When the text came in asking me what hospital my son was in, I was panicked. I did not know he was in hospital! My heart almost jumped out of my chest.
He had been drinking that day and was despairing over his life. Someone found him curled up in a back lane and wanting to die. They called an ambulance who then took him to the local hospital. He received good care there and we were grateful but shaken. How can we be living through this storm? We reach out every day to people whose lives are in similar turmoil; we never imagined we would experience this in one of our own, but we did.
The most important truth I would want to tell a parent who feels like their heart has been broken in half is this: your child, regardless of age, is not a hopeless case.
God sees your heart and has seen every tear and heard every sigh. Your prayers are not weak and pathetic. The Name of Jesus is Higher then whatever is afflicting the one you love so dearly.
On the day Jesus walked on water, Peter called to Christ and asked if he could also walk on water. Jesus quickly agrees and Peter steps out of the boat, all is well for a few steps. Then the wind and the waves grab his attention and now he is afraid and quickly he begins to sink. ( Matt. 14:22-33)
Fear rises quickly in our hearts especially when the wind and the waves are bigger then we are. They are out of our control.
When I think about addiction being one of the things my loved one struggles with, it is not like there is a pill I can give him that will cure it. To stand and watch one you love so dearly slowly destroy their lives, that is unbelievably heartbreaking.
Yet, I am reminded daily- Jesus is greater and more then able. I entrust this one I love so dearly to the heart of God.
One day when I was driving and consumed with fear over my sons' life- I was praying and praying for him and the Lord spoke to me and asked me gently- " Donna you are racked by fear even as you pray. You need to entrust this son of yours into my hands and trust Me".
I realized that panic filled prayers need to at least at some point turn into truly giving this loved one over to the care of God. I have learned this the hard way.
May God soothe your soul today and whatever is so heavy on your heart, Jesus really is bigger. He doesn't always deliver in a day, at least not in my experience. He is faithful though and fully trustworthy. May His peace be yours today.
The day
