It seems like just yesterday my three little ones were coming slowly down the stairs in the mornings, with messy blonde hair beaming from the morning sunlight streaks through the windows, while carrying their favorite lovey in their little fingers. From busy school days, to lazy Saturday mornings snuggling on the couch watching cartoons, to…

It seems like just yesterday my three little ones were coming slowly down the stairs in the mornings, with messy blonde hair beaming from the morning sunlight streaks through the windows, while carrying their favorite lovey in their little fingers. From busy school days, to lazy Saturday mornings snuggling on the couch watching cartoons, to crazy days raising a house full of teenagers, the years ticked by.

How time flies, and life looks much different now. Each of my “little ones” has a college degree; one is a Flight Attendant, one is an Artist, and one has a Masters in Architecture. We’ve enjoyed two weddings over the past few years and two precious granddaughters born this year, only six weeks apart, and lots of other wonderful life happenings taking place in between.

I love the life God has blessed me with, but honestly, growing up is hard. Not just for kids but for moms, too. When our kids enter new seasons of life so do we, and trusting God with our children becomes more important — and maybe even harder —  than ever before.

Psalm 31:14 — “But I am trusting you, O LORD, saying, ‘You are my God!’” — is a great verse to tuck into our hearts this time of year, when summer is ending and a new season is on the horizon.

In this verse, we see evidence of David turning away from his doubts and fears and intentionally deciding to trust God instead. He realized he had no chance of winning the battles against his enemies without God’s help.

David faced a physical enemy, but often we face the invisible enemy of our out-of-control thoughts, worries and emotions, especially when our little ones have become big ones, and it’s time for them to be out on their own or start a new phase of life.

Just like David though, the battle for our thoughts and emotions can’t be won all alone. David boldly proclaimed His trust in God because he was loved by His Father. As moms we, too, can boldly proclaim our trust in who God is by believing He not only loves us but loves our children just as much as we do.

But let’s face it, despite our best intentions to trust God with our children, worries and fears can still fill our minds and steal our peace. When our children start new phases of life like kindergarten, middle school or high school, it’s hard not to worry.

But when they start college?! Yikes. Worry takes on a whole new level. Worry, coupled with the empty ache in our hearts from looking at their empty bedroom in our house, can feel overwhelming and emotionally draining. I vividly remember the silence when all my children had moved out, the void that echoed in my heart and the fears that felt too heavy to carry.

So, for all you moms sending your most treasured possessions off to a college campus, here are a few dos and don’ts to keep in mind to help you maintain peace and comfort in your heart as you, and they, embark on this new phase of life:

Don’t let your emotions run away with you. After dropping my first born off at college all those years ago, I let my emotions get the better of me — as if sending my daughter to college was throwing her to the wolves and meant never, ever seeing her again. Ever. I finally realized I was letting my fears and mama emotions control my joy and I had to intentionally take control of my thoughts and fears through faith.

Do ask God to fill your heart with peace and comfort, and trust He is in control. It’s hard to control emotions, especially when it comes to the well being of our children. Ask God to fill you with a peace that surpasses understanding and the ability to trust Him as each day passes.

Don’t assume your child is going to make the same mistakes you did in college — or that they won’t make any mistakes at all. As moms, we want to prevent our kids from making decisions that will negatively impact them. But as much as we desire to protect them, we have to let them make their own choices … which sometimes means their own mistakes. Just as we learned from our mistakes and may have already seen God use those mistakes for His glory, so will they.

Do pray for the Holy Spirit to be their guide. Ask God to convict their hearts if they start heading down a wrong path. We can’t always be with our children, but God can.

Don’t convince yourself you’ve failed at getting your child ready to on their own. Sending a child off to college or any new phase of life is never easy on a mom’s heart. We can think of a million things we could/should have done better. Allow your heart to rest in knowing you raised them well, and now it’s up to God to take it from here.

Do continue to pray daily for your child’s heart and life. Prayer is powerful and new seasons of life require a lot of it. Ask God to bring people into their life who will be godly influences and help shape them in positive ways. Never cease praying for your children no matter how old they get.

Letting go of the reins of our children’s lives is hard on a mom’s heart, no matter what age they are. But when we focus on our faith instead of our worries, and trust God loves them and is their Protector, the letting go seems a little less stressful.

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Need some encouragement to help you embrace God’s peace in a new season of life or a time of transition?

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