Our days are filled with planning. Plans for the hour, the day, the month, and the year. Plans for our lives and the lives of those in our family.
Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it’s the Lord’s purpose that prevails.
Proverbs 19:21
Or, as is often true of me – many are the plans in a momma’s heart.
Have you ever been disappointed in a change of plans? What YOU had planned for your child didn’t come to fruition. A spot on a specific sport’s team. That coveted scholarship or college acceptance. The addiction being conquered. Amazing aptitude. Perfect health. Perfect unity. Perfect obedience. And on and on and on.
Imagine with me how the hearts of some Bible mommas were affected as their children encountered life outside of their control.
Moses’ mom: She released Moses more times than she probably wanted to count. Imagine the bravery she exuded as she placed him in a basket floating down the river. Beyond her control, but into a divine plan. She amazingly receives him back again only to release him a second time upon weaning him. Moses’ mom was most likely living when the adult Moses re-engaged for a few days only to flee to Midian after messing things up. But God prepared Moses and used him to deliver the Israelites out of bondage.
Rebekah’s mom: She probably never saw Rebekah again once she left home to marry Isaac; helping to fulfill God’s purpose to bless Abraham’s seed.
Samson’s mom: Samson was a miracle pregnancy with a specific calling, but he chose to rebel. In the end, when things went from bad to worse, Samson finally surrendered to the purpose of the Lord.
David’s mom: She most likely babied him as the youngest, and he most likely scared her with stories of lions and bears. She saw David overlooked by his father, picked on by his brothers and endangered by Saul. But David was chosen by God to be king and matured into a man after God’s heart.
Daniel’s mom: Daniel was carried off to Babylon and most likely never saw his family again. But Daniel resolved not to defile himself there. Instead, he grew in aptitude, in wisdom and in favor far beyond his peers or those of the nation around him.
Mary’s mom: Her daughter was seen as a promiscuous, pregnant teen. But Mary was blessed as she surrendered to God’s plan to carry and nurture the Son of God.
Jesus’ mom: Mary pondered in her heart all that was prophesied about Jesus including how much she would suffer watching His last hours on earth unfold.
James’ and John’s mom: She actually asked Jesus to allow her boys to sit on either side of Him in His kingdom. She wanted only the best for her amazing boys. Imagine her pain as she heard the news of James’ martyrdom.
Paul’s mom: Paul was climbing the religious ladder which most likely made his momma’s heart proud. But he radically changed course as he surrendered to a personal relationship with Jesus rather than religion.
We can read these Bible stories from strictly a historical perspective, or we can read them through the eyes of a momma. Like them, we want the best for our children. A life free from pain. Free from rejection. Free from difficulty. But maybe these are the very things that mark them and catapult them into the Lord’s purpose.
Will you choose with me today to lay the plans YOU have for your children down at the feet of Jesus? We must ask Him to have His way in our lives and in the lives of our children. Does this mean we don’t ever take action or warn or disciple or instruct? Of course not! We engage in our part, but we must continually choose to release our children and our plans for them to the Lord.
We must trust that in the end, the Lord’s plan will trump our plan. Every time.
We must trust the Lord to woo our child’s heart even in the midst of unwise decisions. He will use those difficult seasons to nudge them to come to their senses as the prodigal son did (Luke 15:17).
Plan, but hold those plans loosely.
Pray, but leave your requests in the hands of Jesus.
Instruct, but make sure to do so with a heart of love and discipline.
Warn, but remain hopeful.
Look for the Lord’s hand even within the messiness of life, and hold tight to the promises in God’s Word as you trust the Lord’s purpose to prevail.
