Disorientation
Being a parent will test you.
A new friend once asked me, “How many children do you and Sarah have?”
When I told him “six,” his expression sank and he said to me: “You will have heartache.”
He was not saying children weren’t a blessing. He was commenting on the disorienting seasons that come with parenting.
Disorientation – Reorientation is a foundational principle of spiritual growth. It works like this:
When things are good we feel we’re a success. We are optimistic. We start to congratulate ourselves that we have life figured out.
We become proud – masters of ourselves.
Then disorientation happens: illness, catastrophe, consequences, loss. Sometimes it creeps over us slowly. Sometimes it hits us overnight. Whichever it might be, being disoriented ultimately brings us to a point where we realize we are lost – we don’t know the right direction to get back on track. We can’t discern on our own. We don’t have the answers.
And we become humble – willing to be led.
And that is when God can do His best work in us.
Most of us avoid discomfort and disorientation at all cost – even though it’s needed for all healthy growth.
God's word to us as parents in any season of disorientation is: Keep your eye on Him and on the horizon. After darkness comes the light, the resurrection, and a new creation with the new morning.
"God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble."
Humble yourselves therefore under the mighty hand of God,
so that He may exalt you in due time,
casting all your care upon Him, because He cares about you.
– 1 Peter 5:5b-7
Because of the LORD’s faithful love we do not perish,
for His mercies never end. They are new every morning;
great is Your faithfulness.
I say: The LORD is my portion, therefore I will put my hope in Him.
– Lamentations 3:22-24
Blessed are the poor in spirit,
because the kingdom of heaven is theirs.
– Matthew 5:3
God designed parenting as part of His master plan for our spiritual growth. To shape us – His children – even as we are helping shape our children.