Lot’s story isn’t just history. It’s a mirror. Many of us today are raising children in modern-day Sodoms, compromised environments that seem convenient or prestigious but slowly erode the moral and spiritual backbone of our homes.
How do we get out?
How do we raise righteous children in a corrupt world?
It’s simpler than you think. What often makes family decisions hard are the attachments we have to the very things we need to let go.
It starts with seeing clearly.
Before we can exit Sodom, we must first recognise it for what it is. The problem is, Sodom doesn’t always look like danger, sometimes, it looks like opportunity, comfort, or even answered prayer. That’s why our first step isn’t just physical relocation, but a shift in perception. We must let God open our eyes to what we’ve normalised and ask Him to help us see through the lens of His wisdom, not just our preferences.
Admit When a Place Isn’t Safe, Even If It’s Comfortable
Lot saw a lush land, not a dangerous one (Genesis 13:10-13). In the same way, many times, we hold on to environments because they are familiar, secure, or socially approved. But these things don’t offer safety or protection for our children. So, when it comes to letting go of a place of comfort, you need to be quick, decisive and discerning. Discernment isn’t just about what seems safe, it’s about asking what God is saying.
Ask yourself: Is this place, this show, this friend circle, this routine helping my child or family grow in Christ?
Or is it drawing them subtly away from God?
Is it introducing value systems that are contrary to what pleases God?
Parents Must Exit First
Lot hesitated. He had to be dragged (Genesis 19:15-16). And honestly, that’s many of us. We sense the danger, we hear the warnings, but we wait, hoping things change. Dear parents, we must not linger when God says to move. Our children’s escape may depend on how quickly we respond. James 1:22 says: “don’t just listen to God’s word. You must do what it says. Otherwise, you are only fooling yourselves.”
Jesus was even more emphatic: “If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell.” (Matthew 5:29). Drastic obedience may be uncomfortable, but it’s necessary.
As parents, we must be the first to step out. Whether it’s a toxic friendship, a spiritually draining job, or an environment that contradicts our values, our exit becomes our children’s escape route.
Sometimes, exiting begins with repentance: “Lord, I tolerated this for too long. Help me lead my family differently.” (Acts 3:19).
As simple as repentance and prayer may seem, they open your heart to see what was previously hidden.
They open your ears to hear God’s voice clearly for your family, for your children.
They help you look beyond the comfort and allure of what feels safe and attractive but slowly erodes your foundation.
This simple prayer invites God’s strength to do what must be done, whether it means leaving a place or releasing a relationship. Like Abraham, you learn to settle not based on convenience or appearance, but on God’s clear leading and instruction. Even when it feels like you’re stepping into a dry, barren land, God makes you thrive, because that’s exactly where His purpose for you unfolds. Just as we are called to “know no one after the flesh,” so too must we refuse to judge a place by its outward beauty alone.
Explain the Why, Not Just the What
Lot’s daughters adapted to Sodom’s mindset most likely because they didn’t see their father resist it, just tolerate it. So, when they left, they carried the city in their hearts. It’s not enough to say “Don’t watch that” or “We’re leaving this place.” Our children need to hear the why.
Say for example:
“We’re changing your school because the atmosphere is shaping you in a way that isn’t Christ-like.”
“We’re limiting screen time because even though that cartoon looks innocent, it’s sowing confusion.”
“We’re not going to that place anymore because it doesn’t align with our values.”
Your explanations are discipleship. Don’t just change their surroundings. Shape their understanding (Proverbs 22:6, Deuteronomy 11:19).
Don’t just direct them, disciple them. Isaiah 28:9–10 says that spiritual growth happens “precept upon precept, line upon line…” Let your children understand the heart of God behind your decisions. Don’t assume they’ll “just get it. Patiently and consistently teach them the way of God.
We are in a war of ideas. If you’re not teaching, someone else is.…
Build Altars Where You Are
Sometimes you can’t leave immediately. Logistics, finances, or other constraints may delay your physical exit. But you can build a spiritual one.
Start with:
Daily family prayer and Bible reading. Colossians 3:16 says: “let the message of Christ dwell among you richly as you teach and admonish one another with all wisdom through psalms, hymns, and songs from the Spirit, singing to God with gratitude in your hearts.
(See also Psalm 119:105).
Create patterns of prayer, Bible study, and kingdom culture in your home.
Teach your children what it means to be set apart. Daniel resolved not to defile himself even in Babylon (Daniel 1:8). Will your children be able to do the same, even if they find themselves in Sodom?
Talk openly about values, truth, and holiness (2 Timothy 3:15).
Teach your children to say, “That’s not how we do things in our home.” This gives them internal strength to withstand external influence (Ephesians 6:10-13).
For example, no matter how ‘gbedu’ (catchy or popular) a song might be, there are some songs we simply don’t listen or dance to. Even though my children are still young, I’m very clear with them about this. When we’re out and can’t always control the music playing around us, I tell them plainly, “We don’t dance to songs like that. We don’t sing songs like that because they don’t praise God or glorify Him. Alright?”
Slowly but surely, we’re training their ears and hearts to hunger for things that honor God.
Be Willing to Start Over, Even in Obscurity
Lot was offered the mountains. He begged for a small city because he was still clinging to comfort. (Genesis 19:17-20). Sometimes we also cling, to reputation, to the familiar, to what “looks” like success. But obscurity with God is better than exposure without Him (Proverbs 3:5-6).
Downsize if you must.
Switch schools.
But by all means, never let yourself or your family make costly compromises in exchange for comfort or convenience.
Finally, Your Exit Is Their Escape
Flee whatever represents Sodom to you. Not just for your sake, but for the sake of your children. Yes, He that is in you is greater than he that is in the world (1 John 4:4), but that same Spirit sometimes says, “Run” (2 Timothy 2:22). The Bible says “flee every appearance of evil” (1 Thessalonians 5:22).
Let your children see you walk away from compromise. Let them hear your reasons and watch your conviction. Let them grow up in a home where the Spirit of God is not just present, but honored. Psalm 101:2-3). The real legacy isn’t the wealth or the comfort you leave behind. It’s the righteousness you pass on (Proverbs 13:22).
Your children are watching. What you flee or indulge in, they notice.
What you normalize, they accept.
what you refuse to confront may become what they later serve.
Malachi 2:15 tells us that God’s intention in marriage is to “seek godly offspring.” That’s not just about biology, it’s about legacy.
Leaving Sodom behind isn’t always easy or comfortable. But when we choose to obey God instead of settling for what’s easy or familiar, we open the door for Him to protect and bless our families.
May God give you the courage to leave behind what harms you and the faith to trust Him for His perfect plan for your family.❤️
