Banah
- Abbey Parsley
- Nov 16
- 3 min read
“My husband and I feel like we’re wading through these days with cinder blocks on our feet.”
“But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.” Jude 1:20-21
The Hebrew word for “to build” is banah. It's a verb to describe both physical and spiritual construction. Spiritually, the word is used for one’s work in life, or the formation of character and habits.
This building of lives feels heavy, yeah? I have pictures of my family hanging up on the wall behind my computer at work, just over the top of my computer. When I look at them, my heart swells ever so slightly, and I smile. These people, this life that we’ve built together, radiates beauty. But parenting teenagers has a way of turning hair gray, doesn’t it? My husband and I feel like we’re wading through these days with cinder blocks on our feet. We often feel wholly unprepared, caught off guard by situations, and how to handle them properly. It’s easy to forget what we’ve already done, what God has called us to do, what we’ve already built.
Is it possible to feel both wholehearted in life and weighed down simultaneously? Absolutely yes. A sweet reminder from the Father that those cinder blocks are intentional, God intentional. He reminds us in Jude that building is part of the faith, our most holy faith. This building phase of our kiddos is a holy work. We lay things down or give things up at the cross that might not serve them in the future. We prepare things for them so that when they face certain situations, they’ll know who they run to for help meeting their needs. Maybe we tear a few things out that just plain aren’t workin’. Change is good, and building can also involve a little necessary demolition as well. And the most beautiful part? All of this building produces generations of kingdom work. Generations of faith-built people. Generations of Jesus-loving, disciple-making, children of God.
Keep those construction hats on, because you are doing a most holy work, my friend!
Faith Follow-Through:
This week, take some time to grow in motherhood and faith:
Monday:
What are the small things you are doing that help build the foundation of your family? Write them down. Remember.
Tuesday:
Read Matthew 7:24-25 in the NIV. Highlight the word ‘yet’. ‘Yet’ indicates an exception: even when life happens, things get thrown at you, health diagnosis, teen attitudes…the house of faith that you’ve built will not fall because you have created an exception with your faith.
Wednesday:
Read & reflect on Ruth 4:11-12, 2 Samuel 7:27
In what ways have you let God be the General Contractor for your life? What areas does He need to take back the plans?
Thursday:
Read & reflect on Psalm 127:1. In what ways can you show your children the importance of God ‘overseeing’ the building of their lives?
Written by Abbey, a mom of 3 with a faith hard hat on
