Parents, You Can Trust God with Your Adult Children
Raising children is one of the most challenging, yet rewarding things that we can do.
As mothers, we look online for inspiration about our homeschooling, birthday parties, bedroom decor and so much more. That’s the fun part. But it is so much more than just the stuff that brings a smile to our faces. There are difficult days. Even some very difficult seasons.
And if we admit it, we can’t do in our own strength.
From the long days of potty training to expressing concerns about certain friends, parenting can bring out the best — and sometimes the worst — in us.
We don’t typically think about the challenges that our (soon to be) adult children will face until we start to see them wanting more independence from us. This is most evident in the teenage years when outside influences become a real concern for us.
As a mother of three sons, I haven’t started having these thoughts yet with my youngest sons. But my oldest…. that’s a different story. He will be 20 this fall.
As I watch my young adult son fully step into manhood, I believe it is imperative that all parents keep a few things in mind to maintain the right perspective.
Trusting that our adult children will follow God.
As parents, we love to see our children make progress. However, missteps along the way are inevitable. And that’s ok….even if it doesn’t feel like it. It is difficult watching them go down a road that may be totally opposite of the way in which you have raised them. Talk about gut wrenching.
I have not personally experienced this in a significant way but we have had our share of challenges. Like any parent, I’ve seen a questionable friend or two and was concerned. Did I make my concerns known? Yes. Was it always communicated it in the right way? No.
But you know….we have to remember, our children are NOT ours. They belong to the Lord. And as difficult as it can be some days, we have to trust that our children will make the decision to walk in the ways that we have trained them in. This is part of growing up.
Train up a child in the way he should go. Even when he is old, he will not depart from it. Proverbs 22:6
The difficult situations that we may see them putting themselves in have the potential to destroy your mama heart. But when we remember the promise of Scripture, we know that despite their actions, they can’t separate themselves from God’s Word.
You can read the rest of the post HERE.
It is my heart's desire to see women walk in their true power and authority in Jesus Christ. I get the honor of walking that out in my writing, speaking and everyday life.
With a cold latte in hand and my latest read under my arm, I'm usually seen going over math facts, checking out a new STEM project and studying God's Word. In my spare time, you will catch me spending time with family and friends, at live music festivals and on the hunt for a new favorite dessert.
www.angelpenn.com
Thanks for the post Angel.
Our children will most likely outlive us. And we are not only required to trust that they will come to be okay, we actually don’t have any other choice. We should just do our best to raise them. Pray hard that things will work out for them.
And we should not be afraid of them making mistakes. It is key ingredient for learning.
Totally get this post! My oldest is 25 and married. The tension between becoming a loving and involved ‘in-law’ and crossing the line to be meddling is hard. but realizing that God loves my kid (and her new husband) way more than I do, is a good place to start. He can take care of them and that means I can release them into His hands.
Absolutely Karen! And as hard as it is, we can trust that the lessons that He allows are for their good! We too learn to trust Him more in the process. He is a good, good Father!