I don't know about you, but I worry about my kids. None of them are
actively walking with the Lord and although there are good signs along the
way...still I worry. I cannot make them believe...I cannot force them to follow...and when they do not...it brings me great sadness and pain...not only for myself, but for them...for all that they are robbing themselves and others of...for all the joy lost that can never be recaptured....yes there can be future joys, but joy lost....cannot be reclaimed. His ways are the best ways for a reason.....because they are The Best. But I cannot will them to understand or believe this and it breaks my heart when their choices diverge from His.....sigh....
Today, I received some unexpected encouragement in
this department. Actually from the Lord Himself. I was reading along
in my daily scripture...I'm in John right now.....reading,
reading...Jesus talking to the Pharisees, Jesus walking around the
temple....Jesus saying "don't follow me unless I follow My
Father"...Jesus claiming to be God's Son...general stuff...you
know....and then he left them....well escaped away actually when they
would have liked to stone Him...Just when they were at their
angriest...He slipped away.
Then the last verses of the chapter.....John 10:40-42
Then Jesus went back across the Jordan to the place where John had been baptizing in the early days. Here He stayed and many people came to him. They said, "Though John never performed a miraculous sign, all that John said about this man was true." And in that place many believed in Jesus.
As I read across this verse I idylly wondered why so many would believe in that area as opposed to the Temple area in Jerusalem where the Pharisees were so angry....and then I got it....John had already prepared the way...the ground was plowed and fallow....it was the perfect place for the seeds of the Truth to be sown. In this place, Jesus could be exactly Who He was meant to be and could freely do All that the Father showed Him.... and He would be received as who He truly was ....God's Only Son.
Then the Lord spoke ever so clearly to my heart...."you have prepared the way for Me in the hearts of your children, just like John did, and they will see that all you have said about Me is true."
Oh this brings me great joy! He said that I have done my part...He said that the path has been prepared...He said that they will see.....
Only He can do His part....only He can do what He does.....and I must trust Him to it.
Thank you, Lord for assuring me that because of my efforts, You already have an inroad into my children's hearts...as You work Your work in them...they will see that all I have told them and taught them and lived in front of them.... is true.
17 comments:
Dear Cheryl,
You are so right. We can prepare the way, our children have to decide for themselves.
They know the road, and maybe they will never follow exactly in our footsteps, but they will find their way to salvation.
Oh, I know old satan is reminding me of all the times I have failed. I know I have placed my child and her future in the arms of the Lord even before she was born, And the the promise of Jesus stay true,John 10 :27 My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me:
28 And I give unto them eternal life; and they shall never perish, neither shall any man pluck them out of my hand.
29 My Father, which gave them me, is greater than all; and no man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand."
No man is able to pluck them out of my Father's hand. Amen
Encouragement as you go......I find this to be God's forte, if you will?! He says in Isaiah 55 that His word will not return without doing the work it was sent to do. To quote a dear friend.....Yes and Amen! ;-)
Amen! And .. as a mother .. your continued walk in Him before them will have eternal impact. Sometimes they have to go through the muck of the world to see the need for Him and spiritual cleansing.
You have done what you can, plowing the ground, preparing it for growth to take place. The seed has been planted. Now the waiting in faith, and hope, and joy takes place.
Weeping may tarry for the night
But joy comes in the morning.
Much love
Lidia
Very encourageing Cheryl. Many people including me are praying for their loved ones to receive the Lord. The seed we have sown will germinate one day.
This encourages my mother's heart because I am in a similar situation. My daughter Jessica has totally transformed into someone that we no longer recognize, having taken on the causes and philosophies of her latest boyfriend. It's enough to make you want to throttle your own children! Sigh....I will remember that Dave and I have prepared the way, laid the foundation and it's God's job to do the rest!
Connie
I struggle with the same issues. I have so many family members who know the truth, but have walked away from it.
I am often comforted by the words in the Psalms and some of the prophets, when God promises to bring people back to Himself, and to make His ways known to their descendants.
We have to hold on to His promises, even though that is soooo hard.
Just revisiting. We will keep holding up one another's children in prayer.
I'm here to tell you that I KNOW you are right because I've been through those exact same waters and now have three daughters who are walking with the Lord. Do not give up. I'll pray with you!
Hello once again.
We shall never ever stop praying for our children. Never.
Even so, they are loved and watched from before they were born.
We need to rest in that while we are reminding the Lord of his promises.
Hugs felisol
Just had do pay a visit and read your message over again.
About the prepared road. The highway. Not wayfarers shall get lost. Thanks for being you.
Once more back.
Just to confirm your story. We have been tools, like John, preparing the road. The evil often tells me how bad I've been, and that I am a total failure.
Well, I am not.
I've done what I could, and I have no intention to stop. God himself shall be the guide, so that no wayfarer gets lost.
Your writing is so deep and so important to me, Cheryl.
Food for my soul over and over again.
Felisol! You are such a dear sweet friend. I am so happy that something I have written has been beneficial to you...it is only the Lord because in me there is no good thing! Love you, sister!
Dearest Cheryl, Once more I am being brought back to what you wrote wrestling and fighting for the immortal souls of your children. Once more your fight and the answers the Lord gave you rub off on me. I make your words mine."His ways are the best ways for a reason.....because they are The Best." That is so true, but so hard to explain in times of adversity. I simply have to rest there and day by day see and experience, this is the truth and answer.
I wish you well this October month. May you literally be showered in blessings with your family and the scarf sisters too. Love felisol
And once more I understand why I have been brought back to this post. Dearest sister, I am praying.
Dear Cheryl,
It seems I'm always been brought back to this blog post, via your link. Maybe this is the last that you have written this year??
Anyway, I like it. It's packed with wisdom and comfort. "His ways are the best ways for a reason.....because they are The Best."
It's as true today as the day you wrote it. If we only could rest in that, and know that when we have submitted our lives to the Lord, our times are in his hand.
His banner over us is love. Truly, we only see in a mirror darkly, best this night I have this peaceful insight, all his roads are mercy to those who love Him. My feelings may shift, I may meet with adversities, but his words and promises are still the same.2 Tim. 2 :19 Nevertheless the foundation of God standeth sure, having this seal, The Lord knoweth them that are his."
We have a solid and affirming foundation. Let's keep on the promises once more. Peace be with you.
Hello, Chery. Your blog post popped up on my reading list today, once more.
I thought you had come up with something new, but it was these now familiar words preaching to me again.
I find comfort in reading from heart to heart, from praying Mom to praying Mom. Each time I read, I feel I can let down my shoulders a bit more.
I know I have lifted up my child in prayer even before she was born.
I know my prayers do not expire on date.
I rest in the arms of our common redeemer.
He will not anything but the best for our children.
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