Weekend Speaker: Ben Sigman
Theme: Not Afraid - GOING ALL IN
Read: Matthew 6:33-34; Jeremiah 29: 11
Think: This weekend Pastor Ben started a new series called ‘Not Afraid’. One of the things he asked us to do was fill in the end of the sentence “I’m not trusting God with:__________” My first thought was, well to be honest, completely blank. Over the years I have learned to step into my fears and trust God with them and I couldn’t actually think of anything to fill in the blank. It wasn’t until my eldest child, who is now a senior, mentioned college a few minutes later that my stomach dropped and I realized what my fill in was.
As a parent we protect our kids as they grow, try to teach them about God and help them grow with Him all the while getting them ready to leave us. From the time they are born we are gradually easing them out of dependence on us as parents from weaning, to feeding and dressing themselves, going to school each one is a step towards the day they move out. While my head has been preparing my children for this and has been fully aware it is coming up my heart has not been preparing quite so well. I realize that while it may not be a fear that they will move out it certainly is not something I am at peace with right now.
Just after my eldest was born I was praying and felt God say “Remember that there is a rent in parent, he is not yours but mine and you have him for a season.” While I didn’t exactly forget I have to confess the season, like many summers, passed more quickly than I expected.
As Pastor Ben told us about the story of Punchinello in Max Lucado’s books I remembered reading them to my kids. And I was once again reminded that they belong to God who not only loves them much more than I am able to but has a plan for each of them.
Do I feel peace about the imminent college move yet? Well no, but I am going to choose to trust God with their lives and hold on to the fact that He has plans for them and watch to see the effect, while waiting for His peace in my life and trying not to pass my concerns onto my kids.
Do: What area in your life do you try to avoid thinking about? Is there something that maybe doesn’t make you fearful as such but you do not have peace about? Take a few minutes to think about situations in your life where you could use more of God’s peace and fewer of your own reservations and anxieties. If you can, share your concerns with a trusted friend and pray together even if on the phone or by email.
Pray: Lord, thank you that we can bring anything to you and that you have a plan beyond our fears and anxieties. We ask that you would meet each of us with your grace and peace in those situations. Help us to lay these things at your feet and trust in You to handle them without trying to sort them out by ourselves. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Read: The eDevotional is written each week by a team of volunteers from Timberlake Church.