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The next few weeks will hold many graduations.  As young people take the next step in their learning process and move closer to their dreams, they will be faced with new challenges.  They will leave the security of their past and lunge into a totally different realm.

My first grandson will take that step tomorrow night as he graduates from high school.  I have mixed feelings about this special day.  I still remember the day he was born  – this tiny life – this precious child – this helpless little boy who grew so quickly into a young man. Even as I write this, I can still see him snuggling up to our golden retriever pup – wearing grandpa’s boots – banging on pot covers in the kitchen. 

He has spent his entire education so far with the same classmates in a K-12 Christian academy.  He has led a somewhat sheltered life and now is about to spread his wings and fly.  Needless to say, I am extremely proud of this child.  He has developed into a strong Christian, with equally strong values and the love of God firmly planted in his heart.  His mind has grown along with his body.  He’s the one my other grandson refers to as “the walking encyclopedia.”  He has had the opportunity to share his faith on two separate mission trips in his short life. 

All graduates have so much to look forward to.  Their lives will never be the same once the cap and gown come off.  They will be exposed to new lessons every day as they enter a different facet of their existence.  They will enter a world of temptation, fear of not succeeding, possible bullying for their beliefs – a world that will challenge everything they have been taught to believe –  but if they have a firm foundation, they will never fail. 

I could be afraid for my grandson because the world is an ugly place.  He will have to stand strong to face the challenges that lie ahead, but I know that his faith is deeply rooted and that he has learned the one thing needful for this life.  Success isn’t measured by the things we accomplish, but what has been accomplished in us through our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ.

Dear Lord, as my grandson moves forward in his life, I pray that you would always be at his side.  Give him the necessary tools to strengthen him daily, to arm him with your protection and to give him the right words to spread your loving message to others.  Keep me from being too proud or from shedding too many tears on this very special day for him.  I pray that he will continue to trust in you always.  You are the sure foundation upon which he can rely.

CONGRATULATIONS, JORDAN – I LOVE YOU WITH ALL MY HEART!

This has been a physically difficult week for my husband and I.  We are trying to downsize 22 years of living in the same house so that when the time comes our children don’t have the burden of doing it.  To say the least, we are both exhausted. 

Have you ever had days when you feel you just can’t carry another load?  Do you feel overwhelmed by the burdens you’ve laid upon yourself?  When Jesus invites us to come to Him for rest, He isn’t just talking about our aching muscles or aging joints.  He’s inviting us to lay every load on Him – not only our physical needs. but our emotional and spiritual concerns. 

We try to muddle through our lives, thinking we can handle everything – thinking that we have it all under own control – and then the bottom falls out and we realize we aren’t in charge at all.  It’s difficult for us to let go and let God take the reins.  Human nature tells us we should be able to handle things.  We are fed on ideas that tell us we create our own destiny.  God has given us a brain to help us figure things out, but ultimately He is the one who has our future in His hands.

Dear, Lord, you have given me a special invitation – to come to you for the peace I need in every area of my life.  It’s hard for me to let you do it all.  I feel I should be involved in some way.  Help me to realize that life is going to be full of trials, struggles, tough choices and fears.  Encourage me through these times and keep me strong both physically and spiritually.  When the baggage becomes unbearable, take away the weight and hold me tight.  I need your unfailing love and strength.  I rest in the security of your unwavering arms.

The devil is accustomed to using our shortcomings to weaken our faith. He did it in the Garden of Eden by tempting the first humans into thinking they could become like God by eating the forbidden fruit. He did it in the desert when He tried to tempt Jesus.  Even though Jesus has already done His victory dance around Satan, we’re confronted by doubt every day. How do we overcome this?

Hebrews 4:15 says, “For we do not have a high priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but one who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.”

Jesus is always available as our only intercessor to God, the Father. He experienced all the things we go through in life – pain, humiliation, temptation, loss, sadness, anger, but he was sinless. He is the perfect lamb without blemish that would satisfy the anger of God towards our sinfulness.  He pleads for us in words that we can’t even imagine.  He takes our hand and leads us to the Heavenly throne.  What a wonderful image that is.  No more do we have to fear being in God’s presence.  The price has been paid and we have the inheritance of heaven itself.

Jesus is our advocate. When we find ourselves falling into our old ways, think of the price that was paid for the forgiveness of sins we should return to the One that gave us eternal life.  Thank God for His compassion – His love – His enduring consistency.  Though our world is in a constant state of flux, He remains the same.

So as Randy Stonehill wrote in his song, “Shut de do and kick out debil.” Jesus has the power to keep it shut!