A wail pierced the air.
I looked across the room and saw my youngest gather her baby girl close, kissing her cheeks and telling her all was well. She quieted, reassured that her mother was still there, still watching, protecting and providing for her every need.
My daughter and her family have been staying with me for a bit and I’ve had the unique perspective of being reminded of the days I held my own babies.
Motherhood is full of so many feelings. I remember that feeling of being overwhelmed at the gift God had entrusted to me. I remember my fierce desire to protect them from pain. As the years stretched out before me it was hard to imagine what man or woman they each would become. But, I wanted to do my part in giving them everything they would need to become the mighty men and women God intended them to be.
“And protect them Lord, protect them,” my heart cried. “Let no harm come their way.”
I couldn’t imagine then all the hard things they would have to navigate in their lives. But, hard is relative isn’t it?
None of my children have had to flee their homes in the middle of the night due to war. None of my children have had to go to bed hungry.
They have walked through deep grief, betrayal, and many other things. And, in the middle of those things I learned that even then our God was faithful.
Many people reach out to me telling me they need HOPE that God will see them through this trial or that grief. They want to know the path to peace. Like my sweet granddaughter they want to be told that all will be well.
I know this feeling full well.
Here is the truth of that friends, All Will Be Well! We know the end of the story.
“And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes; there shall be no more death, nor sorrow, nor crying. There shall be no more pain, for the former things have passed away.” (Rev. 21:4)
Until the “former things” pass away these things will be part of our lives.But woven in among them will be beauty, so much beauty and love, joy, peace… the list goes on.
So, what does that mean for us as mothers? How do we pray if it’s all just a mixed bag of circumstances our children will need to walk through?
We start by asking the Spirit how to pray. We may not know the future but God does and He knows what each one will need for the journey. 
Of course we will need practical things like food, and shelter but will this child need an extra dose of courage? Will that one need a sense of humor? What about patience? What about the ability to not give up?
Remember that when “challenging” things show up in our kids when they are small they are often indicators of how God wants to use them in His kingdom. And, usually there is a twist.
One of my children struggled with fear as a young child. This went on for years. I remember praying constantly and often feeling like the Spirit was reminding me that this was warfare.
The enemy was attacking the very thing this child was called to walk in and even minister to others.
What would be the opposite of someone walking in fear? It’s someone walking in PEACE.
I can tell you years later, this adult child walks in SO much peace! Others will comment that they experience peace in their presence.
Do you think the enemy continues to throw fiery darts of fear at this child? Absolutely! We live on this earth. The enemy of our souls is called the ruler of this world. And yet, greater is He who lives in us!
We must teach our children to stand fast. Teach them not to be daunted by the battles of this world. But to gird up their faith with the truth of God’s word.
So we begin by Asking God’s Spirit how to pray.
Then we PRAY.
We stand.
We speak truth over them, even and especially when they are not displaying who God says that they are.
Then we go to war on their behalf friends and we never stop.
Some of you have adult children that aren’t walking with Jesus.I too have a loved one I’ve been praying years for. As the years pass by I know it can be easy to become weary in the praying.
Here is the thing. We don’t have to make our feelings line up with our faith.
God’s Word says that our hearts are deceitful above all else.
What we don’t do is let our feelings lead us around.
We just keep on keeping on.
We keep on entrusting them to their creator.
Continue to ask the Spirit how to pray for them and then do it.
Encourage your own heart that while you may not know how to reach their hearts, the living God knows.
Let the Hound of Heaven do His job and you do yours.
Pray without ceasing.
If you would like more encouragement on motherhood please leave a comment below. Share with me what area of motherhood would be most encouraging.
For more on prayer, check out Season 3 Episode 62 of my Seek and Savor Podcast: Why We Can Have Confidence Praying.
Parenting can bring us to then end of ourselves quickly. If you want encouragement on how to Rest in Your Weakness check out this past blog.
https://taradickson.com/the-power-of-resting-in-our-weaknesses/
“We speak truth over them, even and especially when they are not displaying who God says that they are.” ~ I love this entire reflection on mother (a topic I am passionate about) and the encouragement you offer to speak into our children’s (and grandchildren’s) lives, cover them in prayer, and stand firmly by faith in believing that the Lord will work out His plan in their lives. I also have the blessing of a daughter, her husband, and two granddaughters (4 and 2) living with me for a few months. Your post couldn’t have been more timely. Thank you, lovely sister! ~ Tabitha
Aw, Tabitha isn’t God good? Thank you for letting me know how it struck your heart! -Tara