Do you want your kids to be happy with their marriages, with their families, and with their careers? Of course, you do.

I want the same for my boys. But I also know that happiness can be fleeting. Life can be unpredictable and circumstances could turn their world upside-down in a heartbeat.

Which is why I hope and pray for them to find joy. Joy will see them through trials and difficulties with faith and a determination to keep their confidence in Jesus – to trust that He remains with them in and through it all.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family April 8, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When the movie Straight Outta Compton debuted at the top of the box almost a decade ago, our media discernment ministry, Plugged In, gave the film a half “plug” (out of five) for family friendliness in its review.

It’s no wonder. Life in Compton, California is anything but family-friendly. I should know – I lived in Compton for part of my childhood. When I was only 8 years old, I was in my bedroom when a murder took place just 10 feet from the window.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family April 7, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

God’s light often shines the brightest when circumstances are at their darkest and most bleak.

Which makes today’s world an opportunity for Christians to be salt and light by recommitting to studying God’s Word and allowing the Holy Spirit to work through us into the lives of others – our families, our neighborhoods, our churches, and our communities. We are ambassadors for Christ, called to be prepared to “give a reason for the hope that is in us” (1 Peter 3:15).

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family March 25, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

For 20 years, Jessie Minassian has been a spiritual “big sis” to teen girls and young women. She offers encouragement about love, dating, loneliness, purity, and living out faith in relevant ways.

She’s joining me on Focus on the Family with Jim Daly to help teen girls create a godly identity – from which comes a well-balanced and happy life.

Jessie and I discussed how navigating family conflict can be like a paintball battle, why you may need to turn down the volume in your busy, noisy life so you can hear from God more clearly, and the positive impact of smiling more.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family March 11, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura

When things go wrong, we say, “Life spiraled downward.” What we mean is that bad choices quickly multiply.

But good choices multiply as well. In the same way that life can spiral downward, it can also spiral upward. How? One small step at a time.

Nobody likes being told to be patient. Suggestions like, “Take it slow” or, “Just stack one good choice on top of another” are never popular. We’d all rather go from A to Z in one leap.

Topics: Family and Home Tags: faith, family March 4, 2025 by Jim Daly with Paul Batura