When My Dreams Cross to Worry

 

In my weaknessjpg

 

A little cyclone, the questions in my mind seem to pick up speed with time. The concerns of yesterday only grow as time passes and I struggle to reign in my thoughts. Even as I fight them, the dreams for my children won’t stay in the corner made for dreams. They wiggle and worm until they cross over into worry.

Where should they go to school?

What should they study?

Will they be independent?

What do they need from me now?

Am I being helpful?

Am I getting in the way?

And the mom I want to be wrestles with the other me – the woman who wants to put her fingerprints on every decision, all the while knowing just because I’m involved doesn’t guarantee everything will turn out right.

The wrestle makes me weak.

In this fight that no one  but me sees, my energy is drained. I know it doesn’t have to be. God has just the gift I need; the gift of His grace.

And so He meets me, reminding me, “…“My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.” 2 Corinthians 12:9 (NIV)

In my weakness, He best displays His strength. 

His grace is sufficient. In the Greek “sufficient” means “to be strong enough”. Strong enough to empower me to step back from worry and embrace my dreams. There I find my place of rest; strong enough.

Like me, do your thoughts work you down until you are left in  heap of worry. Today, He is strong enough for you too!

Where do you need to find Him to be sufficient for you today?

 

 

Lynn

23 Comments

  1. I am now in a life where I must provide for my children and pay my own bills. I haven’t worked outside my home for 15 years. I have to learn how to handle money, and budget so that my children live with some measure of financial security. This seems like a daunting task – learning finances at 50! Please pray for me that I will move forward a little each day with this process.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Shelly, I cannot image the pressure you sense. My dearest friend went through this several years ago. Watching Jesus’ faithfulness to her has been absolutely amazing!!

      Jesus, you have all the wisdom Shelly needs. Pour into her Your courage, knowledge and strength. Open doors for her provision and send many to help and support her. Jesus, you are her husband. May she see that truth in her every day life. Amen

      1. Thank you Lynn. Your comments touched me an truly comforted me.

  2. Today, in my interactions with my 3 teens and 1 preteen…I need much guidance and help. So weary so many days, but God’s grace is sufficient.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Dear Friend, these days can take every drip of energy we have. He gave you your children; He can give you what you need to be the mom they need!

      Jesus, I ask for on-the-spot wisdom and help for my friend. Help her to see what she needs to see so she can make wise decisions. Give her love, joy, peace patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness and self-control especially as it comes to interacting with her kids. Thank you that you are all she needs! Amen

  3. Beth Anderson says:

    Hello Friend! Getting ready to drive with Becca to Maine. Her wedding is in two weeks. So many mixed emotions…… It’s not easy getting used to this new stage of life. Prayers for protection as we travel and for my anxious heart to be calmed. Thank you, Lynn! You are a blessing!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Oh Beth! As I say, each stage is beautiful…and hard! You have raised her well.

      Jesus, send your angels to surround Beth and Becca as they head to a beautiful place you have created…some of your best work! May Beth sense your nearness as she walks through this new season. Give her wisdom and understanding. I pray she will see her new season as a time where you will use her to direct Your love to new ones who need You. Amen

  4. Please pray that I can see my daughter through Jesus’ eyes rather than my own and that I can receive his wisdom and guidance as I help her deal with the tween years. Thank you for praying for me.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Jesus, thank you that Jodi sees that she needs to see through your eyes! Give her a perspective she doesn’t have now. Help her to envision the girl her daughter can become in You and help her to pour in the truth and bring the guidance her girl needs. Amen

  5. I need my daughter Hailee lifted up in prayer. She is having a difficult time in school with another girl. Please God giver the strength and the wisdom to deal with the conflicts in her daily life. Please pray for my other kids that they know God’s love. Thanks in advance.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Jesus, thank you that Your Holy Spirit resides in Hailee. Today may she tangibly feel you with her; in her. Give her wisdom beyond her years. Help her to see this other girl as one who needs you and is probably very empty inside. Open all of Amy Jo’s childrens’ eyes to the uncontainable love You have for them and offer to them. Amen

  6. Airley Ferrell says:

    I find myself at a loss for where to begin to request prayer – I am so overcome with every single emotion in the book that I find myself in a fog most days. Unable to concentrate, unable to focus or enjoy things that I once enjoyed. I am the mother of five children and I would lay down my life for any one of them at any point in time. There are three different fathers involved, but I gave birth to all 5. Father #1 (my first husband) is now in Federal Prison for the next 15-18 years. Father #2 (never married him) is going to die any day from Cancer. Father #3 (my current husband) is an alcoholic and currently unemployed leaving me to be solely responsible for everything financial. I am in the struggle of my life. I was raised in a strong Christian home and I have Faith in the Lord beyond measure. But Satan is beginning to wear away at my strength, and I obviously have poor taste in men! 🙂 Still got my sense of humor anyway. Please pray for me, for my children, for their fathers and for our situations that are ALL over the board! Thank you for the inspirational thoughts and encouragement you offer me each day. It means a lot.

  7. I am bipolar and as always I say an can do a lot, if only I had ENERGY. So, please pray for me for energy because then I can handle everything.

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Thanks so much for sharing, Margriet!

      Father, please empower my friend with your strength and confidence. According to 2 Cor. 12:9 -10 “when we are weak, You are strong.” Give her wisdom to know what to do when. May she be lead, moment by moment, by Your loving and wise Spirit. Amen

  8. I needed this post today Lynn, Thank you! We’ve been going through a struggle with our 10-yr-old. She accepted Jesus as her Savior a year ago and I know she really wants to do the right thing, she just has a hard time doing the right thing at times. My prayer is that I can truly learn to trust God that He will guide her down the right path. I want to have control of all situations but I know that is now humanely possible so I need to give her to Him! Thanks for your prayers and encouragement!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Mindy, finding that balance between letting go and hanging on is so very tough…no matter what age! Keep your heart and ears to Jesus. The Holy Spirit will supply you with the wisdom you need!

      Jesus, according to James 1, please supply Mindy with the wisdom she needs in raising her girl. Help her teach her daughter to follow the leading of the Holy Spirit and trust that when she does obedience will lead to blessings in her life! Amen

  9. Hi Lynn, I stumbled onto your website today and it was food for the soul. We’re about to withdraw our three kids from a Christian school in order to homeschool them. I suppose I’m grieving that this ‘school of my choice’ hasn’t turned out to be what I’d hoped for them; that it might have been somewhere they could have stayed for all their studies. I’m anxious about disrupting my nice, neat and predictable schedule to give all that time and energy to my kids; even though I’m a teacher myself, I’m scared of the future! It seems like such a big step. I want to know my kids will be OK and that I will be OK, and I feel God saying, ‘Come to the edge with me – you will not fall – I will be with you!’ I know it in my head but I want to feel it in my heart!

  10. Oh yes, parenting teens causes me a never-ending battle with worry! I think this is the first time as a parent that I’ve had to completely step back and support from the sidelines- still there, but giving him just enough room to make some tough decisions on his own. Oh, but how I want to intervene all the time! Only by the Lord’s strength, just like you said. Thank you for the reminder today. Blessings!

  11. I am totally guilty of over-thinking my kids education. It’s one area that keeps inviting me to let go. Thanks for the additional reminder. #livefree

  12. Lynn, thanks for being transparent in sharing that “the wrestle makes me weak.” I can so relate to that with my 2 teen boys! I love that verse, 2 Corinthians 12:9. Thanks for sharing on #livefree. Have a great day!

  13. You are one of the best moms, best friends, best wife, and strongest woman of faith I know. I love this! Thanks for joining me today on #livefreeThursday, Lynn. You are a blessing. Love this word!

    1. Lynn Cowell says:

      Thanks friend! I was just thinking of your family while praying for you and Richard. I was thinking, “Father, may my family be as loving and supportive as Suzie’s!” Love you!

  14. I can relate well to your wrestling match, Lynn. My oldest two are leaving the house, and even though they love the Lord and are making good overall decisions, it is still so hard to not be privy to the details of their lives. So to my knees I go, releasing my worries to the One who can handle them. Thanks for this timely message.

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