Where are we going wrong?

on Mar 26, 2026

God in control of Heaven. Dreamstime/TCA

From the writings of the Rev. Billy Graham

Q: My wife and I were married after 9/11 and decided against having children. We felt it was unfair to bring children into such a troubled world that had no hope of getting better. There’s so much talk now about couples reigniting the idea of having children and living the good life, even being encouraged by the government offering baby accounts to help financially. It would make sense if the world were moving toward peace, but it’s discouraging to see some wars end with other wars brewing. Where are we going wrong? – N.C.

A: The study of world history reveals there’s not a time the future was not clouded with uncertainty. Even when social and political circumstances are reasonably good, the world has been ravaged by natural disasters, plagues, and war. While modern medicine has removed many of the things that threatened life only a generation or two ago, modern technology has developed weapons of mass destruction that can wipe out entire civilizations. But thankfully, God is in control of the future.

The Old Testament prophet Jeremiah lived during a terrible time. The Jewish people had been carried away into captivity and faced a dismal future. Many of them must have asked the same question, but Jeremiah told them to marry and have sons and daughters, “‘For I know the plans I have for you,’ declares the Lord, ‘plans to … give you hope and a future’” (Jeremiah 29:11, NIV). The prophet knew that God was Lord over the future, as well as the past and present.

This doesn’t mean everything will be easy for our children. But our responsibility is clear: If God gives children to us, we should do whatever we can to strengthen them spiritually so that they, too, can face the future with a confident hope in God and be an example to others.

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(This column is based on the words and writings of the late Rev. Billy Graham.)