Letting go is a struggle. For the past 20 plus years of my life I have devoted my time to loving, nurturing and investing in the hearts and minds and spiritual wellbeing of my children. Letting go has been a continuous and challenging process for me. One that never got easier as my children have aged into different seasons of life.
From the time they were born, it seems, there has been a constant need to let go… heading off to school for first time, their first sleepover, trips to camp, driving a car and now leaving home. The world can be an overwhelming, sinful place and letting go has created fear and grief with me. I think as parents we innately want to protect our kids, fix their problems, make decisions and steer them in the right direction.
Sadly, I have become aware of the struggle between my confidence in the Lords ability versus my own. I have spent more of my time worrying than fully entrusting them to God’s care. Surrendering control is hard!
The word of God tells us that God is not the author of fear.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind. – 1 Tim 1:7 (NKJV)
Who else better than to trust our children with then the one who created them.
Before I formed you in the womb I knew you, before you were born I sanctified you, I ordained you as a prophet to the nations. – Jeremiah 1:5 (NKJV)
I can try to steer my children down the paths I think they should take but only God knows the people and places they need to encounter. He created each of them individually with unique talents and abilities to fulfill His purpose. He loves them with an everlasting love and has their best interest at heart.
I like the story of Jochebed, the mother of Moses. She was a woman of faith and courage. She trusted in God enough to place her son, Moses, in a woven basket and place him in the Nile River to protect him from the hand of Pharaoh. She did not know at the time what the outcome would be. I’m sure she had doubts and fears, but she chose to surrender Moses to God’s loving care. Moses grew to be a great leader. God’s plan was bigger the she could have imagined. Jochebed didn’t just let him go, she let him go and trusted God. (Exodus 2)
It’s God’s intention for our children to move on, grow, explore, and become the strong men and women that God created them to be.
Completely turning my children over to our heavenly Father has been a test of my faith. I realize that in order to live a victorious Christian life, I need to exercise this type of faith daily. I must daily put my children in the basket, placing them in the river of life, letting go and letting God in all his sovereignty take control and allow them to thrive in the place He intended.
The times I have allowed myself to fully surrender my children to Christ, I have found peace and freedom. I want to be the mother whose faith in God is bigger than my fear. The mother who, “lets go and trusts God.“
But without faith it is impossible to (walk with God) and please him, for whoever comes near to God must (necessarily) believe that God exists and that he rewards those who (earnestly and diligently) seek Him. – Hebrews 11:6 (AMP)
Beautiful words ! I too struggled to place my son in god’s hands and let go of the control, selfishly thinking I knew him better. I thought that placing him in god’s hands was a type of abandonment. Since I have let go and just pray daily that god will continue to place a hedge if protection around him and place the right people in his path I have had so much peace. GOD IS GOOD
It is so wonderful that you have experienced the peace that comes from trusting God.
Thank you for sharing Tammy
Cindy
A great article. We are so blessed to have you as Mother to
Caleb Josh and Abigail. Thank you for guiding them to follow God.
Each of them have been a blessing and a joy. Very special gifts God has given.