As a little girl, your daughter may have told little white lies—while frustrating… they certainly weren’t malicious. But as a teenager, you may find the lying to be sneakier, riskier, and a bit hurtful.  

We know that lying has been recognized as developmentally “normal” in children, as it’s a way to test boundaries—but that doesn’t make it good or holy behavior. Scripture reminds us time and again that lying is not Godly. So what’s a Christian parent to do?  

First, avoid the angry or moral soapbox approach. Instead, try to identify the emotion behind the lie and remind your girl that you are there to support her. So often, lies are concocted out of fear. Create a culture of honesty in your home by modeling truth-telling and cultivating empathy. 

Listen to the Raising Godly Girls Minute with Patti Garibay: