I Quit!

“I quit! Parenting stinks!” I received this text from a mom of three teenagers.

I believe most moms have experienced moments of exasperation. Raising children brings joys and heartaches. These seasons fluctuate as children develop into adults and choose their own paths.  

Perhaps today you are in place of despair over your child’s decisions. Is anxiety overwhelming? Is emotional pain searing your heart as you watch your child wander away from the values you have tried to instill?   

If yes, please know that God is near to the broken-hearted. When the darkness of the unknown threatens to engulf us, we need to pray. He hears our prayers.

One of my favorite examples of God’s faithfulness is a dear friend and her substance -addicted son. She despaired that he would never turn back to the faith. One night she woke with a frenetic anxiety. She tossed and turned as she prayed. Then she noticed a thin stream of light slide through the blinds onto the nightstand. Her Bible lay open and the light fell narrowly on to one section. She got up and read,

This is what the LORD says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the LORD. "They will return from the land of the enemy.
 So there is hope for your future," declares the LORD. "Your children will return to their own land. (Jeremiah (31:16-17, NIV)

Immediately, she felt peace. She fell asleep.

Although, it was several years before she saw her child return to God, she never felt the deep angst again. She chose to believe that God is faithful and loved her son more than she ever could. She placed him in the hands of Everlasting Father.

Do you feel like texting, “I quit! Parenting stinks.”?  If yes, you’re not alone. Nevertheless, remember, God’s hands hold your child.