Letting Go, Trusting God
"...The boy Jesus stayed behind in Jerusalem. His parents... returned to Jerusalem, searching for him. After three days they found him in the temple, sitting among the teachers, listening to them and asking them questions. And all who heard him were amazed at his understanding and his answers. And when his parents saw him, they were astonished. And his mother said to him, "Son, why have you treated us so? Behold, your father and I have been searching for you in great distress." And he said to them, "Why were you looking for me? Did you not know that I must be in my Father's house?" And they did not understand the saying that he spoke to them. And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was submissive to them. And his mother treasured up all these things in her heart. And Jesus increased in wisdom and in stature and in favor with God and man." - Luke 2:41-52
When we returned home from taking our oldest son to college for the first time I was asked by a friend if that was hard to see him leave. It was one of those moments when I was more interested and blessed by the words that came out of my mouth than the person listening to me, "God didn't give him to us to keep. He gave him to us to prepare him to go where ever God calls him." It felt good when I said it, but I had never thought about it in those terms and I know God meant that for me as much as my friend.
The next six years were proof that God had a plan. Having already committed his life to being a missionary, we watched as Daniel thrived at a small college that turned his focus to Latin America. I laughed inside when we drove to his first World Mission Conference in Green Lake as this 19 year old kid told me he wanted to see if American Baptists, who had been doing missions for over 100 years, knew how to do it right (They do and he agreed!). We rejoiced when during a 2 year short term mission after college he not only found focus for what kind of missionary God wanted him to be, but he found a wonderful young woman who was traveling down that same God directed road. Estela's Haitian background and dedication has proven to be the exceptional compliment they have for each other in ministering to young pastors and Haitian refugees as American Baptist missionaries in the Bahamas.
On the front end, many of the twists and turns in Daniel's life during those six years made me want to say, "Stop! I don't think you should go down that road." Each time I recalled those words God put in my mouth when he first left home and as a father I anxiously awaited what this next step would bring. Looking back it was always right.
The Scripture is full of accounts where parents were asked by God to let go so that He could take over and mold a life. How could Mary have known at the time of the wonderful events surrounding Jesus' birth that she would have to endure the pain of a mother as He hung on the cross? That was the ultimate sacrifice. What if she had tried to hold on as early as age 12 when she rebuked him for staying in Jerusalem when she thought he should have been with them? How did she feel when he informed his parents that, "I must be about my Father's business?" (Luke 2:41-52)
Letting go is not always an easy thing. It takes faith to trust God, especially when that son or daughter makes choices that don't seem wise. Just as we turn over that son or daughter who has committed a life to service for the Lord, we must also turn over the one who seems to be making other choices. God has a plan. As parents we must trust God.
Prayer: Lord, you know we find it hard to give up control. Help us to understand that we need to let go and let you do your work in our lives and in our families and children's lives. You know all and your will is perfect. In your name we pray. Amen.
Rich Schweissing
ABCRM President
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