“Nothing has meaning without a context.” - Bobb Biehl The context for today’s blog post emerges from a heart-to-heart conversation between two women who love Jesus and long desperately to walk with Him through all of life’s passages. Join us, please. You would fit right in!
My cherished friend and I sat leisurely across from each other over lunch; neither of us felt in a hurry to leave. Months had elapsed since life afforded us the opportunity to be face-to-face, and today our fellowship seemed as rich as the food was delicious.
But alas, the clock eventually forced us to part, and reluctantly we grabbed our purses, slid out of the booth, pulled out our keys, and headed to the parking lot. However, as we drove our separate ways, her question about the upcoming empty nest stayed with me.
This unavoidable, life-altering transition waits on her horizon, and our table topic discussion plumbed the depths of what that will mean. Later, with her situation in mind, I revisited my own transition to the empty nest. With empathy and compassion, I felt led to write the following prayer, not just for her but for any mom facing this adjustment.
“Dear loving heavenly Father,
Everything reminds me that I face an impending monumental change: the empty nest. It feels like mine has been the world’s best job, and now I must contend with unemployment. Oh, Father, when I look ahead, I can get anxious; yet when I look at You, I am at peace. So, for this moment in time, I ask You to please enable me to determine not to go there until I get there. May I not lose the wonder of the moments granted to me now.
With a decision of my will, I choose to believe that the empty nest will not be an empty experience, because You already have plans of welfare and not calamity in store for me. Thus, Father, will You please infuse me with hope and expectation to believe that the empty nest is, indeed, filled with good works, which You have prepared for me before the foundation of the world? By faith, I want to smile at the future.
Between now and then, as the gears begin to shift more and more, will You enable me, by Your Spirit, to be others-focused and not self-consumed? Will You please stir my heart to believe that when I get there, You will already be waiting with Open Arms to welcome me as You fill my empty nest with the fullness of Your Presence?
In the Name of Jesus, I love You and I lean into You, my Rock,
Amen.”
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future” (Jeremiah 29:11).
“For we are God’s workmanship, created in Christ Jesus to do good works, which God prepared in advance for us to do” (Ephesians 2:10).
“And she smiles at the future” (Proverbs 31:25).
Living With Eternal Intentionality®
“He has also set eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11).
“I am the same yesterday, today, and forever” (Hebrews 13:8).
Where have you seen God show up as you move from one season of life to another?
Have these transitions been challenging or enjoyable, or both?
How can you find hope or offer hope as you (or a friend of yours) face the empty nest?
Please share your insights. What you offer is meaningful!
