Preserved from Evil - The Protective Prayer of Jesus on Mother's Day

It's a beautiful sight all to see mothers gently resting their hands on their children's foreheads and whispering heartfelt prayers for their protection and guidance. This simple yet powerful gesture speaks volumes about the depth of a mother's love and her fierce desire to keep her loved ones safe from harm. Mother's Day is a special time for us to celebrate this unwavering maternal commitment and the incredible lengths moms go to shield their little ones.

This protective instinct is also reflected in a touching biblical moment, where Jesus pleads with His Father in John 17, asking not to take His followers out of this messy world but rather to protect them from evil as they navigate life's many challenges. His request gets to the heart of the profound resilience and inner strength required to not just survive adversity but thrive in the midst of it. This resilience is mirrored in the steadfast love of a nurturing mother.

Just as moms don't wish to remove their kids from the world entirely but instead hope to equip them with the courage and wisdom to face its harsh realities, so too did Jesus pray for His disciples' safekeeping within the world, not separation from it. His prayer and a mother's prayers flow from that same deep wellspring of loving hope, acting as beacons to guide loved ones through stormy seas, not avoiding those turbulent waters altogether.

These prayers aren't about building a cozy bunker from life's difficulties, but about cultivating an unshakeable inner sanctuary of strength, resilience, and faith to withstand whatever trials may come. At their core, these prayers share the sacred purpose of preparing loved ones to journey through adversity, not just shielding them completely.

While Jesus calls His followers to engage in this world's issues and realities, He also challenges them - and us - to remain set apart from its toxic influences and temptations. This divine protection is not some lofty, esoteric concept but a tangible, ever-present source of help and deliverance. It's the wisdom that guides tough ethical choices, the inner fortitude that helps us stand firm for our convictions when pressured to compromise, and the boldness to share our faith despite opposition. Like a nurturing mother preparing her children to navigate life's challenges with wisdom and integrity, Christ equips us not just to survive this broken world but to engage with it fully while staying true to our sacred calling.