“Have fun,” my husband encouraged as our oldest son grabbed his car keys.
As he headed out the door, I offered, “Be careful. There’s a lot of flash flooding from the storm.”
“I will. Love you! Bye…” his voice trailed off as he headed out the door to go to a weekly college campus Bible study.
“Love you, too, Son.”
I remained at the dining room table, considering our exchange.
My husband and I offered admonitions not out of an effort to frustrate or control our young adult son, but rather, out of our love and concern for him. We trust him to make good decisions and to act safely, and yet, we frequently give such sentiments of caution because at our age, we have more wisdom and experience to know potential problems before they occur. All in all, we caution and encourage because we want the best for him and his younger brother.
As I considered our verbal exchange, I sensed God sharing, “It’s the same with me.”
“Excuse me?” I answered silently in prayer.
“I speak to your heart, and I’ve spoken for years through my Word.”
I started to understand His point.
“I don’t say, ‘Be anxious for nothing,’ or ‘Be still,’ or tell you that ‘in this world you will have trouble…’ or to ‘be thankful for everything’ in an effort to frustrate you or impose rules on you. First and foremost, I gave you free will. But I give you such instructions because I love you and I know what is best for you.”
Hmmm. I considered His point.
I think sometimes there is a tendency for our growing children to think we are overly cautious or that we delight in restricting their freedom or that we get some pleasure in the harsh conversations or rules we invoke. Yet, our concern as their parents is to guide them along the path that is best for them. They don’t yet have the experience or the wisdom that only comes from experience, to know what they don’t know.
That causes me to pause and wonder how often we look at Scripture and God’s instruction, and yet, we so often go our own way, assuming we know what’s best for our lives.
The truth of God’s word explains that God has already given us everything we need for life and Godliness (2 Peter 1:3). His word commands, encourages, and explains all we need for making right choices and living a God-fearing life.
Scripture also declares that those who will trust in the Lord will not be disappointed (Romans 10:11 NASB). Part of trusting is being obedient to what He has shown and told us. When we follow His mandates and live in His will, He will reward that, and He will bestow on us the desires of our heart (Psalm 37:4). Simply because He loves us.
So, as we read His word, we can imagine Him as a loving Father who declares over each of us, “Be careful. Have fun. I love you.”
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Hope Prevails Book and Hope Prevails Bible Study {hope for overcoming depression}
Available now through book retailers!
Hope Prevails: Insights From a Doctor’s Personal Journey Through Depression and the new companion Hope Prevails Bible Study help the reader understand: how depression comes to be, recover their joy, reclaim their peace, and re-establish their true identity, while knowing their worth, remembering their secure destiny, and being confident that nothing separates them from God’s love.
This is so good! As a mother of young adult kids who all live away, I sometimes cringe when I hear myself telling them to “drive carefully” or “get plenty of sleep” or “eat well”. Like they need me to tell them…. But, yes, it’s only because I love them and want the best for them, just as my heavenly Father does for His children. I need to take His Word as a gift, as a love letter, there for my good. Thanks so much for sharing! ?
Laura,
So glad you could relate. It’s funny the lessons we learn as we parent! Blessings to you.
So true, Michelle! I don’t know why we don’t trust our loving Father more, especially when we consider our own loving intentions as parents. Besides, I may fail my children from time to time–which gives them pause to trust me–but God has never failed me! So how silly is it that I often resist trusting Him? Thanks for this inspiring perspective, my friend! Pinned and tweeted!
Beth, trusting God is very much a process, or much like a dance, isn’t it? Sometimes it’s several steps forward, and a couple back. I’m just so thankful He is patient with me as His child!
Wise words, my friend! We forget that we have a loving Father who does the same for us that we then do for our kids.
Oh yes, and His love never fails!
Thanks Mary! What a loving Father He is!! And I’m so grateful that He created us to be in community and fellowship with friends like you.
I’m so happy to have found this encouragement from the #happynow linkup! My son is 15, just starting to go out with friends who drive. We fill him with the same words you and your husband spoke to your son, but I didn’t make the connection about how similar God speaks to us until now.
I’m so glad this post resonated with you. It was quite the epiphany for me as well! It’s a delight to have you here today. I hope we see you again soon.