Leave Him to Me...

When there is deep misunderstanding which has led to the erection of barriers between two who once were close, every day brings the strengthening of those barriers if they are not, by God's grace, breached. One prays and finds no way at all to break through. Love seems to "backfire" every time. Explanations become impossible. New accusations arise, it seems, from nowhere (though it is well to recall who is named the Accuser of the brethren). The situation becomes ever more complex and insoluble, and the mind goes round and round, seeking the place where things went wrong, brooding over the words which were like daggers, regretting the failures and mistakes, wondering (most painfully) how it could have been different. Much spiritual and emotional energy is drained in this way--but the Lord wants to teach us to commit, trust, and rest.

"Leave him to me this afternoon," is what his word is. "There is nothing else that I am asking of you this afternoon but that: leave him to Me. You cannot fathom all that is taking place. You don't need to. I am at work--in you, in him. Leave him to Me. Some day it will come clear--trust Me."

"Humble yourselves under God's mighty hand, and he will lift you up in due time. Cast all your cares on Him, for you [and the other] are his charge" (l Pt 5:7).

Elisabeth Elliot
A Lamp For My Feet

I found this daily devotional on MommyLife this morning and was very moved by it, especially since we are facing challenges with several people in our lives. These challenges are much more difficult for my husband to bear, so I am getting into support mode! Support mode includes nice, comforting foods from the kitchen, a clean home, a warm atmosphere provided by blankets, candles, and a wriggly baby who likes to cuddle, and vats of hot chocolate topped with mountains of marshmallows!