“Mom, when I look in the mirror, all I see is black.”
It was five in the morning when my son knocked on the door, rousing me to tell me he needed help. That morning, he confessed he was an alcoholic and hooked on cocaine. He knew after looking in the mirror that if he didn’t seek help, his addiction would kill him.
As he lay beside me, I told him that the day he was born was one of the happiest of my life. I would do everything I could to help him if he was ready. He was twenty-four years old and had to choose to seek help.
I left him at rehab that day. Many thoughts and emotions danced through my head. As the go-to person when someone had a problem, I was frustrated that I had no power or control over the situation. I couldn’t fix it.
I found guidance and strength in Paul’s words. Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. These spiritual truths helped me realize no amount of worrying would change the situation. I needed to trust God and let Him handle it. The best thing I could do for my son was to pray.
As a Christian, these were familiar concepts, but we often have the knowledge and fail to practice what we know.
One practical way to give God my circumstances is to write the issue on paper and put it in a small wooden box—my faith box. This simple act helps me release the situation and give it to God.
Ten years later, my son is healthy, happy, and working toward a degree in counseling.
How do you give your circumstances to God?
(Photo courtesy of pixabay and Myriams-Fotos.)
(For more devotions, visit Christian Devotions.)
Lisa Scrivner is a writer.