When the Bubble Bursts

God never promised His children an easy life. Jesus told his disciples "In the world you will have tribulation." (John 16:33) not to mention the numerous scriptures on suffering in the Christian life. It seems easier to accept this reality when we're a bit older. We've seen more of the world and had a taste of affliction.We've learned to trust God in the hard times, grown stronger through the struggles, and endured by the grace of God. But what about our children?

Like normal moms, we love our kids. We want them to grow up strong in body, mind, and the Lord. We want them to be happy and healthy. I don't think these are sinful desires or a sign that we've bought into the prosperity gospel, but you know as well as I that we can't keep them in a safe little bubble forever. They will feel the affects of sin just like the rest of us. If they have come to faith in Christ, they will not be exempt from the suffering of the people of God. So if we can't protect them, perhaps God will intervene. The situation will be reversed and it will be a win-win for everybody. The trial will end, and God will get the glory. But sometimes our prayers are answered very differently. He chooses to glorify Himself in their perseverance instead of their deliverance.

This is harder to watch than going through yourself. My natural instinct is to step in and save my daughter from those heart-level hurts, but I can't shield her from hard providences. God loves her too well to let her rest on her mom's faith. I can tell her of my Ebenezers, but He wants her to plant her own and say, "hitherto the Lord has helped me." (1 Sam. 7:12) Lessons about His goodness, sovereignty, and unfailing love can't be learned by osmosis but can only be learned firsthand and often in the valley. But don't we want our children to say, "I had heard of you by the hearing of the ear, but now my eye sees you." (Job 42:5)?

So I will still pray with her, for her, and strive to give godly practical counsel. I will point her to what God has said about Himself in His Word. But I'm learning to let go and entrust her in greater ways to her Father's care. I'm just her mom and her sister-in-Christ. I'm not supposed to be her savior. She already has one, and His name is Jesus. 

Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ. Though you have not seen him, you love him. Though you do not now see him, you believe in him and rejoice with joy that is inexpressible and filled with glory,  obtaining the outcome of your faith, the salvation of your souls.1 Peter 1:3-9