I don’t think anyone would have classified me as a “rebellious” teenager, but like many other young people, I craved independence, and at times it caused me to butt heads with my parents. Sometimes, when we talked things through, my mother would smile at me: “One day when you have kids of your own, you’ll come to me and say, ‘Mom, you were so right!’”
At the time, I probably rolled my eyes. Now, even early on in my own journey of parenthood, this phrase crosses my mind—and my lips—on a fairly regular basis. I didn’t see the heart or intent behind the limits my parents set back then. Time and a new perspective have grown the respect and admiration I have for them.
The apostle Paul reminds us in this passage that God set up the family to operate in a way that honors Him—and a way that mirrors our relationship with Him.
As children, our parents have the life experience to lead us “so that it may go well,” and in return, we are to listen to, trust, and ultimately respect them. Similarly, as children of God, He is the one with the plan; in return, we are to listen to His word, trust His direction, and respect His timing.
As parents, we want to do everything we can to help our children thrive and “turn out well,” but ultimately, we don’t have control over the choices they make or how they behave. God is the one in control. The best we can do is to set a good example by obeying Him.
It’s easy to focus inward and think we are in control. Human nature causes us to tighten our grip on the things in our lives and build up a “kingdom of me,” attempting to live as sovereign over every detail of our lives. No matter how hard we try, the plans we set for ourselves will never live up to His blueprint, and it’s in the moments those plans fail when our sinfulness rises to the surface. God calls us to redeem ourselves by serving our families in a way that points them toward the greater good of His eternal kingdom—to “let go and let God.”
In the midst of a trial, we might stomp our feet like an indignant child or feel as helpless as a frustrated caregiver, but ultimately when we follow His lead, we’ll look back and say, “God, you were so right!”
For Reflection:
- Can you think of a time when, in hindsight, you were grateful to have “let go and let God”? How has being obedient to God, even when you didn’t want to, helped you avoid trouble in this life?
by Rachel Shuster
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