ICDevos is thrilled to welcome Julie Arduini! Join us as she serves up a wonderful devotional!
I can’t believe it’s been three years since our daughter faced an onslaught of assessments with results that put her in a special needs component pre school. I believed the devil’s accusation that I was a failure and God failed to take care of her. I wallowed until my prayer partner explained perhaps this was for His glory. Maybe, just maybe, He would use her in ways I could never understand.
In time He helped me surrender the fear I had over her delays and she not only transitioned well, she blossomed. She befriended and encouraged peers that adults had trouble reaching. This year she is the veteran of the school, and her time there is coming to a close.
That means a new round of testing to see what services, if any, will she need in kindergarten.
You’d think with all she has been through I’d be a rock of faith.
But those fears are coming back. What if she needs services? Will it be short term? Long term? At all? Where? Will her classmates make fun of her? On and on it goes.
I totally can’t part hair.
My stylist even told me to never, ever touch scissors again, even for bangs. Oh it gets worse. My dog’s groomer also politely asked that I never put scissors to a dog again.
So that sentence transformed my thinking. Why am I afraid of a circumstance God figured out long before I came up with all the questions? Why is it even on my radar when yes, the One in control indeed parted the Red Sea? Can’t He take care of a child growing up?
And more than not, I think the child He is taking care of is me.
How about you, mom? Is your child facing a situation you can’t see what’s next and it’s driving you crazy? Are you worried about the economy? Maybe you can part hair better than I can, but I’m guessing like me, you can’t part the Red Sea.
Place your trust in the One who can.
I’m right there with you!
Lord, give us the strength to trust you in all things. Help us with the small things and the major mountains of obstacles before us. You truly are the God who conquers the impossible. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
Then Moses stretched out his hand over the sea, and all that night the LORD drove the sea back with a strong east wind and turned it into dry land. The waters were divided ,and the Israelites went through the sea on dry ground, with a wall of water on their right and on their left. Exodus 14:21-22, NIV
In Him,
Julie
Julie Arduini is a writer and public speaker residing in NE Ohio with her husband and two children. Her writing is included in such works as the Peculiar People release, Delivered and James Stuart Bell’s God Encounters. Julie is also a marriage channel blogger at Exemplify Online, a monthly contributor to Adding Zest to Your Nest and moderates the Love Dare group at Christian Women Take Root. She maintains a website and blog to encourage readers to join her on the surrender journey. Julie confesses she’s surrendering the good, the bad, and maybe one day, the chocolate. Please visit Julie’s site and blog at http://www.juliearduini.com. Active newsletter subscribers receive a free copy of Julie’s surrender series, Discovering Nancy Struthers.
Oh, Julie, this precious tidbit is exactly what I needed to hear today! I’ve been mulling over in my mind a situation that my eldest son is in…trying to figure it out in my own strength…becoming more frustrated, more fearful, and less faith-filled with every moment. But, you’re right…God has this thing and all things already figured out! And not only is He shepherding and leading my child, but He’s shepherding and leading me, as well! And for that truth and this devotional I am truly grateful!
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Amen, so beautiful.
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Julie,
I’m so glad I was led to your post this morning. Was looking for something hopeful and rich-your post his the spot for me. It’s been 15 years since my daughter was going to enter kindergarten, and we were faced with the same worries you are experiencing now. Wish at the time, (and still wish I did more) that I had the strength to rely on what the Lord could and would do for us. You are right, it’s more “the child He is taking care of is me”. My daughter who has now graduated high school and is in the first year of her sort of real life, is the happiest, nicest, most secure person ever; she trusts. I am in awe. I want to be like her and like you when I grow up!
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Thank you for this, Julie. I don’t think I ever felt full incompetence until I became a parent
And, like you said, our enemy uses this against us all the time in hopes of rendering us useless. This was a very encouraging reminder that we are not in charge.
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Thank you ladies for the kind comments. Our daughter is doing so well these days she picked up my sister’s book of Roots and started reading sentences from it. She had her tonsils and adenoids out last month and recovered with favor and acceleration. Now the co pays are coming in, so I need to read this devotional all over again!
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That’s really what it comes down to … trust. Applying to the specifics, especially our kiddos, can be really challenging. It sounds like the Lord has already redeemed some beautiful things from the unique way He has made your little one. I agree with Kelly that parenting will show us how “in need” we are of God’s care and help.
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My 12 year old grandson had a similar experience, he is doing amazing! God is so awesome. Julie, I love how open you are, with a heart to help others. God bless you! Hugs, Rita
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Mmmmmm! I loved this. And I love being remind of the red sea! How IMPORTANT bible stories are in everyday life! My life just went through Exodus, I recently was led out of my “Egypt” and baby, part my red sea!
“Trust the One who can part the Red Sea.” That’s def something I’m printing out and taping to my dash board in my car.
Hoping Hannah Montana is doing better!
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you hit it right on the nose when you stated that what are we worrying over when God knew before He parted the Red Sea for Moses that it was already going to happen..
In order for me to feel that my day is under control..you begin the day with Him when you first open your eyes to another day..
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This is such a wonderful testimony. I hope it reaches many and, they too, come to know such trust. My son being on GH is one of those great trusting areas. Now that he’s older, I find it hard to relate to those feelings, but am reminded of what the Lord has done and will cont. to do through His measure of healing.
Ty,
Ginger
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What a genuine post, Julie. Your faith in the Lord and your heart reaching out to Him to help you is so clearly conveyed. Through it all, you show us and confess that Trust in Him is the only way. This is so true. Thank you for reminding me to Trust Him, remembering what He has already done for me. Some days, I feel like the Israelites, forgetting what He has already done and grudgingly asking Him, “What are you going to do for me, today?” Praise God for His patience, mercy, and grace.
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[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Kelly Harbaugh. Kelly Harbaugh said: Great cafe devotion by @JulieArduini about trusting God with your parenting http://bit.ly/cK0Mls [...]
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You don’t know how much I needed this. I was having a mild meltdown trying to keep my flood waters back (at Work). My 20 yr old daughter is going thru some frustating times (PMS, weight gain, panic attacks ,etc.) I just keep reminding myself of how far
we have come. God will provide and He is my Fortress. Thank for this Soo true comparison to be Almight enough to handle the Red Sea , surely he can held a 20yrs troubles and her anxious MOM. Blessings, Lisa
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