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Hello from CAN Secretary Jeanette Hanscome. Like most CAN members, my writing life is often complicated by . . . well . . . life. As I write, edit, and teach I am also dealing with some stuff that will eventually provide riveting material for a novel or devotional book but for now is just plain discouraging and frustrating. As if the circumstance wasn’t upsetting enough on its own, I’ve also had to accept that I can’t do anything now but pray. I’ve argued, debated, and spoken the truth in love only to discover that my gift for words will not change things.

Someone I love is making choices that just might burn bridges and result in painful lessons. As much as the Mama Bear in me wants to continue talking sense into him, I know this is between him and God. As a friend pointed out today, my prayers will most likely make more of an impact than my words right now.

For those of us who live to change lives and hearts with our words, there are few things more paralyzing than hearing “Nothing you can say will change this.” That’s when we really need to practice faith and let God’s words take over. So that’s what I’m trying to do—get out of the way so this precious soul can (hopefully) hear God speak and obey. Words are such a part of my daily existence that I forget, sometimes God needs to do the talking and heart changing while I keep quiet.

If you are in a similar battle, where nothing you can say or write will alter your circumstances, take heart. God has an even better way with words than we do. Now if we can just get a guarantee that those involved will listen to Him!

4 thoughts on “When Words Won’t Work

Dianne Neal Matthews

October 21, 2009 - 07 : 53 : 56

Great message, Jeanette. I can relate–wish I’d read this years ago.

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Phyllis Qualls Freeman

October 21, 2009 - 11 : 58 : 05

Jeanette, Twenty some years ago was a trying time.I felt like a bad mom because a child didn’t hold the same values at that time. I even thought about my church “reputation”. Today my son is an ordained minister (not pastoring) but touching lives. Waiting is hard to do. Love, pray, and wait. Phyllis

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Linda S. Clare

October 21, 2009 - 18 : 28 : 03

Dear Jeanette, I am there as well. No one’s success story will help,no amount of reasoning, no amount of anything but prayer will change one single atom, one single idea. This is what I call making peace with a dangerous God–the awesome terrible God that leads you to love when it hurts, the One Who always comforts, and somehow gets us through. Bless you.
Linda S. Clare

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Gina Miller

October 26, 2009 - 02 : 06 : 37

Oh, girls! Jeanette, Linda & Phyllis – I can sooo relate to your words right now! My middle daughter just called us today & announced that before she comes up to Oregon to visit us for Christmas, she has agreed to marry a man whom she has been dating for nearly a year. He seems like a wonderful man, who would make a great husband – but he’s not saved, & claims to be agnostic. This is just the most recent in a “series of unfortunate events” surrounding this particular daughter (sigh). It is so hard to “let go & let God”, but I’ve also learned that prayer & trusting God in such situations is so often our last resort when it really should be our first reaction. But isn’t it also such a blessing to know that we can bring our children & loved ones before the throne of grace & just leave them in the Lord’s loving, gracious hands, & rest assured that He will do what is best in His sight for them, & for us. I am enjoying my first visit to your blog, & have added it to my favorites, so I’ll probably say “hi” from time to time.
Abiding In the Vine,
GINA

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