Worried parents…
YOU CAN TRUST GOD WITH YOUR FAMILY.
Some of you are like myself and my wife Amy right now. You have a teenager with a brand new driver’s license. We have twins – new driver double trouble! Some of you are in the middle of what we faced 16 years ago. You have a baby in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit. We had two one pound blessings, Aleck and Emma Grace, fighting for their lives in the NICU. Some of you are trying to keep your baby from coming early so you’re stressed and on bed rest like Amy was for three months with our youngest daughter, Ella. And that was just the beginning!
As each year comes and goes, we seem to have different seasons and reasons to worry! Whether it is a custody battle, addiction issues, school problems, anxiety issues, children who are thinking of hurting themselves, bullying, disabilities, family fighting, sickness, heartache, death… or you are worried about their safety, self-esteem, friends, withdrawal, or health…
WHATEVER it is today that just has you uneasy, uncomfortable, discouraged, fearful, hopeless, or even breathless…WHATEVER it is, YOU CAN TRUST GOD WITH YOUR FAMILY. Parents – He sees us. He knows we are tired, heavy with burden, terrified. He knows our unmeasurable love for our children. God will supply the strength in these seasons. He gives us grace. God KNOWS our children. He knows them better than we do. He knows everything about them. More importantly, He knows their full story. He knows their future. There is NO better place for our children to be than under the authority and care of God – to be fully turned over and placed in His arms.
Parents…SURRENDER them to Him. My wife and I spent years struggling with control and worry over our children. Our early years and experiences with our children served as frequent reminders of the true fragility of life. This made worry and control very welcome in our home. Then God revealed to us in similar but separate rough experiences, within days of each other, that we must trust Him with our children(a blog-post story of it’s own). Through His revelation and grace this happened and I cannot put into words the peace and freedom, especially as a father, that the surrender of your child to God offers.
Our children are not ours. They are God’s children. Lean into your faith today and trust that He is in control. God says He has good plans for our children. We are raising His miracles, so let your faith lead to an action of passing on an eternal life perspective to your family. He has written the story and it ends in VICTORY. We can’t expect bad things to not happen to our family, but we can KNOW God gives us peace, hope, and strength in all circumstances.
And finally, know you ARE NOT alone. He walks with you. His grace is sufficient. Trust God today with your family. He loves you right where you are in your uncertainty and worry. And He loves you enough to not let you stay there. Just lean in, surrender, and trust Him. God bless you all!
“He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young.” – Isaiah 40:11
