Dear Ones,
May you have a peaceful day! We plan to have friends over for coffee and fellowship and later I am going to our Women’s Bible Study. Kurt and Brenda will be coming here this weekend as planned and Kurt’s surgery will be scheduled a week from Friday.
Devotions from Judy’s heart
Haven’t we all had concern for family members and loved ones that seem to be veering off the path and no longer walking with the Lord? It is so hard to watch, knowing that they will one day be regretful and bear consequences from going the way of the world. We may get filled with anxiety and frustration, pleading with the Lord to get them back on His path. But of course, we are not God and each person has to make the choice for themselves. So how do we navigate and live in His peace even as we stand by, watching and praying?

I read an article in Just Between Us magazine by Dr. Leslie Umstattd who is a pastor, a wife, and mother of two daughters. She gives some helpful hints to remind us of how we are to view the situation when our children stray. First of all, we are to remember that we are not the Holy Spirit. In other words, the Holy Spirit is the one to convict them, show them their sin and speak truth to them about their actions, and not us. We are not to hammer away, trying to point out their sin, but it is the Holy Spirit’s job. Our natural tendency also is to want to protect them from getting hurt and suffering the consequences. But what if God wants to use that to bring them back to Himself? When our kids were teens I use to pray, “Whatever it takes for them to know and love you.” Sometimes that will mean watching them suffer presently, but looking toward the day when they will come back to Him.

We can’t make our children believe or live a life of obedience to God, for each of them has to make their own choice. But we must remember that God always hears our prayers, even when we cannot see any change. He is always listening to us, working in ways we may not know. We are to hang on in faith and trust that He is at work without the outward evidence. God sees our grief and hears the cries of our hearts; we can give Him our burden. He says in Matt. 11:28, “Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.” He gives us hope and we can lay our burden at His feet, trusting Him with our child. Leslie gives us comforting words of encouragement given to her, “As long as there is breath, the gospel has space to regenerate and transform the heart.” We must never give up and always pray.
Challenge for today: Pray in faith and hope for those members of your family that have strayed from the Lord.
Blessings on your day and prayers and love, Judy