In the Know – God is a Parent with Wayward Children, Too!

Don’t get them. Sometimes, I just don’t get my three teen kids. I can’t remember what it is like to have raging hormones. I struggle to comprehend the disconnect between thoughts and actions. The PMSing in tandem just gets to me. Patience, Lynn, patience.

It leaves me feeling weak. When I don’t have the answers; when I see them cry and hurt, it makes me want to cry and hurt. I want to fix it; turn their course of direction. But I can’t. They have to write their story. Find their way.

I found comfort this morning in Jesus.

“Therefore, since we have a great high priest who has ascended into heaven, Jesus the Son of God, let us hold firmly to the faith we profess. For we do not have a high priest who is unable to empathize with our weaknesses, but we have one who has been tempted in every way, just as we are—yet he did not sin. Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.” Hebrews 4:14 – 16 (NIV) Emphasis mine

He sees me. He sees my weakness in parenting; the tear roll down my eye when I don’t know what to do or what to say. See…He’s a parent. He is a parent with wayward kids. He knows the temptation to want to force a child to believe or to trust. He, too, struggles with watching His kids fumble to find the right path. Yet, He doesn’t sin; never makes the wrong choice to offend or loose self-control.

What He offers us, as parents, is mercy and grace in our time of need. Our time of needing to know when to give advice and when to listen. Mercy and grace to us when we are trying to figure out if we should let it go or discipline is right for this offense. He pours into us exactly what we need, when we ask.

Are you struggling, like me, to want to fix it for your child? Together, today, let’s trust our Father that Father knows best and can give us the wisdom we need this day to parent our children.

Lynn

9 Comments

  1. Amen, Lynn! Today is a victory day in my teen's journey. I see her taking baby steps of faith in being who God wants her to be. But, tomorrow is another day! Attitudes change like the wind in our house, but for now I am rejoicing!!

  2. Isn't that the way it is?

    You've heard it said "Two steps forward, one step back". True for our children and true for us! Every day we are growing; hopefully to reflect Him more each day!

  3. Anonymous says:

    Thanks for the word Lynn. God send this word for me because he knows that I needed so badly as I try to deal with my teen son and a daughter who is in her twenties bout moreso the teen.

  4. Dear Anonymous,
    When I was struggling with my child, this truth really set me free! God calls me to pour His Word into my children. After that, it is up to Him to cause that truth to have impact – "to not return voice" as the Bible says it.
    It is His word…He'll do it!
    Be encouraged!
    Lynn

  5. Anonymous says:

    Exactly what I needed today after attempting to guide my daughter through a heart-break. She ended up saying "I'll just talk to you later" when I thought I was being helpful. The only way is to hand it over to God and trust His wisdom and guidance.

  6. This is so hard! I had a friend who used to say when my oldest was two (she's now 20), "Little children, little problems – big children, big problems." I did not understand that then, but I learned the truth of it! Now I have also a 10 and 6 year old – all girls. Parenting them is different than parenting babies and toddlers, but not easier! Just different.

  7. Terri Lynn says:

    Amen Lynn. What a blessing of a word. Four of my five children are grown and on their own, but it never stops in wanting to fix it all. Thank you for this reminder.

  8. Lynn, one of the things I often do to encourage good communication is take my daughter out on Saturday for lunch, shopping, etc. While we are looking at things and having a good time, conversation happens. God gives a window and I have temporary access to say something non hovering. We have had the neatest heart to heart moments during those times. Especially if I am real with her with my own failures. Praying!

  9. Even adult kids can still pull us in by making us want to "fix it" sometimes just to stop the noise of what we hear and see. The teenage years are hard for everybody.

    Love suffers long. Keep loving. Keep planting His Word.

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