Stealing Testimonies

“Love never gives up, never loses faith, is always hopeful, and endures through every circumstance.” 1 Co 13:7

One of the most difficult things for which we are called is also the very thing that brings us some of our greatest blessings...parenthood. Whether our children are 5 or 25 we are called to love them beyond all else. I once read that true love works for the benefit of another. I remember when one of my children was getting off restriction. I was praying for God to keep her from doing things that I knew could ultimately harm her. My prayers were full of fear that she would give in to temptation once she got off restriction. His message was clear... ‘Of course she will, and it is how I will teach her repentance and forgiveness. Without those sins and mistakes she can’t learn about my character and grow in strength and faith.’ My take-away from that experience was crystal clear in that to really love our children we must step aside so that God can love them more. We must understand that greater work is at hand than our attempt to make them feel better. Deeper love is at work between Father and child, and we are called to never give up, always be hopeful through our faith enduring all circumstances. We must trust the process of God writing our children’s stories, and not get in the way of the powerful work of faith.

There is nothing more heart wrenching than to watch our children walk out things that go against our core beliefs, but that is when God intervenes and does His best work. This morning I read a beautiful article about allowing God to parent our children which was a powerful statement about our responsibility. Our job is to trust and God’s job is to teach. May God give me strength to apply these principles to life as a parent.

• Don’t steal your child’s testimony. Their God-story is unfolding before your eyes. Let it play out. Trust God.

• Resist the temptation to rescue. That’s God’s job, not ours. Unsuccessful choices are sometimes the best teachers.

• Prayers of a heartsick parent are never ignored. If your patience and perseverance are hanging by a worn thread, God’s promises remain stronger than ever. Weariness may come, but a prayer life is your refreshing time. Praying is your work to do; answering those prayers is God’s.

"Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up" Gal 6:9.