Hey, Moms of teens, I see you. My heart is crying with you as you walk through these years of hormones, bad choices, good choices, social media shaming, peer pressure, school pressure…
I see you as you reach to wipe away the tears from their eyes, but they slam their door in your face instead.
I see you as you reach for their hand, only to see them reaching for the hands of their friends.
I see you cry yourself to sleep at night as you worry over whether they have the right friends, the right influences, the right experiences.
I see you comparing yourself to other moms on social media, whose teens are their “best friends,” while your teen hasn’t spoken to you all weekend.
More importantly, God sees you. He knows your name. He knows their name. He didn’t make a mistake when He created you to be this child’s mama. He knew you were the right mama for the job.
But He also didn’t expect that you would get it right. That you would be the perfect mom. He knew you would mess up. He knew that you would yell in frustration, collapse in exhaustion, and cry yourself to sleep with worry.
May God himself, the God of peace, sanctify you through and through. May your whole spirit, soul and body be kept blameless at the coming of our Lord Jesus Christ. The one who calls you is faithful, and he will do it — 1 Thess. 5:23-24.
Here’s the truth that you (and I) need to hear: You are enough because Christ is faithful to fulfill His promises through you. He knew you before you were even created–and He loved you then as He loves you now. He knew your teen before they were even created–and He loved them then as He loves them now.
Satan is on the prowl for our kids. He meets them at their youth group meetings. He whispers to them through social media. He tempts them through their peers. He entices them with the opportunities and alleged freedom of this world. He draws them out for one more party, one more hit with their friends. “It’s just fun–what’s the harm?”
And we moms sit and watch our children slip from our grasp, their once-sticky little hands that clung to us in a busy parking lot now balled up in fists shaking in our faces. Their once-cherubic faces that begged to be kissed now scowl at us with disgust and anger. And we question where we went wrong.
But, Mama, what if you didn’t do anything wrong? What if you were faithful and loved well, and they still went their own way?
I know too many stories of godly mamas who are on their knees every day fighting for their kids, and their kids have turned from light to darkness. And I know some pretty horrible moms whose kids have turned from darkness to light and are some of the godliest people I know.
We aren’t meant to do this on our own. We are meant to be surrounded and supported by our church, our family, our friends. We even have an army of angels fighting with us that we can’t see.
For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places–Eph. 6:12.
Right before this verse, we are told to “be strong in the Lord and in the strength of his might. Put on the whole armor of God, that you may be able to stand against the schemes of the devil” (Eph. 6:10-11). He doesn’t tell us to be strong on our own; He tells us to put on His strength before we wrestle with the devil. He hasn’t left us alone.
So, Mama, you may feel like you’re not seen tonight. Maybe you had a fight with your teen. Maybe you said some horrible things to them in frustration. Maybe they said they hate you. Maybe you don’t even know where your child is tonight. Or maybe you know your child is in incredible pain, and you are at a loss on how to help them.
God sees you. He hears their cries, and He sees you on your knees. And He hasn’t forgotten you.
Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that he may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you–1 Peter 5:6-7.
Give it all to Him! This weekend, our pastor reminded us that God doesn’t show up in our timing. He shows up in His perfect timing–“in due time.” He hasn’t given up on you, and He hasn’t given up on your teen. But the timing isn’t right yet for Him to step in. There are lessons to be learned and a battle to be fought. But don’t give up–victory is coming!
Dear Father,
I come to you tonight on behalf of these mamas of teens. It’s hard, Lord. They don’t want to hear from us anymore. They want to go their own way. And we are getting closer to the day when we will no longer have a say in who their friends are or when their curfew is. So, I ask you, Lord, that you will help each of these mamas to entrust their child to Your care. Help them to remember that you loved their teen before they even had the thought about them. Help them to stand firm against Satan’s attacks and to always be that loving and safe place that their teens can turn to when they are done running.
And Lord, protect our children from Satan’s charms. Don’t let him win. You promised that if we “train up a child in the way he should go…when he is old, he will not depart from it” (Prov. 22:6). We cling to Your promises, Lord, and we pray for victory over Satan’s lies.
Please heal the brokenhearted and grant Your peace that passes all understanding.
Amen.
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