Trusting God with Our Adult Children (AKA: Yesterday He Graduated and I’m Still Processing It)
There’s something sacred—and slightly unhinging—about watching your child step into adulthood. When they’re little, we hold their hands. When they’re grown, we learn to open ours. (And resist the urge to send advice daily.)
Yesterday, my son graduated college. And just like that, a season closed and a new one opened—whether my heart was ready or not. I’m overflowing with pride… and also learning a whole new level of trust. The kind that says, “God, I’ve taught him, prayed over him, reminded him to be respectful and responsible… now You take it from here.”
When my mom brain starts spiraling, Scripture pulls me back:
“For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord… “plans to give you hope and a future.” —Jeremiah 29:11
Loving our adult children means releasing control and choosing faith. It means trusting God with decisions we no longer get a vote in. (Which feels deeply offensive after 18+ years of service.)
This verse keeps me steady when I want to step in and “help” a little too much:
“Commit your way to the Lord; trust in Him, and He will act.” —Psalm 37:5
Faith doesn’t end when our children grow up—it just matures.
Now faith looks like:
- Praying instead of panicking
- Releasing instead of rescuing
- Trusting God more than our fears
- And sometimes putting the phone down before we send that text
And when my heart worries about where life will take him, I cling to this promise:
“The Lord will watch over your coming and going both now and forevermore.” —Psalm 121:8
Letting go doesn’t mean we stop caring. It means we care enough to trust God with what matters most to us—even when our hearts want a full itinerary, GPS tracking, and weekly progress reports.
So today—one day after graduation—I’m thanking God for the years behind us, the future ahead of him, and the reminder that God loves our children even more than we do. And thankfully… He’s much better at this than we are.
To every parent standing in this season:
You’re not failing. You’re growing.
And God’s got them. Always. 
Read more in my Book 3: “Living Faith Out Loud” Day 15 – Trusting God With Your Adult Children
https://amazon.com/author/heidewatson
If you’re seeking more encouragement today, you may find comfort in our Devotions or be strengthened by our Verse of The Day or Prayers, offering Scripture to carry with you throughout the day.
