Living Free Every Day®
Today's Scripture
"Let all that I am wait quietly before God, for my hope is in him. He alone is my rock and my salvation, my fortress where I will not be shaken." Psalm 62:5-6 NLT
Thoughts for Today
After passing through denial, then anger, bargaining and depression, many people concerned about a loved one with a life-controlling problem reach the point of acceptance.
Acceptance is a welcome place of relief. Now we can finally turn our loved one over to God. To his love and discipline, to his mercy and grace. To his healing power.
Consider this
Turning our struggling loved one over to God does not mean that we no longer care what happens to him, but that we have accepted the reality of the situation and the fact that we can't fix the problem.
This is where we emotionally detach ourselves from our loved ones, even as we continue to love them and trust God's guidance in redesigning our role in their life.
Here we are able to acknowledge that they are themselves responsible for their own behavior. We accept our powerlessness to change them.
We are finally ready to
Let go and let God.
Prayer
Lord, help me come to this point of acceptance. I know I can't fix my loved one's problems. I know he has to take responsibility for his own choices. Help me to let go. Help me to rest in you, knowing that you love this one even more than I do and that you alone are able to help him. In Jesus' name
These thoughts were drawn from
Concerned Persons: Because We Need Each Other by Jimmy Ray Lee, D.Min. This study is designed for the many people who have a current or past relationship with a person who has a life-controlling problem. Note: This curriculum was written especially for small groups, and we encourage people to use it that way. However, it can also be used effectively as a personal study for individuals or couples.
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