“The LORD is my strength and my shield; in him my heart trusts, and I am helped; my heart exults, and with my song I give thanks to him.”-Psalm 28:7

Sleepless Nights

I roll over and see the red numbers of the digital clock mocking me again. It’s 4:00am, two hours until the alarm blares. I sigh heavily, hoping to turn off the thoughts rolling through my head.  Sleep isn’t my friend lately.  Is it menopause or is it worry?  Sometimes it’s hard to tell, but tonight I’m thinking about my grown kids. They’re all navigating hard situations while I feel overwhelmed and helpless.

Keenan has been battling an undiagnosed condition for nearly a year. He’s had countless scans, blood work, and still no answers. Every joint in his body aches, and he can barely walk. His life has been drastically affected. 

Moriah desperately desires a career in her field. She’s spent months hunting for jobs, and no one will take a chance on her even with a master’s degree.  She’s bright, driven, creative and hard working. Her retail management position leaves her drained and unfulfilled.

Caleb is wrestling with future plans. Should he and his new bride move across the country? But, then they’ll be starting over and far from family. They need clarity for the right decision.

Rebekah holds a taxing university job and is pursuing her masters degree. Her husband works for a large church that is understaffed. They have little margin in their days and are pushed to exhaustion. 

Keziah is newly married and navigating that along with a demanding role in a college ministry, a part time job, and finishing up her undergrad degree in May.  

So, I toss and turn, fretting and frustrated.  I can’t change anything. I am powerless to help them, but there’s one thing I can do. I can entrust them to my powerful King. 

 I roll out of bed and head to the quiet place. Bible in hand and a pile of snotty tissues, I pray to my trustworthy God. I recount His promises and let go, again.  I exchange my fear for His confidence.  I lay the burdens down as I allow my heart to trust Him.

Do You Trust God?

When it comes to our adult kids, it’s good to ask the question, how trustworthy is our God?  We have two options.  We can spend our days obsessed with their struggles, worried, our lives devoid of peace, or we can experience the calm that comes from trusting God.  

I believe God is absolutely trustworthy.  It’s normal to worry about our loved ones, but it becomes sin when we don’t turn it over to God. If you struggle with a lack of trust,  it’s helpful to ask yourself, why do I believe God’s not trustworthy?  What is it about His character that is lacking?  

A short jaunt through the scriptures and you’ll find endless reasons why God is trustworthy.  Here are a few:

“Trust in the LORD with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths.”-Proverbs 3:5-6

“Delight yourself in the LORD, and he will give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD; trust in him, and he will act.”-Psalm 37:4-5

“Our soul waits for the LORD; he is our help and our shield. For our heart is glad in him, because we trust in his holy name. Let your steadfast love, O LORD, be upon us, even as we hope in you.”-Psalm 33:20-22

“You keep him in perfect peace whose mind is stayed on you, because he trusts in you. Trust in the LORD forever, for the LORD GOD is an everlasting rock.”-Isaiah 26:3-4

“Behold, God is my salvation; I will trust, and will not be afraid; for the LORD GOD is my strength and my song, and he has become my salvation.”-Isaiah 12:2

“And those who know your name put their trust in you, for you, O LORD, have not forsaken those who seek you.”-Psalm 9:10

“When I am afraid,I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can flesh do to me?”-Psalm 56:3-4

“Blessed is the man who trusts in the LORD, whose trust is the LORD.He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green,and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”-Jeremiah 17:7-8

God shows us through His Word, why He is trustworthy.

He sees. 

He holds.

He provides.

He redeems. 

He works.  

Our job as a parent of adult children is to trust God. We step back and allow our children to find God amidst the hardship.  We don’t rescue; we pray. We need to believe God is greater than our children’s struggles  because He is!  

We must understand God’s heart of compassion towards our children. God’s capacity to love, draw, and help is so much greater than ours.  He’s the author and perfecter of their faith.  Even when it hurts, even when it is difficult to watch, God is eagerly pursuing our children. 

Peace comes as we entrust our grown children into God’s care.  It’s the one thing we can do, momma’s.  We can bow before our Maker and trust His good work in their lives. God is trustworthy.

Let’s pray.

Dear Papa, I acknowledge I wrestle with trusting You with my adult kids.  I allow their problems to overwhelm me and it steals my peace.  Help me understand Your great character and realize You are at work. You see them and know them. Help me lay my burdens at Your feet because You are trustworthy.  Increase my knowledge and understanding of Your trustworthiness and renew my mind as I think of Your Word. Amen

I’ve created a free guide for you, “Five Ways To Support Your Adult Child.” Just leave your name and email so I know where to send it.