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In his arms
by Adam Bennett I've learned that raising children is a complicated thing to do. It seems like only recently I was a child myself and now I am responsible for three of my own but without a clear sense of how I should do that. (Sometimes I joke about writing a parenting manual containing all the wisdom I have gained on the subject... so far all the pages are blank!) Considering how complex, difficult and dangerous life can be it is daunting to prepare small people for what they need to face - and that's without the extra concerns we face as Christian parents hoping to raise our children to be, not only productive and decent, but godly as well. On the day my daughter was born my daily devotional was a reflection on a verse from Isaiah where it says, "He tends his flock like a shepherd: He gathers the lambs in his arms and carries them close to his heart; he gently leads those that have young." (Isaiah 40:11) I was very encouraged by the message that: God carries the little ones in his arms. He says that he will take care of them. In a wildly volatile world we can still count that our children are held secure by God himself. The other message late in the verse was also apt. Not only does God care for our children but he gently leads those who are responsible for them. I don't know much about parenting - but he does. I can't be certain how to keep them safe, help them grow or keep them healthy - but God does. So, thankfully he promises that, in addition to caring for them himself, God leads us as parents. It reminds me of another verse from Isaiah where God says, "Even to your old age and gray hairs I am he, I am he who will sustain you. I have made you and I will carry you; I will sustain you and I will rescue you." (Isaiah 46:4) These are verses which can be encouraging to people of all ages and in all circumstances because they remind us that we are never alone and that God is active in his care for us and work on our behalf. Copyright Adam Bennett 2009. More articles are available at http://godward-thoughts.blogspot.com/ Article Source: http://www.faithwriters.com |