Knowing the One We Trust

​With each of my kids, God has walked me through events that pulled them out of my hands and out of my sight— reminding me they are not my own. Whether it was handing my child to a new babysitter, a nurse headed to emergency surgery, or letting go of their hand and watching them walk into a new school, I know these aren’t the last of these uneasy moments. In many cases, they’ll only get harder as they grow older. 

​When I read Exodus 2, my heart aches for Moses’ mother, Jochebed, with that same uneasiness.Instead of following Pharoah’s command to throw her three-month old into the Nile, she placed her son into a DIY ark, doing everything within her power to ensure his safety. Then she watched him drift out of her hands and into a river of tears poured out by her and every other brokenhearted Hebrew mother at the time. 

​God saw every one of those tears and heard every one of the cries of His people, including Jochebed’s. God held Moses securely before his mother’s arms ever wrapped around him, and He never loosened his grip on Moses even when she was forced to loosen hers. When she placed her boy into that basket she had no idea that he would be miraculously drawn out of the Nile. She had no idea  that he would be the one to lead all of Israel miraculously out of slavery as well.
 
No, she didn’t know the details, but she knew her God. So, she trusted Him despite her gut-wrenching loss. He rewarded her by placing Moses right back into her arms to raise duringthose early years, and even included her in the Hebrews 11 “Faith Hall of Fame.” He also used her son’s story to point to another baby, born into similar oppressive circumstances, who would also save His people— Jesus.
 
The truth is, our children were never meant to stay in our hands. As temporary caregivers, we’ve been chosen and entrusted with them to point them back to their Heavenly Father.
 
This gift of motherhood is wrapped with a million different opportunities to place both our children and our trust into the hands of the One in whom they belong. And every time we do, we develop a deeper understanding of the grace, love, and character of God. It’s the knowing of the One we trust that assures us that what is placed in His hands will be secure.
 
As a parent who has experienced the most painful separation from their child, He’s familiar with our struggle. Don’t forget that the Father’s heart was pierced right along with the hands of the Son. He knows what the weight of our surrender feels like. It’s His compassionate love that makes it possible for us to hold our children with open hands, exposing them to a river of grace. And in the process, we experience the freedom that comes with knowing that their security was never dependent on us.

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About the Author

Kelly Orlowski is a wife, full-time mom, and part-time seminary student. She lives with her husband and four children in Franklin, TN.

​Kelly is the founder of Lady Crew Apparel, a business formed to help women escape and heal from human sex trafficking. Learn more and support Lady Crew at her website www.wearladycrew.com