Open Their Eyes

To the mother who's worried about their child(ren)'s salvation,

I do not offer any solutions except this: keep praying. Which I know is incredibly easier said than done, but stay with me. I am a mother who has been thinking (too much) and praying (not nearly as much) about my children's salvation. I've been observing older mothers and how their adult children follow Christ. And I've also been observing mothers whose children have walked away from Christ. I've listened to many podcasts about this topic. I've also read many books on it, too.

And I've come to the conclusion that my hands are tied together...

...and yet, I can move my lips and pray.

I can try to force my children to mutter the "sinner's prayer" but that is superstition and not the Holy Spirit.

I can try to force my children to act good but that is not shepherding their hearts and not the Holy Spirit.

I can try to force my children to do and say all sorts of things, but one thing I cannot do is

Save them.

How my soul yearns for them to know and love Christ like I do. How my soul yearns to see them grow in the Lord and His leading. Oh how my soul yearns for them to know the goodness and love and faithfulness of God.

Fellow mothers, I see you who wonder when your child(ren) will have their eyes opened to God's saving grace. I know the prayers you pray for their salvation. I know the tears you may shed as you wait.

God sees your tears. God hears your prayers.

I like to take control and when things are not going my way, I yearn for the control even more. However, I know I have no control in this area. I never have and I never will. I am a disciple, teaching the Gospel to my children, and waiting for God to open their eyes. And ladies, it is so hard at times to wait. God knows how much I pray for my children and the tears I've shed.

As I'm waiting, I ask myself if I am doing my part. Am I daily teaching them the Gospel? Am I showing them who God is? My first ministry are my children. Am I doing everything I can, as a disciple, to minister them towards Christ?

The Apostle Paul, as he stood before King Aggripa, he retolled his testimony. And the highlighted words are words I have been praying concerning my children. Mothers, keep praying. Pray and continue to minister to your darling children.

Acts 26: 14-18

14 And when we had all fallen to the ground, I heard a voice saying to me in the Hebrew dialect, ‘Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is hard for you to kick against the goads.’ 15 And I said, ‘Who are You, Lord?’ And the Lord said, ‘I am Jesus whom you are persecuting.16 But get up and stand on your feet; for this purpose I have appeared to you, to appoint you a minister and a witness not only to the things which you have seen, but also to the things in which I will appear to you; 17 rescuing you from the Jewish people and from the Gentiles, to whom I am sending you, 18 to open their eyes so that they may turn from darkness to light and from the dominion of Satan to God, that they may receive forgiveness of sins and an inheritance among those who have been sanctified by faith in Me.’

-Chloe Burch