My Only Son

You will keep in perfect peace him whose mind is steadfast, because he trusts in you... Isaiah 26:3

My most precious possession... my only son
With trembling hands, I lay him at Your feet
I give up control of his life, his health, his future
For I know it was never mine.

I trade my questions, my fears, my moments of doubt and bewilderment
I give them up to you, knowing that in return You promise...
Perfect peace. Beyond my capacity to understand.

A peace that doesn't make sense. A peace that surprises me, surprises those who watch me step into this trial where my son will be placed on Your altar. They know I should be wild with fear. They know I should be weeping, not praising.

And yet I praise. I praise You for being so good for an eternity past that my mind has no rational reason not to let you hold him. I praise You because You have always been a healer, compassionate to the frailty of our lowly bodies wracked with sin. Were I to turn my son over to a human being, to take him and try to heal him with shaking human weakness, I would despair. It is only because a sparrow can't fall without You watching and caring. It is only because of the droves of people that brought their children to You in order to have your holy, gentle hands heal their diseases. You have given so much hope to so many parents, that I cannot help but trust You.

My only son, yet he is yours. You deserve to have his tender heart within your capable hands that hold the universe. For You gave me Your son. Willingly. Without compulsion. I give you mine because I have no choice. He is only safe with you. You gave me yours to die in my place. You offered him on the altar for my sake that there might be some hope of my life glorifying you instead of being a waste.

My only son, because of your only Son.

Take him in Your arms. Heal him. Set him right and set him on his feet again. May he grow, and learn more about You, and follow You to places You have planned for him to journey. May he love you unreservedly, with complete trust and hope that translates into simple faith. May his life glorify Your name.

May You start a work in his heart as he walks through this trial, hand in hand with his mom and dad. May all of this be a tool used for Your kingdom, to bring honor to Your name.

For that is what I pray my only son's life will accomplish.

And I'm thankful for the peace that passes all understanding, and keeps our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. Lord, You are good.