Can We Trust in God’s Sovereignty?
Christ our King and Judge (Photo credit: Lawrence OP)
There is, perhaps, no more difficult a calling when it comes to our role as parents than to trust God’s sovereignty while accepting our responsibility to raise our children “in the nurture and admonition of the Lord” (Ephesians 6:4, KJV).
As Christian parents, our hopes and dreams are far-reaching. We want to instill in our children a love for God and His Word. We want to see that they develop friendships with Christian peers and that they look to mature Christian mentors when they need someone besides us to talk to. We also want to teach them the importance of drawing close to God through prayer.
As new parents, we are in the process of developing our walk with the Lord. We may be overwhelmed at the responsibility of caring for our son and daughter. Some days our dreams of being awarded the Most Godly Parent award crash and burn. We may find it difficult just getting through the day.
And then, before we have the chance to blink, they’re grown. If they are walking with the Lord, our heart swells. If they have turned from Him, we look back and wonder what we should have done differently. And, of course, we find many things to add to our List of Regrets.
The weight of those regrets is like an elephant sitting on our chest.
The air is forced from our lungs and our heart feels as if it’s in a vice. We can become immobilized—or we can do what God wants us to. We can run to Him, confess our shortcomings as parents, and trust Him to forgive us.
And we must remember . . . God is sovereign.
At the end of the day, our child’s walk with Him is between the two of them. Even if they have turned and run full steam in the opposite direction, they cannot outrun Him. As Psalm 139 teaches us, there is nowhere we can flee from His presence.
So, as parents, we must ask God to forgive us for our sins and shortcomings. And as parents, we must pour out our hearts for our children, trusting that He loves them even more than we do.
If you are a new parent, I encourage you to pray with and for your little ones. Show them by example how to walk with the Lord. And yet, when you stumble, ask for and accept God’s forgiveness. Although you may no longer be able to pray with them, the same applies if your children are grown. Trust that He is, indeed, the God who “works all things according to the counsel of his will” (Ephesians 1:11 ESV).
Trust His sovereignty and be empowered by His Spirit.
Seek to fulfill your responsibilities.
Steph Beth Nickel
Steph Beth is a wife of over 30 years and the mother of three grown children. Steph’s eclectic interests include writing, editing, fitness, and childbirth (she is also a labour doula).
Steph’s was honoured to co-author former Paralympian Deb Willows’ memoir. Living Beyond My Circumstances is scheduled for release at the end of November 2013.
Steph edits for Christian Editing Services under the leadership of Karen Burkett. She is a long-time member of The Word Guild and a recent member of InScribe Christian Writers’ Fellowship.
Steph blogs at Steph’s Electic Interests. Her new author website, Steph Beth Nickel , is a work-in-progress.