The Lions That Captured My Imagination
When I was growing up, going to the zoo was my favorite thing to do. The Philadelphia Zoo—the first zoo in America—had an impressive selection of animals.
I’d watch the polar bear splash and play in his pool while I pressed my nose up against the glass. My mom would bravely take me into the ear-splittingly noisy lorikeet enclosure so that I could feed the colorful birds a cup of nectar and risk spending the day with bird poop on our T-shirts.
But the thing I wanted to see most of all was always the lions.
These events have since been discontinued, but in the ’90s there were scheduled feedings of the big cats throughout the day. We would pile onto large concrete seats inside the Big Cat exhibit, and the zookeepers would bring the tigers and lions into cages with large metal bars.
Knowing they were about to be fed, the big cats would pace back and forth, working themselves into a frenzy. They rubbed their powerful bodies against the bars as they paced and roared loudly for their meal.
Finally, the keepers would throw what looked like massive steaks through the bars into the cage, and we would all watch with fascination as their sharp teeth tore through the slabs of meat.
Although the tigers were amazing, it was always the lions that captivated me. There was a curious balance of strength and calm in their demeanor. Their power was obvious. Their roar seemed to shake the building. Yet they always seemed completely in control. Their eyes scanned the room full of screaming children with confidence, not fear.
We’ve Forgotten What Gentleness Means
When it comes to parenting, the word gentle is thrown around frequently these days. The “gentle parenting” movement has essentially hijacked this biblical fruit of the Spirit and twisted it to fit its own narrative. However, the true meaning of biblical gentleness has been vastly misunderstood—even by Christians.
We often picture a gentle parent as someone who never makes waves.
Always calm.
Always smiling.
Always nodding.
Never correcting too firmly.
Never making anyone uncomfortable.
But this is not the message the Bible gives us.
The Greek word translated gentleness is πραΰτης (praütēs), and it carries the idea of strength under control.
Think of a wild, powerful animal whose strength has not been removed but controlled and trained. It is the picture of a mighty lion with strength always rippling beneath the surface, yet keeping that power completely under control.
Biblical gentleness is not weakness.
Gentleness does not weaken courage, but governs it. Courage does not replace gentleness, but protects it.
Parents Have Been Discipled Into Fear
So if gentleness in parenting is not meant to be weakness, what should it look like in our day-to-day lives? Unfortunately, Christian parents have slowly been discipled by the world into fear instead of strength.
We fear tantrums.
We fear damaging our children.
We fear looking old-fashioned.
We fear saying “no.”
We fear being judged.
Most of the parents I speak with feel paralyzed.
“Which way do we go?”
“Who do we listen to?”
“What’s the right way to lead?”
If these sound like your own internal questions, you’re not the first leader to feel that way.
Joshua probably felt very similarly when God spoke these words to him:
“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
— Joshua 1:9
Moses had died, and Joshua was suddenly thrust into a position of authority. He probably felt ill-equipped, poorly suited for leadership, and unsure how to practically lead God’s people through dangerous situations.
Sound familiar?
The first thing God does is remind Joshua that the courage He requires is not a suggestion but a command. This is not a feeling of bravery that Joshua must muster up but a willingness to obey God with boldness. Yet God does not leave him with a command that feels impossible. He immediately shows Joshua where that courage comes from:
“…for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua has nothing to fear because the Lord is with him. That’s where he draws his courage. That’s why he can lead with strength. He has the Lord of the universe going before him, walking beside him, and never leaving him.
What Lionhearted Parenting Looks Like
We are not meant to hear God’s command to “be strong and courageous” as we lead our children and begin searching within ourselves for courage.
That’s missing the point.
That command should naturally turn our eyes toward Jesus—the only One who can give us the strength to parent well. Proverbs 28:1 says,
“The righteous are bold as a lion.”
Biblical boldness is not throwing our weight around. It is having the courage to follow Christ in every aspect of our parenting and our lives. We are called to gentleness, yes—but not in the way culture understands it. We are called to lionhearted parenting.
A lionhearted parent knows exactly who they are in Christ.
They possess a quiet confidence that comes only from the peace that goes beyond the world’s understanding.
Your calm will make no sense to the world.
Your boldness will become the shelter your children run to.
You have no need to panic because, just like Joshua, the Lord has promised to be with you every step of the way.
Following the Lion of Judah
Lionhearted parenting follows the Lion of Judah, Jesus Christ. Yet Scripture gives us an even more beautiful picture in Revelation 5. John hears the words:
“…behold, the Lion of the tribe of Judah…”
But when he turns…
he sees a Lamb.
Jesus is the perfect picture of strength and gentleness.
He welcomes children.
He washes feet.
He overturns tables.
He rebukes Pharisees.
His gentleness never once required Him to surrender His leadership.
He is both the perfect conquering Lion and the perfect sacrificial Lamb. What better role model could parents possibly have?
This means…
- We can hold boundaries without yelling.
- We can discipline consistently without threatening.
- We can forgive quickly without negotiating with sin.
- We can point our children toward Christ without confusing love with passivity.
We are called to have the heart of a lamb and the courage of the Lion we follow.
This is following in our Savior’s footsteps and leading our children into His arms.
A Final Word
The Lion has no need to prove His strength because He already possesses it. This is the strength you and I draw from. This is how we parent courageously.
There is no need to give an account of your parenting—or your life—to the world. But one day you and I will stand before the Lion of Judah.
Every soul will see the perfect harmony of His gentleness and strength, and every knee will bow in awe before Him at the sound of His roar.
Until then, may our children see His courage, His gentleness, and His authority reflected in the way we lead them today.
