As a mom I often wonder and worry a little about the choices my kids make. I know they struggle with not feeling a desire for the things of God, for His word. The world pulls at them. We live in a world of social media that draws us in and mesmerizes. I know it's their struggle. They need to work through it. And I pray that they will come out on the right side with a faith stronger than I had at their age. A faith that has been challenged and proven to be true beyond a shadow of a doubt for them.
As I was praying today, I pictured one of my kids arm wrestling God. And then I thought, when I worry, I'm saying I don't trust in God's strength and His power. I've got to take my eyes off my kid and be aware of Whom my child is wrestling. The One he is wrestling is not only God, but He is His Heavenly Father. He's the One who knows my child's struggles better than I do. He knows his every thought, his fears, his doubts, his weaknesses....but He loves my child. And He loves my child more than I do. If I want all that is best for my child, don't I trust God knows and wants what is best for my child...His child? After all, this child was first His child. I've raised these children to love The Lord with all their heart, all their mind and all their soul because God called me to do that. If God called me to do that, and if they have already professed a love for Jesus, why would God abandon them when they are struggling or wrestling with their faith, with their God. Why would God slam them down? No. God will gently draw them to Himself. He will not let them win, because if they win the struggle, they lose their life.
As I write this, my child is playing the piano. After many years of lessons and recitals, he just stopped playing the piano. He wanted to play other instruments. I think it's been at least 5 or 6 years since he's played the piano....on his own....without my request. He's looking up different melodies to play and is enjoying it. I didn't ask him to play. It's such a joy to watch him and hear him play. And as I watch him, I cannot help but think that in the same way, God will draw my son to Him at the right time. And it won't be because of anything I've done or said, it won't be from me pleading with him; it will only be borne from a desire God places in his heart. The best I can do is intercede only in prayer and having faith in the power of our Heavenly Father who will never leave us nor forsake us. We belong to Him. He will not let us wander too far before bringing us back.
"What do you think? If a man owns a hundred sheep, and one of them wanders away, will he not leave the ninety-nine on the hills and go to look for the one that wandered off? And if he finds it, truly I tell you, he is happier about that one sheep than about the ninety-nine that did not wander off." Matthew 18:12,13
