"Letting go and letting...God?"

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        Christian Encouragement July 21, 2001
      
      
         
      
      
        <b>Hello everyone!</b>
      
      
         
      
      
        <b>How many times have we all said this phrase? How many times have we actually been able 
        to do just that? I find, sometimes, that saying it is a bit easier than actually doing it. 
        I would like to say that my faith is SO great every minute of my life, and that I'm such a 
        fine Christian that "letting go" is easy. However, if I said such a thing, I would be a 
        liar. I am now going to speak as a Christian "Mama Bear". When my children were small, I 
        held on to their little hands when we crossed the street. Why? So they wouldn't run out in 
        front of a car and get hurt or killed. As they've grown, I've always made it a point to 
        know WHO...WHAT...WHERE etc. Why? So they wouldn't get into things that would hurt or kill 
        them. As parents, we know we would jump out in front of a speeding train, if necessary, to 
        save our kids. But, what do we do when they've become adults and we see a Semi heading 
        right for them? We can see a disaster about to happen. That big truck is rolling faster 
        and faster and our "adult child" is standing right in the middle of it's path. Well, this 
        mom's first reaction is still to jump in front of my child and try to stop it from hitting 
        him. Only problem is.....I look at my "adult child" and yell, "Get out of the way"! Then 
        as I turn to face that speeding Semi, I realize my "adult child" is the one behind the 
        wheel!! Okay. Some of you out there have already experienced this and have survived it. 
        God has brought you through and you have stories to tell! This is my first major go-round 
        and, honestly, I haven't been very good about "letting go and letting God". </b>
      
      
         
      
      
        <b>Now then, does this phrase mean we are to fold our hands and sit quietly when we see 
        one of our kids heading for disaster, even though they are legally an adult? No. I believe 
        we are to speak up, to pray and ask God to open their eyes and give them wisdom and 
        understanding so they can know when a disaster is heading their way and will jump back on 
        their own. Well, then, that's what my head and logic say to do, but when will my heart 
        catch up? Then I realized, I'm a mom by GOD'S design....it's okay if it takes a little 
        while for my heart to catch up with my head. However, I do believe we need to ask God to 
        protect our hearts. Let's face it, if He didn't do this, how could we function? </b>
      
      
         
      
      
        <b>"Come to me, ALL who are weary and heavy laden, and I will give you rest. "Matthew 
        11:28----</b>
      
      
         
      
      
        <b>I am reminded of David, whose heart was broken over his children. In Psalms 38: 8,9--"I 
        am feeble and sore broken: I have roared by reason of the disquietness of my heart. Lord, 
        all my desire is before Thee; and my groaning is not hid from Thee." Granted, David's son 
        was trying to kill him and mine is not. However, a parent grieving over the actions of 
        their child goes way back, as we can see. From the beginning, Adam and Eve grieved when 
        Cain killed Abel. Eli grieved over his disobedient sons. God grieves over us. Now, this is 
        an encouragement, so I promise, if you read on, we'll get there! Through much prayer and 
        studying of His Word, God is helping my heart to catch up. Through His Holy Spirit, He is 
        teaching me that after we have warned....after we have prayed....and then prayed again, we 
        must turn them over to God. We must choose to let go of the worry and to let God take 
        over. This is the same God who created the heavens and the earth. The same God who gave 
        His Son, Jesus Christ to die for us and our children. The same God who raised Jesus from 
        the dead and seated Him at His right side on the throne. The same God who struggles with 
        US (Genesis 32:24 - "And Jacob was left alone; and there wrestled a man with him until the 
        breaking of the day."). The same God who longs to gather the chicks under His wings. 
        (Matthew 23:37 - "O Jerusalem, Jerusalem, thou that killest the prophets, and stonest them 
        which are sent unto thee, how often would I have gathered thy children together, even as a 
        hen gathereth her chickens under her wings, and ye would not!"). </b>
      
      
         
      
      
        <b>Let go and let God? There are times when God, though never letting go of us, has to 
        allow circumstances to teach us. There are times when we just won't listen to Him as our 
        Father. He struggles with us as we also struggle with our children, and He grieves over us 
        as we also grieve over our children. But through His love, power and the urging of His 
        Spirit, we can put our children and our own hearts into His hands. Through faith in Him, 
        even if small sometimes, we can endure the "times of wilderness" our children go through 
        in their young adult years. After all, God is greater than any speeding train or rolling 
        Semi. And though my "Mama Bear" love is great, His love for my "adult child" is even 
        greater! So, today, I choose to let go and let God! My prayers are with you all and I hope 
        your prayers are with me also. May God cause His glorious face to shine upon us, and may 
        we in all things, through His Holy Spirit, bring honor and glory to Him.</b>
      
      
         
      
      
        <b>Love In Christ,</b>
      
      
         
      
      
        Debbie Reed-Parman
      
      
         	
      
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