9 Years Ago . . .

"Mom, I'm ready for Jesus to be the Boss of me."

This is what my firstborn said to me with determination on his brow nine years ago today.

It reminds me of the day I gave birth to him. In the movies, babies are delivered with sweet, angelic faces and the healthy pink of fresh, unblemished skin swathed in a clean, fresh cloth. However, we know that image is just not the truth. Babies come out wailing, testing new lungs. They're covered in nasty muck. (Yes, I know what the muck is actually called, but even the word seems gross.) 

Babies are also helpless. They can't clean themselves up. A nurse gently cleans each baby so that their bodies can function properly and wraps them securely in a cloth.

Even as a young boy, Josiah came before God as a stubborn, sinful person. He was self-centered -- wanting his own way, right now, thank you very much.

In that moment of surrender, he was helpless. He could not clean himself up. 

But God could.

“For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases him.” Philippians‬ ‭2:13‬ (‭NLT)‬‬

As we celebrate the anniversary of the beginning of Josiah's relationship with God, I am overwhelmed by God's goodness. We don't have to clean ourselves up before we come to Him. We don't have to have it all together. 

We surrender to Him. He works in us.

Not only does He give us His power but also the desire to do what pleases Him. It doesn't get any better than that.

Life can be difficult, to say the least. We suffer loss. Our circumstances are overwhelming. Our relationships are painful.

But . . .

In our most trying times, God is working in us. He cleans us up and wraps us securely in His arms.

Be encouraged. We do not walk this journey alone.