I Just Cannot!
by Cynthia Jennings on January 15, 2020I Just Cannot!
No matter how much I want to I just cannot take on the burden of someone else’s battle! I can be a support, but the battle belongs to them.
If the battle is intended to bring them to or make them closer to God my help or 2 cents will not change the battle or the duration of the battle.
As women we all want our children to thrive in life. And oftentimes it’s very difficult to see them go through any type of discomfort or engrossed in any type of battle. But have we forgotten the discomfort and battles we experienced, endured and overcome is what has equipped us with the strength and knowledge we have today?
If you’re like me we want to jump in and rescue our children. So, one day I had to asked myself. Is their battle really that devastating or is it my perception of the battle? HMMMMM???
One of my prayers for my children was and is for God’s protection, allow them to have a right relationship with Jesus Christ and whatever they do or go through let God get the glory. Yet, when God began the process of using my children for His glory I began to complain. In prayer I was convicted of asking God “why do my children have to go through……?” I had a dialog that went something like this…God why are you rebuking me for asking why? His response (days later), did you not ask me whatever your children do or go through let me get the glory? Ouch!!!
At that moment it clicked and I audibly told myself “I just cannot!” I must trust God’s plan and understand God needs to mold them. The molding process is not pretty or clean and involves some discomfort but the end result is God’s masterpiece. However, in my human {motherly}mind I was still grappling with how, if or what can/should I do to help my children during their battle. In the midst of one of my grappling sessions, the following story came to mind.
There was a woman who had a child. Her child was born for a specific purpose for God’s glory. This woman had to hear her child being ridiculed, she had to watch them being belittled and physically harmed. Yet, she not one-time questioned God for the pain her child was experiencing. I’m sure internally this woman was enduring turmoil that was unexplainable. However, she realized she just could not take on the burden of her child’s battle. I’m quite sure there were days where she wanted to interject verbally and physically to protect her child. But she understood she just could not because no matter what she would have said or done was not going to change the battle her child had to endure. The best thing the woman did was to take her feelings and concerns to God about how she felt and how she should cope with her child’s battle.
The woman I’m speaking of is Mary and her son is Jesus. When I think about the strength she had in knowing not only her sons’ purpose, but the things he had to do to fulfill that purpose gives me great comfort in those times when my children had battles that I felt were too much for them. {To be honest the battle was too much for me}. Don’t get me wrong I am in no way comparing any battle to that of Jesus Christ. What I want to point out as a woman are three characteristics of Mary that I gleamed hope and strength from that allowed me to say I just cannot! Because I {learned to} understand my children’s battle is bigger than me.
1. Mary’s meekness gave her strength and control.
Luke 1:38-- Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”
2. Mary’s belief in the Word of The Lord was shown in her acknowledgement through her reverent adorations and praise.
Luke 1:46-47-- 46 Mary said,“My soul praises the Lord’s greatness!47 My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior.
3. Mary was real. Mary was not divine but just as real as any other mother who experience joy accompanied with moments of sorrow and despair.
Luke 2:48-- When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!
PEARLStoPONDER: Don’t make someone else’s battle your burden. God does not need your help!
No matter how much I want to I just cannot take on the burden of someone else’s battle! I can be a support, but the battle belongs to them.
If the battle is intended to bring them to or make them closer to God my help or 2 cents will not change the battle or the duration of the battle.
As women we all want our children to thrive in life. And oftentimes it’s very difficult to see them go through any type of discomfort or engrossed in any type of battle. But have we forgotten the discomfort and battles we experienced, endured and overcome is what has equipped us with the strength and knowledge we have today?
If you’re like me we want to jump in and rescue our children. So, one day I had to asked myself. Is their battle really that devastating or is it my perception of the battle? HMMMMM???
One of my prayers for my children was and is for God’s protection, allow them to have a right relationship with Jesus Christ and whatever they do or go through let God get the glory. Yet, when God began the process of using my children for His glory I began to complain. In prayer I was convicted of asking God “why do my children have to go through……?” I had a dialog that went something like this…God why are you rebuking me for asking why? His response (days later), did you not ask me whatever your children do or go through let me get the glory? Ouch!!!
At that moment it clicked and I audibly told myself “I just cannot!” I must trust God’s plan and understand God needs to mold them. The molding process is not pretty or clean and involves some discomfort but the end result is God’s masterpiece. However, in my human {motherly}mind I was still grappling with how, if or what can/should I do to help my children during their battle. In the midst of one of my grappling sessions, the following story came to mind.
There was a woman who had a child. Her child was born for a specific purpose for God’s glory. This woman had to hear her child being ridiculed, she had to watch them being belittled and physically harmed. Yet, she not one-time questioned God for the pain her child was experiencing. I’m sure internally this woman was enduring turmoil that was unexplainable. However, she realized she just could not take on the burden of her child’s battle. I’m quite sure there were days where she wanted to interject verbally and physically to protect her child. But she understood she just could not because no matter what she would have said or done was not going to change the battle her child had to endure. The best thing the woman did was to take her feelings and concerns to God about how she felt and how she should cope with her child’s battle.
The woman I’m speaking of is Mary and her son is Jesus. When I think about the strength she had in knowing not only her sons’ purpose, but the things he had to do to fulfill that purpose gives me great comfort in those times when my children had battles that I felt were too much for them. {To be honest the battle was too much for me}. Don’t get me wrong I am in no way comparing any battle to that of Jesus Christ. What I want to point out as a woman are three characteristics of Mary that I gleamed hope and strength from that allowed me to say I just cannot! Because I {learned to} understand my children’s battle is bigger than me.
1. Mary’s meekness gave her strength and control.
Luke 1:38-- Mary answered, “I am the Lord’s servant. Let everything you’ve said happen to me.”
2. Mary’s belief in the Word of The Lord was shown in her acknowledgement through her reverent adorations and praise.
Luke 1:46-47-- 46 Mary said,“My soul praises the Lord’s greatness!47 My spirit finds its joy in God, my Savior.
3. Mary was real. Mary was not divine but just as real as any other mother who experience joy accompanied with moments of sorrow and despair.
Luke 2:48-- When his parents saw him, they were shocked. His mother asked him, “Son, why have you done this to us? Your father and I have been worried sick looking for you!
PEARLStoPONDER: Don’t make someone else’s battle your burden. God does not need your help!
