The Dread of Letting Go

Exodus 2:3 (NIV) "But when she could hide him no longer, she got a papyrus basket for him and coated it with tar and pitch. Then she placed the child in it and put it among the reeds along the bank of the Nile."

Jochebed did everything humanly possible. She saw his potential with her eyes, and with her hands, she built and sealed the basket. But then came the moment every parent dreads: she had to place him in the river. She had to let go.

Every parent has a "reeds moment." It’s the first day of school, the departure for university, or watching them make choices you can no longer control. It is terrifying. Elisabeth Elliot, who knew much about trusting God with the unimaginable, wrote in Let Me Be a Woman, "The will of God is never exactly what you expect it to be. It may seem to be much worse, but in the end it's going to be a lot better and a lot bigger." Walking to the reeds requires us to acknowledge that our children are not ultimately ours; they belong to the Lord. We must loose our grip so God can take hold.

Prayer:

Lord Jesus, walking to the reeds is terrifying. I confess my desire to control outcomes, but I surrender every fear and anxious thought to You. Give me the faith to trust You with the people I love most, knowing You love them even more than I do. Be present in every step they take, surrounding them with Your protection and peace. Remind me daily that You are the Good Shepherd who never leaves or forsakes those who belong to You. Help me release my grip and rest in Your perfect love, trusting that Your plans are always good. In Your precious name, Amen.