Our Only Hope for the Heart

Recently we have been seeing a disturbing trend with our 6-year-old son and our pet cat, Emmet.  For whatever reason, our son has been trapping the cat in the hall closet, enclosed shower stall, or in his room. Whenever I realize that I haven't seen the cat in awhile, I go searching around the house to find him and there he is, behind a door of some sort.  Even when I directly ask my son where the cat is, he will usually lie to me and tell me that he doesn't know, until eventually the truth comes out and we find out that he did know.  Whenever we ask him why he does this, he can never articulate a reason.  We have taken away privileges (like Lego building and computer games) and counseled him about the proper way to take care of and respect animals.  Nothing to date has seemed to make a difference.

It is times like these in the journey of parenthood when you must come to a stark realization, however uncomfortable it may be.  In short, we as humans can never change the heart of someone else.  We'd like to think we can--in fact, we'd like to think we can change our own hearts--but the reality of the Scriptures is that we cannot--only God can.

And so my prayer for my son, and truly for all my children, is the promise found in Ezekiel: "And I will give you a new heart, and a new spirit I will put within you. And I will remove the heart of stone from your flesh and give you a heart of flesh." (Ezekiel 36:26)

I pray he would be a champion of justice and defend the weak and powerless, instead of exploit them.  Like the requirement found in Micah, I pray that my son would "do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with [his] God" (Micah 6:8).

Like Nehemiah I pray he would defend the less fortunate and forego his own rights for the betterment of others, as he walks in the fear of the Lord rather than of men...

"Moreover, from the time that I was appointed to be their governor in the land of Judah...neither I nor my brothers ate the food allowance of the governor. The former governors who were before me laid heavy burdens on the people and took from them for their daily ration forty shekels of silver. Even their servants lorded it over the people. But I did not do so, because of the fear of God." (Nehemiah 5:14-15)

In truth, there are a lot of ways my son needs to change--in his treatment of our cat, but also his siblings and us as his parents.  He needs a humble, teachable spirit.  He needs to honor and obey his parents.  He needs to see that in God's Kingdom, the first will be last and the last will be first.  He needs to understand that a real leader is a servant leader.  I can teach, model, quote Scripture, counsel, discipline, disciple, guide, correct, rebuke...but I can never truly touch his heart.  I give praise to a mighty and gracious and loving God who can--whose purposes will prevail in the hearts of man and in the world at large.  He is Sovereign and He is the giver of every good gift.

For now, I pray and I trust in God...our only hope in all of life.  These words that Isaiah penned all those centuries ago have been such a source of joy for me this week as I've battled with my son, and for my son in prayer...

"Thus says the Lord who made you,
    who formed you from the womb and will help you:
Fear not, O Jacob my servant,
    Jeshurun whom I have chosen.
For I will pour water on the thirsty land,
    and streams on the dry ground;
I will pour my Spirit upon your offspring,
    and my blessing on your descendants.
They shall spring up among the grass
    like willows by flowing streams.
This one will say, ‘I am the Lord's,’
    another will call on the name of Jacob,
and another will write on his hand, ‘The Lord's,’
    and name himself by the name of Israel.”  (Isaiah 44:2-5, emphasis mine)

And again a few chapters later...

“Listen to me, you stubborn of heart,
    you who are far from righteousness:
 I bring near my righteousness; it is not far off,
    and my salvation will not delay;
I will put salvation in Zion,
    for Israel my glory.” (Isaiah 46:12-13)

Praise the Lord that HE brings near His salvation and His righteousness.  His is a pursuing love, like it was in the Garden with Adam and Eve, when He went out looking for them as they hid naked in the bushes.  His salvation is NOT far off!  It will NOT delay!  Come quickly, Lord, this Advent season!  I await to see your advent in the life of my son, so that he might experience a true rebirth this Christmas season!  For you, oh Lord, are our only hope!