Isn’t protection a mom’s major concern? Making sure our children don’t fall down. Run in front of a car. Touch hot stoves. Or experience pain. Focused on safety, we aim to shelter those babies under our wings of protection.
But suffering is inevitable. We can’t keep them safe forever. Little ones get slighted. Excluded from the in-crowd. Taunted by bullies. Overlooked by coaches. Humiliated by failure. The kind of pain that hurts mom more than kids. My heart aches remembering. Do you identify?
While we understand winds of adversity make them stronger. And suffering produces compassion. We still want to run defense for our kids no matter what stage of life. But moms can’t always be there. God designed it that way.
In learning to let go, we turn to prayer. Intense, on-your-face, desperate intercession. No one else can lift them before God’s throne like the one who gave them birth. I doubt the emotional umbilical cord is completely severed in that regard. Moms care deeply.
We can’t pray away our children’s pain. But we can ask the Almighty to work something good out of hardships. Because those times are certain throughout their lifetime. Even if we moms don’t like to see our children suffer.
In this day of extreme crime and terrorism, we have more reasons to pray for our family’s protection. But how do we align our hearts to pray in the will of God for them?
I found four biblical truths that help.
1. PRAY for grace so your children will stand firm in their love for God.
Because of the increase of wickedness the love of many will grow
cold, but he who stands firm to the end
will be saved. Matthew 24:12-13
2. PRAY for wisdom so your children will live for Kingdom purposes.
But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven
where moth and rust do not destroy
and where thieves do not break
in and steal. Matthew 6:20
3. PRAY for trust so your children know God is in control of everything.
The Most High is sovereign over the kingdoms
of men and gives them to anyone he
wishes and sets over them the
lowliest of men. Daniel 4:17
4. PRAY for love so your children will serve others as Jesus did.
And if anyone gives even a cup of cold water
to one of these little ones because
he is my disciple, I tell you
the truth he will certainly
not lose his reward.
Matthew 10:42