A Clear Path

Then children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.” And he laid his hands on them and went away. (Matthew 19:13-15 ESV). Today we begin continue with a little series describing some things that we can pray for our families that are detailed in Scripture. The first is that Jesus will call them and no one will hinder them from coming. It is a way of praying that they will have a clear path to a deep and meaningful relationship with the Lord. Our reading today shows this principle so clearly. As Jesus was teaching some children were brought to him that he might lay his hands on them and pray for them. The disciples rebuked the people, but Jesus said, “Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them, for to such belongs the kingdom of heaven.”

Let me illustrate a bit. If you have followed me for any length of time at all you will know that Mary and I have a very special place in our lives in the Smoky Mountains. We have traveled there many times and love to return there no matter how many times we have seen the very same spots. Within the Great Smoky National Park there are many hiking and walking trails. When we were a bit younger we took some of the more challenging trails. Now we seem to be restricted to just walking the “Quiet Walkways” of the park. No matter which we choose we are always rewarded with a pleasant walk through forested canopies sometimes winding their way beside wonderful streams that flow peacefully across the river rocks through the vast areas of the park. They may be a bit uphill or down, but always maintained to make the path as easy as possible. In life’s journey there will always be challenging “hikes.” We like the quiet walkways a bit better, but not every end can be attained by taking these easier paths. As you pray for your family, ask God to make their journey as easy as possible. Ask Him to smooth the way, making each turn very clear and navigable. Pray that even during those parts of their journey that are challenging and difficult they will be able to see their way clearly. Pray for your part in their journey that you would possess the wisdom to help in each of the decisions they make along the way. I have found that even when I “run the list” I am always prompted to pause with each name I call before the Lord and pray for some specific thing related to their journey. As I have now been able to look back on the forty-seven years of marriage Mary and I have enjoyed, my experience is that God has never failed to answer those prayers. Their journey, and mine, has not always been easy, but it has been clear and beautiful.