What if the behavior we see is not the whole story?

In this final episode of the series, I share an experience with another child whose behavior became destructive toward himself and the environment around him. Through the lens of my Christian faith, I began thinking about the biblical account often described as the “deaf and dumb spirit”—and about the danger of focusing so much on troubling behavior that we stop seeing the child underneath it.

This episode explores spiritual discernment, the authority believers have in Christ, the power of prayer and breath, and the importance of speaking love, life, peace, and soundness of mind over a child rather than continually defining them by their most difficult moments.

I also talk about what it means to respond from love instead of fear: recognizing the child, remaining grounded, using your spiritual authority responsibly, and refusing to let destructive behavior become the child’s identity.

And this is not a message to reject medical, psychological, developmental, or behavioral support. Those forms of care can be important and necessary. My encouragement is simply not to dismiss the spiritual dimension if your faith leads you to consider it. Physical, emotional, psychological, and spiritual care do not have to compete with one another.

A child is more than a behavior. A struggle is not an identity. And even in the middle of something frightening or confusing, we can choose to respond with wisdom, prayer, appropriate professional support, and love.