Do Your Kids See You Repent?

“Whoever conceals their sins does not prosper,     but the one who confesses and renounces them finds mercy.” Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

There’s real strength in a father who says he’s sorry. Your family doesn’t need a perfect dad—they need one who’s honest, humble, and quick to own his sin. Repenting to God and to your family isn’t weakness—it’s leadership.

Too many dads go silent instead of repenting. But when you look your wife or kids in the eye, admit you were wrong, and ask for forgiveness, you’re leading with the gospel. You’re showing them grace is real, repentance is normal, and no one has to pretend everything’s fine.

At Real Men, a ministry I lead at our church, it’s very common for older men who were either not Christians when they raised their children, or possibly Christians but awful fathers, to become heartbroken at the realization of their failures. Nearly every week, these men approach me after I preach to ask what they can do to repair strained or severed relationships with adult children. I tell them the same thing every time—meet with your adult children individually and/or as a group and write out all that you want to repent of, apologize for, and own. Spend time in prayer before the sacred meeting, handwriting out what you want to read to them, and make sure your heart is soft and humble by repenting of those sins in an extended quiet alone time with your Father as His son. Then, tell your children you are sorry, do not want to be that way going forward, and have covenanted with God to live in repentance, or saying you’re sorry, and ongoing change.

Over and over, I’ve seen God show up in those moments. Repentance unlocks what pride has jammed shut for years.

Before correcting your child, check your own heart. Talk to your Father first. When your kids see you walk in grace, they’ll trust you to lead with truth. Let them see your Bible open. Let them interrupt you in the Word. That’s what spiritual leadership looks like.

Who do you need to sit down with this week in order to apologize, repent, and start rebuilding trust?

Message and data rates may apply. Reply STOP to opt out or HELP for help. Visit https://realfaith.com/faq/ for privacy and terms info.