Stop Your Crying

Jeremiah 31:16-17 – (GNB) Stop your crying and wipe away your tears. All that you have done for your children will not go unrewarded; they will return from the enemy's land. There is hope for your future; your children will come back home. I, the Lord, have spoken.

Jeremiah 31:16-17 – (NIV) This is what the Lord says: "Restrain your voice from weeping and your eyes from tears, for your work will be rewarded," declares the Lord. "They will return from the land of the enemy. So there is hope for your future," declares the Lord. "Your children will return to their own land."

It has been just a short time since my husband of 24 years initiated and successfully extracted a divorce from me, shattering my life and separating me from my two teenage sons. My youngest child, a multihandicapped daughter, has remained with me. Through this time of transition and trials, I have learned much from God's word and from the support of His people. After the anger, rejection and loneliness, comes God's healing love. What has the Lord taught me? The Lord reminds me that in spite of all that has occurred, I am still their mother. Not only does the Lord call me to pray for my husband's salvation, but also for the salvation of my children who are now living with their father.

Even though, every once in a while, I find myself questioning my Lord's directives and the world seems confused, I know that I should want to pray for them. I know in my heart, through His Word and through circumstances, that I must be burdened to pray for my children. The passage above brings me great comfort and joy knowing that God's promises extend to our children if we but continue to pray and live, to the best of our ability, the Gospel message of love in our own lives. We must remember to become burdened and fight for those whom God places in our care. Though Satan may have come and stolen our husband and family from us, if we continue to pray earnestly, with forgiveness and with confidence, then all will be reconciled to God our Father in His time. This great work of intercessory prayer he has called all of us as parents to do. We are to stop weeping and walk with faith, "praying constantly and with thanksgiving" that our children will also come to know, love and live with the Lord.

Prayer: Heavenly Father, help us to become burdened to pray daily for our families, especially the children you have entrusted to our care. Help us to live and extend your message of love and hope as models for our children, and to bring Jesus, through us, to touch our children's lives. Amen.