Help Me Help You.

It's Monday night. Or it was less than 48 hours ago, depending on when you read this. And the kids are in bed... just, actually. And of course, now is as good a time as any for my oldest to decide to be upset about something. So after navigating my way through the crying, because it's impossible to sound coherent while wailing tears, and trying to calm her down, answer her questions and what not, she was adamant. There was a problem and it was hers. Finally, I asked, perhaps the default question of men everywhere....

What do you want me to do about it?

I'll tread lightly as I smile while typing this, but you all know what's coming next, don't you.

"I don't know."

I love my family. I love my friends. I have fun with my sarcasm at times, even when others don't. What can I say... I'm working on it. And while I wasn't trying to be dismissive or less than compassionate, at the moment, I was in Dad mode, which as a famous comedian once stated regarding parenthood, we're not interested in justice; we just want quiet!!

I love my kids, dearly, but, after a point, if you can't tell me what's wrong or what I can do to help, then, with all the love I can express, you kind of don't have anything. There's nothing I can do. I don't read minds. And bedtime on a school night isn't going to be the time we're going to sit for two hours and hash this out. (that said, it did buy her a few moments alone with mom which i used as time to pray over her younger sister and speak into her life as she tried to fall asleep)

Writing this, reminds me of a conversation I had with my parents, my freshman year of college.  Too many details to go into here, but I remember similar words. I was finally ready for the conversation, I was done being stubborn; I was ready to work through this problem. And I remember Dad... trust me, we're having this conversation, but not tonight. And of course, the semester was in session, so not only were we not hashing it out that night; we weren't hashing it for the next few weeks worth of nights. That was agony. Here I was, finally ready... and I was being made to wait.

I didn't plan on this until just that last paragraph, but isn't funny, how God works in similar ways? All in His timing, His leading, His prompting... and even as believers, we experience gaps in the conversation. We're ready to talk and don't feel He is listening; He speaks and we aren't listening. There's not much lost in translation as much as there is in missing the memos from heaven entirely, at times. Or so it seems.

Needless to say, parents always see room for improvement in the lives of their kids. And occasionally, kids show their parents, they still have room for improvement as well. Amazing how life works... children can't wait to become adults, then adults all but plead for the lives to return to the days of childhood.

Adults don't always have the answers. Neither do pastors, teachers, brothers, sisters or friends... as much as we love and appreciate them all. The good ones, the best ones, the closest ones.... God help them, they try their very best; and the dearest among them pull it off more than they realize and more than we express. That said, we would do well, to continue to trust and seek the face of God first and teach our children to do the same.

So, would you agree with me in prayer, this #youthPastorWednesday? Pray for pastors struggling with the answers to the conversations they are having, both in ministry and at home. For kids and youth, having difficulty in their lives, sorting through emotions, navigating challenging circumstances and in the midst of that, perhaps already handling life with a questionable foundation and perhaps little faith or even none at all. Pray God would grant wisdom and discernment to pastors and parents, teachers and others who would speak into their lives; that they would speak life... that they would speak the love of life of Christ and the life He alone can offer. May their be a sense of hope and renewal as God makes Himself real in the lives of our youth; that faith would arise and they would seek the face of God. First and His Kingdom. May the discover the plans and the purposes He has ordained in advance.

Cut through the confusion;
Clarify the destiny.
For the glory of God;
For the cause of Jesus Christ.

- PNC