Renewed Strength

A few weeks ago I went out to dinner with some girlfriends. We had an enjoyable evening of yummy food, great conversation, and lots of laughs. Our conversations covered a wide variety of topics, but as the evening progressed, the subject matter deepened. We began to share what was on our hearts...our frustrations, our worries, our hopes and our dreams, and how that all connected with our walks with the Lord. We talked about our struggles with living in a fallen world and trying to be salt and light for the Lord, as Scripture commands.

When it comes to blogging and social networking, I have a personal policy not to discuss my political views. I intend to abide by my policy, but I will say that I have grave concerns about the direction our nation is headed. I worry about what our nation and the world will be like when my children reach adulthood. I feel the pressure as a mother to do my best to instill Godly values and a biblical worldview in my children. I will even admit that at times, I battle with the feelings of losing hope. The spiritual battle is so big and so constant. As an adult who has walked with the Lord for many years, I have learned to identify and do battle with the enemy...and that is only through the strength, grace, and mercy of the Lord. My heart struggles when I look at the tender, innocent hearts of my precious children. I know how brutal and relentless the battle can be. How can I adequately prepare them to deal with what I do know is coming, let alone deal with the unexpected that I can't even imagine or predict they may have to face?

The Lord is faithful, and He gave me a few verses of encouragement two days after that dinner with my girlfriends. Acts 1:7-9 says, "He said to them, It is not for you to know times or epochs which the Father has fixed by His own authority; but you shall receive power when the Holy Spirit has come upon you; and you shall by My witnesses both in Jerusalem, and in all Judea and Samaria, and even to the remotest part of the earth." This passage reminded me that God is in control. He is outside of time and sees all things. Nothing surprises Him. It is not my place to worry about the future. I have no control over it, therefore it is pointless for me to worry (Phil. 4:6). The word "power" in Acts 1:8 means "the ability or capacity to do." What am I to do? I am to raise the children that He has given me in the nurture and admonition of the Lord. I am to prepare them to be His witnesses. I can only do this through His strength, which He promises to give me through the Holy Spirit. I need to focus on instilling scriptural truth in my children and teach them how to wield the sword of Truth and have an ongoing and vibrant relationship with their Lord and Savior. I am tasked with preparing two more of His warriors.

Another verse that has been of comfort to me lately is the second half of Esther 4:14 which says, "And who knows whether you have not attained royalty for such a time as this?" God holds time and everything within it in His hands. He placed me precisely where He wanted me in history, and He did the same with my children. I know that I can walk with confidence under the protection of His sovereign hand. This leads me to the another passage in Scripture that carries an incredible promise and provides hope and comfort in these troubling times: "...for He Himself has said, 'I will never desert you, nor will I ever forsake you,' so that we confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper, I will not be afraid. What shall man do to me?" (Hebrews 13:5-6)

The battle rages on, but I march forward with hope and renewed strength.