Recent Devotionals

Some things in life are beyond our control—like the lives of our young adult children.

When they were little, there were certain areas of their lives I could manage. But now they make their own choices and face their own challenges without my permission or help. And I struggle to give up control.

I wonder how Jesus’ mother did it? Jesus made some challenging choices—like allowing himself to be arrested and crucified. She must have felt completely helpless. Did she remember the words she told the angel years before? “I am the Lord’s servant. Let it be to me as you have said.” (Luke 1:38)

Don’t moms know what’s best for their children? If they would just listen to our advice and take advantage of our years of experience, their lives would be spared so much heartache! But would that really be good? Isn’t it true that the further we are down in the pit, the more we have to look up? And maybe all our attempts at control are preventing our children from looking up.

Life is a training ground for our children to become the people God intends them to be. We moms need to take our children off our potter’s wheel because we are not the Potter! Maybe its time we surrender our goals and plans for their lives to God’s goals and plans. As they grow into adults, let's let them fail and learn life on their own, so they will instinctively turn to God for help and not us.

But there is something we can do that has more power than anything else: We can pray! Asking Almighty God to guide them, teach them, and protect them puts them in far better hands than our own.

It is a challenge to give up our need to be needed. But let's take our cue from Mary and stand on the sidelines as our children take up their own crosses, moving closer and closer to the One to whom they truly belong.

Heavenly Father, Thank you for loving my children even more than I do. Give me wisdom and faith as I release them into your hands. Amen.