These are some of the most agonizing words you will ever read as a parent:
“Imagine for a moment that you are the parent of a child, or young person, who appears to be on the verge of destroying himself, or herself. Maybe he is hooked on drugs and failing in school, maybe she is anorexic and starving herself, maybe he has run away from home. You are like most parents—you would do anything, anything at all, to reverse the situation. You would spend huge amounts of money for professional help; you would fly across the country; you would pay a ransom, mortgage the house, go without sleep, neglect your own health, jeopardize your standing in the community, throw yourself on the mercy of anyone you thought might intervene. You are desperate. You would make a complete fool of yourself if you thought it might get your child’s attention.†(1)
My wife and I have felt this agony and we know of many others who share this pain. What are we to do?
As always, guidance comes from the Bible and I share three instances.
In Paul’s second letter to the church in Corinth (2 Corinthians), he is addressing the church in much the same way we would address a child who is in the process of messing up his or her life. The congregation there is poised to reject him as leader and teacher and fall away from their connection to Christ. Paul’s heart is breaking. What does he do? He hangs tough. He blesses them with the benediction, “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the fellowship of the Holy Spirit be with you all.†(2 Corinthians 13:14) Paul knows and relies on the unceasing and inexhaustible love of God to sustain him and to bring the church at Corinth back from the brink of destruction. He holds tight. He does not let go. And neither shall we.
Throughout the Old Testament, God never abandonsed His chosen though they abandoned Him. Over and over, across centuries, God hears cries of agony, responds with forgiveness, and restores the original relationship. He holds us tightly and will not let go.
The New Testament of forgiveness and restoration through the sacrificial life of Christ in the third instance of love that never lets go.
In the most agonizing of times, our choice is to hold tight or let go. It is human to let go, and that is why we need the power of an all-powerful and loving God to help us do for those we love what He has done, without measure but at great cost, for us.
(1) Fleming, Rutledge, Help My Unbelief
Photo interpretation: a tree clings to a rock to survive. The power to hold tight to what we love can only come from an all-powerful God.
