Trusting God with my "kids"

I am not a mom, but I often feel like one.

Somehow, however, I skipped the diapers stage and went straight to the emotional roller coaster stage of adolescence with the teens I mentor/disciple.  Though I am not up for middle of the night feedings, that doesn’t mean I don’t lose sleep over them.

Lately I’ve lost a lot of sleep over them.  I so badly want what is best for them. 

I want them to succeed in school, be healthy, have solid relationships, learn how to get and keep a job, believe they are beautiful and have value (to name a few) . . . all the while loving God whole-heartedly.

These are all really great things, however the more I try to control those things, the less they actually are able to live a life fully devoted to the Lord.  

They don’t need to learn that I know what’s best for them through my control (because, frankly, I am constantly learning how to walk out my own salvation!), but I want them to learn that God knows what’s best for them.  

I want them to know the conviction, comfort and leadings of the Holy Spirit. To be comfortable talking with God about anything.  If I step in to correct, comfort and tell them what to do always, they will look to me instead of Him (BAD idea!)

I want them to be stirred by the Word and apply it to their lives. To know it has power for today and to realize their peace and joy come from their knowledge of the Lord.

I want them to trip and fall, knowing the second they turn to the Lord, He will run towards them, celebrating their return.

What is fascinating about this process of “parenting” is that I am learning what a huge role my trust level in God plays in their ability to love God whole-heartedly . . .I am also learning that as my trust level grows, so does my hours of sleep at night :)

And I am convinced and sure of this very thing, that He who began a good work in you will continue until the day of Jesus Christ [right up to the time of His return], developing [that good work] and perfecting and bringing it to full completion in you.   Philippians 1:6 Amplified