“We have to pray for your kids,” Gwen said. “We have to pray for your kids. That’s where he’s going to start.”
Gwen sent me that Wednesday.
Last night my aunt texted me and said “Your kids. We have to pray for your kids. That’s where he’s going to start.”
Two women who have never met. One living in Iowa. One living in Tennessee. The only thing they have in common is me.
Both strong women of faith. Both who are praying hard for my kids.
My pastor Keri said it best, “Now that you are running after Jesus, the enemy will attack you.”
Y’all.
I know to the regular person that sounds absolutely insane.
But spiritual warfare is real.
And boy oh boy have I been IN it today.
Once you start chasing after Jesus, the enemy will do everything he can to knock you off course.
I should know.
It’s been happening to me for seven years.
And it’s especially ramped up now that I’m writing about how God is changing me and my heart.
Today was bad. Real bad.
I’m not in the business of shaming my kids anymore. I literally don’t have the words to do it and I’m so sad I have in the past. So sad.
They are sweet, wonderful kids who have been hurt by their parents, kids at school, friends, and other family members.
So they’ve got stuff. To say the least.
Today they threw all that stuff at me. Every single one of them.
So. Much. Stuff.
And you know what happened?
I stayed calm.
As calm as if I was sitting on that beach in Port A by myself.
Calm.
I didn’t yell.
I didn’t threaten.
I didn’t punish.
I didn’t scream.
I stayed calm.
I prayed.
I turned up the worship music.
And when each of them calmed down guess what happened?
I got to love them.
I got to hug them.
I got to hold them and rub their backs.
They felt safe with me. They felt loved.
And you know what?
I finally felt like I was the mom God wanted me to be.
So one would ask, “If this whole spiritual warfare thing is real, why keep going? Why keep writing?”
Because I have peace that surpasses all understanding. And I want that peace for me. For my kids. And for you.
When my kids raged at me today, I felt sad, but you know what else I felt?
Peace.
A peace like I have never known.
Because instead of getting frustrated or angry at them, I could slow down. I could pray. I could ask God what I should do.
There was a Christian author I used to follow. She posted something the other day that made me so, so sad. She alluded to the fact that her kids are struggling and she knows we all go through this. She said she wished she had the solution.
Oh Jen H., there is a solution. And I miss you preaching about.
The solution?
Jesus.
Pray. Pray and ask Him what you should do when your kids are struggling. Pray and ask him what to do when your kids are raging.
I did that today and the answer?
Pray for them and over them. Get someone to pray with you.
So I reached out to my aunt and said really struggling here today. Please pray.
You know what she did?
She got on Pinterest and searched for prayers to pray specifically over kids. And she starred to pray her brains out.
From Iowa.
All the way to Texas.
Guess what happened?
One by one each child calmed down. Each child relaxed. Each child started to smile.
So why keep going?
Because I have the solution for when my kids are struggling.
Jesus.
I can pray and He gives me the answers on how to love my babies the best. He tells me what each of them need.
And guess what?
It’s never the same.
Because each kid is different.
And that’s hard. So I’m thankful that I can depend on the one that knows.
Dear Jen H., Jesus is the solution. He always has been and He always will be.
Friends, if you are struggling with your kids, ask Jesus. He has the answers and He wants to give them to you.
When you start to depend on Him, the peace is truly like nothing you have ever experienced. Even when it’s hard. Especially when it’s hard.
And when the enemy tried to throw everything at you, confidently stand in the truth that you cannot be defeated.
God’s got you.
He always has.
He always will.
Do you want a copy of the 100 Biblical Affirmations for peace? Click here to download your copy!
0 Comments