best isn’t enough, we fall on our knees, trusting the One who is.

So, dear single mother, do not despair. Walk in faith, not fear. Trust that, though you may not always be present, Jesus is. And when you feel the weight of the world pressing down, remember you are not alone. Your prayers are building walls of protection, your faith is forging paths of hope, and your love, anchored in Christ, is a force that cannot be overcome. May God bless you, strengthen you, and give you peace.