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The Toddler's Gospel

The Toddler's Gospel

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 How does parenthood shape our faith? In The Toddler’s Gospel, Peyton Garland explores the profound spiritual lessons hidden in the chaos of toddler life. From navigating postpartum struggles to discovering humility and dependence on God, this devotional shows how the simple words of a child—Help, Please, Sorry—reveal the heart of the gospel and deepen our prayer life. Perfect for parents, caregivers, and anyone seeking guidance on faith in daily life and Christian parenting. ✨ Highlights The spiritual lessons of toddlerhood: humility, dependence, and repentance How the toddler words Help, Please, Sorry mirror our relationship with God Finding God’s presence and guidance during postpartum challenges Learning to pray with vulnerability, honesty, and surrender Practical encouragement for moms, dads, and caregivers in faith-filled parenting 💬 Join the Conversation How has your parenting season taught you about humility, dependence, and prayer? What small moments in your home reveal God’s heart to you? Share your story and encourage other parents, caregivers, and believers! Tag @LifeAudioNetwork and use #ToddlersGospel #FaithInParenting to join the conversation and inspire others to see the gospel in everyday life. 🎙🎶 SUBSCRIBE to our NEW SHOW — Your Nightly Prayer 🌟 Check out other Crosswalk Podcasts: Crosswalk Talk: Celebrity Christian Interviews Full Transcript Below: The Toddler’s Gospel by Peyton Garland “Children are a heritage from the Lord, offspring a reward from him.” Psalm 127:3 (NIV) I thought I had the Lord figured out in my late twenties. I had finally untangled lots of lies that I was subjected to in an unhealthy church culture. I had undergone counseling to work through childhood hardships and relational struggles. I was praying all the prayers, reading all the Bible studies, and holding myself accountable through godly friendships. By all “good Christian” standards, I had ensured my mind, body, and soul were healthily aligned with God’s truth. My faith was unshakeable… but then I became a mother, and my perception of myself and God was turned upside down. I endured heavy post-partum depression and wasn’t sure I would ever find hope again. The hormonal changes were drastic, and my mind couldn’t keep up with my body’s ever-changing state. Meanwhile, family members who promised to support us in this new season didn’t show. It seemed life handed us constant disappointments. But my son’s smile, his little giggle, was my glimpse at heaven. His innocence was a treasure trove of joy I could open on my worst days. He was the reason I clung to my shaken belief that God was good. After nearly seven months of intensive therapy, hard conversations with family, and lots and lots of praying, I saw the light at the end of the tunnel. My body slowly regained its stability, and I discovered a new fervor for understanding the God who had handcrafted the angel I cradled every day. But with this new fervor came a new sense of humility, of recognizing just how little control I have over life and how often my failures pile high. This fervor for my faith shifted from being about me to being about the nature of God. If the sermon, the podcast, the devotional, etc., wasn’t about His heart, I wasn’t interested. My heart had experienced too much hurt and, I’ll be honest, self-loathing to mold the gospel around me. I wanted something more sure and steady. I wanted God. He was the only one who could keep my head above water. He was the only one who could truly protect my baby. I’m now in the toddler season of motherhood, where faith and patience are tried by fire. My days are filled with scrubbing peanut butter off walls, fishing toy tractors out of the toilet, and saying (for the five-millionth time that day), “No, sir!” It’s mentally taxing work, but my son continues showing me the heart of the Father. He does so with three simple (garbled, phonetically incorrect) words: “Hewp!”, “Pease,” and “Sowwy.” If these three words aren’t the foundation for the gospel, I’m not sure what else is. After all, aren’t we often God’s toddlers, running wild, doing as we please, no matter how selfish or spiritually dangerous? Shiny things catch our eye, and we chase whatever is in front of us without thinking. It’s no wonder so many of our prayers start with, “Help!” If it’s been a while since you asked God for help, consider this one-word prayer and the humility it presses on your heart. “Please” is placing power in another’s hands, allowing them to grant or deny your request. My little one doesn’t enjoy it when his “Pwease” is followed by my “No, sir!” But aren’t we often like my toddler? We easily believe that asking is all it takes for a prayer to be granted. If we’re nice enough, we think we can manipulate God, and if we don’t get our way, we throw spiritual tantrums. We bail on church and ...
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