Meet You ThereSample

WINS AND LOSSES

Finally, sooner than we expected, our children leave the house to build their own lives. They face decisions that come to us naturally, but without the benefit of hindsight. We long for our children to learn from our mistakes and tap from the wisdom that only experience can bring. Again, our heavenly Father has the same desire to share his wisdom with us. The difference is that his wisdom is not flawed by human imperfections. He knows how to meet us where we are in every choice.

No matter how we try to help our children with making good decisions, we often find ourselves picking up the pieces when they take a wrong turn. We wonder where we went wrong, and we become aware of our inability to protect our children from the bumps and bruises of life. And often, as in David’s case, we have many regrets.

When we read the story of David’s complicated relationship with his son Absalom, we see a tragedy of misunderstanding (2 Samuel 13-18). While Absalom was longing to be invited by his father, David only saw a wayward child. “But the king gave this order: ‘Absalom may go to his own house, but he must never come into my presence.’ So Absalom did not see the king” (v. 24, NLT). “And Absalom replied, ‘Because I wanted you to ask the king why he brought me back from Geshur if he didn’t intend to see me. I might as well have stayed there. Let me see the king; if he finds me guilty of anything, then let him kill me’” (v. 32, NLT).

Our earthly relationships go through the same turbulence as David’s, but we can find comfort in God’s perfect wisdom and power to guide us through life. He is never uncertain about the right choices for our lives, and He never doubts his ability to protect us. “The Lord says, ‘I will guide you along the best pathway for your life. I will advise you and watch over you’” (Psalm 32:8, NLT)

Do you believe that God wants the best for you, just as you want the best for your own children? How do you experience God when you go through failures in life? How can you tap from God’s perfect wisdom to guide your life choices?

Let us remember that we are forever children in God’s eyes. Let us trust our Father’s wisdom without restraint. “The Lord directs our steps, so why try to understand everything along the way?” (Proverbs 20:24, NLT). “‘My thoughts are nothing like your thoughts,’ says the Lord. ‘And my ways are far beyond anything you could imagine’” (Isaiah 55:8, NLT).