Joyful Parenting Podcast · New Colony Church

How to help your children build godly self-confidence: An Interview with Larinda Horton

·1 hr 15 min·4 clips

“You define who you are through who God says you are,” Horton tells parents and children.

Horton joins the host for a warm Christian parenting conversation. She describes her path from years in community mental health into private practice and explains that her counseling is built on the foundation of the Word and brought back to Scripture. That frame matters throughout the discussion. The episode keeps returning to the difference between confidence built on truth and the kind that depends on winning, image, or avoiding discomfort. A sports-loss story opens the door. A child who feels he let teammates down becomes the center of the conversation, and the host and guest slow down to show how a parent can speak what is true without erasing the hurt. There is no rush to fix the feeling. Instead, they talk through what it looks like to give a child space, let the moment breathe, and trust that God is doing something in the heart. The conversation also shows how the response may change as a child gets older. In the example here, the son is 17, so the parent speaks plainly, then stops talking and lets him sit with it. The guest’s answer stays grounded in ordinary household life. She talks about getting things wrong, wishing she could redo some moments, not scrambling to fill every silence, and using calm words when emotions run hot. The tone stays pastoral and practical. It moves easily between theology, counseling language, and the feel of parenting after a hard game or a disappointing moment. A little sports banter at the end keeps the exchange human. Even so, the episode never loses its center. It keeps asking how a Christian parent can speak truth, leave room for tears, and help a child keep hold of what is real.

As heard by us

Christian counseling frames a teen sports loss as a chance to speak truth, make space for hard feelings, and avoid over-rescuing.

The episode looks at how to help a child grow confidence that still holds when life turns rough. A licensed professional counselor keeps the focus on parenting from the Word, Scripture, and truth instead of pressure or performance, and the clearest moment comes in the story…

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Why you'd press play

You want a faith-first way to talk about your child’s setbacks.

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