“Granny!” He called as he burst through the back door. He spread his arms wide and planted his little feet shoulder width apart, inviting me to look at the wetness running down his pants.
He stood before me in complete surrender, showing me his most embarrassing moment. Knowing I was the only one who could make things better. He didn’t try to hide. He knew he needed help.
“I thought I could make it, but I didn’t.” His voice trailed off, disappointment written all over his young face.
I helped him get cleaned up and tossed his clothes in the washer. He was over it and outside playing again in a flash. I watched as he rode his scooter without a care in the world. My heart ached that he had tried so hard and didn’t quite make it.
“I thought I could make it…”
How many times have I been there? I thought I could make it…
-through the divorce
-through the deaths
-through the trials, the heartaches, the painful times…
I thought I could make it, even when my heart was crying “Lord, I can’t make it without You!” Not without You, Jesus. Not without You. Only You can make things better.
I stand before You, arms spread wide. For You to see into the deepest parts of me, all my embarrassing moments, all my mess. For You to see how I’ve strived on my own, but I didn’t make it. For You to see that I need You…I want You…my soul longs for You.
“As a deer longs for a stream of cool water, so I long for you, O God.” Psalm 42:1 GNT
I spread my arms wide in surrender to You. Not my will, but Yours, Lord. I come boldly before Your throne of grace, knowing that – for all the heartache, all the trying on my own – I have made it. But only by Your blood, Your grace. I have made it, because You died for me.
If not for Christ, I would be in the depths of despair. If not for Him, I would perish in hell. If not for His love, there would be no love in me.
How many times have we been there? Thinking we could make it on our own. Thinking we just have to try harder, pray longer, or serve until we drop, so that we can make it. And yet, we all need help.
My grandson taught me a valuable lesson: We can’t make it on our own. Surrender your cares to Christ. He will carry you. The Lord your God will carry you “just as a man carries his son.” (Deuteronomy 1:31)
Jesus, I thought I could make it. I have tried so hard on my own. Today, I spread the arms of my life wide open…for You to see my mess. Because I know You are the only One who can save me. I surrender my will for Yours, Lord. Amen
(Spiritual lessons from a six year old. Who woulda thunk it… The Lord works in mysterious ways, amen?)
Oh, YES! Beautiful words… thank you! “I thought I could make it…” …. I’m so grateful for my Heavenly Father, who welcomes me with open arms and washes my dirty garments when I thought I could make it on my own, but clearly never do. Isn’t He amazing?! Blessings!
Yes, Crystal, He is amazing! Constantly amazing! Thank you for stopping by, and for your encouraging comments. #livefree!
Yes! How I love this, Ellen. Surrendering cares to Christ, allowing Him to work on our behalf, giving it over to Him. Doing that right this second, sister!
Love and blessings, Ellen, making sure to share this one 🙂 If not for Christ…. <3
Thank you sweet Christine! I appreciate your encouragement. #livefree!
Oh what a beautiful post and picture! I love waterfalls! You’re so right– we think we can make it on our own but the truth is we can’t make it without HIM! Thanks Ellen! Visiting from Holley’s site today. Thanks for the blessing!
Thank you for visiting Heather! And many thanks for your encouraging words!
Oh my, yes! Most of us need to learn to surrender our “thought I could do it” mentality. Stopping from #livefreeThursday and glad I did. Great encouragement.
Thank you for YOUR encouragement Julie! I appreciate you stopping by! #LiveFee
Oh Ellen, you are so right – we cannot make it on our own AND i love how our children can teach us those tough lessons we can’t seem to get 🙂 Thanks for encouraging me always to #livefree!
Out of the mouth of babes, huh Kim?
My kids have taught me so much, so I’m not surprised by spiritual lessons from a six year old! I’ve been caught in this trap so many times, and it’s amazing how subtle it can be! Love visiting your blog again from #LiveFree Thursday.
Thank you Ginger! I’m so glad you stopped by!
Such a beautiful post, Ellen. What a lesson that is for me! Not only do I need to come to God following every failed attempt at doing something on my own, but I need to put those failed attempts behind me immediately knowing God has taken them and cleaned my soiled pieces through-and-through to be used again. Jump back on that scooter and go another round! Thank you for your encouragement! #LiveFree!
I loved this Janet: Jump back on the scooter and go another round! So true! We need to get up and keep moving forward with Christ! Thanks for stopping by!
Hi Ellen! I love learning from my grandchildren. I could just see you there, and your grandson too. What I love especially is how he allowed you to take over, knowing whatever you’d do would take care of it. Then? Off to play, the memory gone.
That’s what I want to do! Surrender to Him, then forget the whole thing. Jesus has it, took care of it. No more obsessing about the whole thing. On to the fun!
This was one of my favorite of your posts. So vivid, so true.
Happy Weekend!
Ceil
Hello sweet Ceil! Yep, surrender, forget and no more obsessing! If I could just remember to do this…
Thanks so much for stopping by!
Out of the mouth of babes… Amazing how He gives you writing material in such unexpected ways. You definitely take the ordinary and when you’re done with it, it becomes extraordinary 😉
So thankful that we don’t have to go it alone! God is always by our side 🙂 We are truly a blessed people. Thanks for sharing with us your insight from our Father <3
Thank you Debbie! And I knw you will have many “Ah-ha” moments with your little ones, too! Amazing how they keep you on your toes!
I am so glad I am neighbors with you today at The Weekend Brew. I love the lesson from your grandson “I thought I would make it”. We learn so much from those around us and I know it is God’s way of saying “stop and remember I am always with you”. Our surrender to God for all is our way of saying “I need you always”.
Have a blessed weekend!
Thank you for stopping by Mary! Yes, HE is always with us, and I love the unique ways He chooses to remind us! Blessings to you!
Ellen, a beautiful post & reminder as we truly cannot make it on our own. But we do make it & that is the good news. We make it through Him who strengthens us in every situation. Blessings!
Amen, Joanne! He is with us though all things and strengthens us in all situations! Thank you for visiting!
Love it, Ellen. The first paragraph drew me in, and I felt for your poor little guy. I’m glad he brought it into the open. It was a good lesson/correlation for me.
Thank you Kristi! Love learning from that sweet little man!
“How many times have we been there? Thinking we could make it on our own. Thinking we just have to try harder, pray longer, or serve until we drop, so that we can make it. And yet, we all need help.” Ahh, trying harder. That’s me. Beautiful. Thanks friend.
Any time, sweet Carmen! Thank you!!
Your words touched my heart today, Ellen. I was feeling these same sentiments this weekend- trying to make it on my own and feeling defeated when I make a mistake (or two or three.) But I can’t make it without Him! Thank you for the gentle and NEEDED reminder, friend:)
Oh, Kristine, so very happy these words were an encouragement to you! Thank you for all your encouragement to ME, sweet friend!
Next to you at purposeful faith…I love this picture…I thought I could make it God and in His mercy, love and grace He shows us our clothes have been already washed in the Blood and He sees us pure as snow. He puts His arm around us, adjusts our cloak of righteousness and says, come walk with Me….
Hi Jeannie, thanks so much for visiting! So glad we were neighbors today!
Beautiful, Ellen! It’s not surprising at all that we learn lessons from a 6 year old! I’m ready to surrender today. I’m tired of trying to make it on my own! Resting in His love and sufficiency. Praying now that you’ll do the same.
Thank you Betsy!
All too often I think I can make it on my own. All too often, I’m proved wrong. What a comfort to know that I don’t HAVE to do things on my own–in fact, it’s probably better if I got out of the driver’s seat and let God handle things!
So true Anita! We need to relinquish control to God – He’s got it anyway! If only we could remember that! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Ellen, this is seriously my favorite blog post of yours. I think you nailed it. I loved your transparency coupled with God’s truth. So powerful! Keep shining sister. You speak love. Cheering you on from the #RaRalinkup on Purposeful Faith.
Kelly, so thankful for your cheers of encouragement!