Mother of Thunder; When you want for your kids

8/9/2012

Mother of Thunder; When you want for your kids

On our drive to the grocery store this morning, Uriah and Asher started arguing in the car about if they could build a house or not. It turned into the perfect opportunity to talk about how we exist for God and we need to do with our lives what He wants us to do, not just what we want to do. I told them that whatever we do, it has to be for the purpose of making God known and listed a bunch of examples. Asher decided on being a spy sneaking into closed countries to tell bad guys about Jesus (boy after my own heart). Uriah decided on dressing up in costumes and telling people about Jesus. (Great fit for my little superman)

Intellectually, thinking about them doing dangerous things for Jesus is awesome. But yet I worry so much about things like them drowning or getting kidnapped or hit by a car. This morning as I read about James and John's mom, the Lord convicted me about my worry of them.

Matthew 20:20-28 tells her story. She wanted what was best for her boys. She was bold and knew that Jesus had the authority to give them a good life, to let them sit on his right and his left. It is pretty admirable that she approached Jesus and asked a bold thing for her sons. The problem was she saw success through the lens of the world. She wanted them to have power, reputation and authority how this world recognizes it. She didn't understand the kingdom of God in relation to her sons. She didn't connect that the way up for them is the way down. She saw through this short speck of life lens believing as though this life was the end all. She had no idea marytrdom and exile for the gospel was what she was asking for her sons. For that equals fame in heaven. If she knew, would she have desired and pleaded for that for her kids? It's so easy to equate success with painlessness and lack of suffering.

The Lord stirred my thoughts. What are my desires for my kids? Are my desires limited to this life? Are they short-sided, lacking eternal perspective? Am I hoping for them a good reputation and safety in this life or in the one to come? Do I desire safety for them more than I desire God to be glorified in their life? Do I want the podium of greatness for them now at the expense of being bankrupt in heaven? If the way for God to be most glorified in them is through suffering, do I want that?

Oh Lord forgive me for gripping Your kids too tightly. Help me trust You with them. And even in that surrender there's a fear You'll let something bad happen to them if I loosen my grip. But You did let something bad happen to James and John and in the grand scheme, in eternal view, it was beautiful. You used their lives to glorify You to maximum potential and it was worth it. Why is it so hard to let go? The what ifs seem to have a powerful hold over me. Lord, I come to You just as the mother of Zebedee's sons did and entrust my sons and daughter to You. Instead of asking for their greatness, I ask that You use their life for Your greatness. And give me grace to accept whatever that may look like. Help me daily loosen my grip of them and cling tighter to You.

What about you?
What do you have a tendency to be close-fisted with God about? Why?
What's true about God in relation to it?
What would you tell someone else about why they should loosen their grip?

This post part of the series

Check out other posts in this series:
Potiphar's Wife; Life Unrestrained
Woman at the Well; Experiencing God's Grace
Rahab; Ms. Courageous meet Prince Charming
Damaris; Counted Among Them
Eunice and her faithful reward
Midwives; What they have in common with Chick-fil-a and Cake
Miriam; What's the big deal with dishonor?
Dinah; When life is bigger than you imagined
Lot's wife; Dealing with a heart that longs

This weeks discussion questions:

1. Which lady so far do you most relate to and why?
2. What struck you in each of their stories? And why do you think the Lord highlighted that particular thing for you right now?
3. What would it look like to practically respond with action oriented faith to the things He made stand out to you?

9 Comments

Laura Rath link

8/9/2012 01:53:41 pm

Hi Laura,
I think God is showing me something here. Just tonight, only a few hours ago, I was praying and opened my hands palms up so I could release what and who I was holding on to too tightly. So, now to come here and read about this very same issue...I like when God chooses to be obvious. :)
Thank you for your post and for hosting the link-up.
In Christ,
Laura

Theresa @ HeavenlyGlimpses link

8/9/2012 01:57:49 pm

Oh this speaks to a mother's heart. These are all great questions to ask ourselves. I love this in your prayer: "But You did let something bad happen to James and John and in the grand scheme, in eternal view, it was beautiful." We'll do just about anything to avoid anything bad, and God used it...he uses all of it! Great post!

Joe Pote link

8/9/2012 09:05:33 pm

Powerful questions, Laura! ...the kind that really test our faith...

It is difficult enough to reach a place of saying, "Lord, I want to be used of you, no matter what that may mean or what suffering it may require."

It's quite another thing to pray that same prayer over our children.

And yet, if we truly want God's best for our children...and if we truly believe that God knows more than us about His plans for their lives...then that's exactly the sort of prayers we should be praying!

Thank you for being willing to dig into the deeper areas of our hearts!

Pamela J. Kuhn link

8/9/2012 09:17:37 pm

I had friends who went to the mission field. On their send off someone asked her mother why she wasn't crying. She said, "This is what I raised her for." That convicted me and helped me to continually give them to my Heavenly Father.

Lori link

8/9/2012 09:44:25 pm

Laura,
When my teenaged daughter was away from the Lord, God gave me the faith to pray, "Lord, whatever it takes to bring her back to you, I ask you to do it." That was a terrifying prayer to pray because I knew what "whatever" could involve. And it did. But God used it to break her heart and draw her back to himself. And why I wish that could have been accomplished through happy experiences, what mattered most was her relationship with God. I am so glad that we can trust him with our precious children. Thanks for sharing your thoughts. Visiting today from Be Not Weary (www.lorihatcher.com).

Michele-Lyn link

8/10/2012 02:03:32 am

I am so blessed link up here. You have a gracious community. I am almost at the end adding my page, but I am glad to be able to share.

I love these thought provoking questions you pose... "Are my desires limited to this life? Are they short-sided, lacking eternal perspective?"

I often think of my life of surrender to God... but for my children. The possibility of suffering? Part of His plan for them? That does require a different kind of faith. I hope to find that...

Cherry link

8/10/2012 04:31:57 am

Such good thoughts, Laura - always as moms, the letting go - for God's purposes, and not our own, earthly purposes. Thanks for your reminders for all who read this ...

Laurie Collett link

8/10/2012 04:41:49 am

Praise God that He loves our children even more than we do, and that He is completely trustworthy, faithful, and powerful to work all things together for good in their lives, if we (and they!) get out of His way. Thanks for the great post & for hosting the linkup, & God bless,
Laurie

play centres for kids link

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Missional Women