As moms, many of us are affected by “worry-itus.”
We tend to worry about our children’s health and safety from the time we conceive them until they are grown adults. When they are young, we choose to fear they will catch numerous illnesses, run into the road after a ball, fall over a cliff, etc. Once they learn to drive, a whole new set of fears can encapsulate us, especially if we hear a siren or a curfew is missed.
My older daughters, now 26 and 24, have traveled abroad on various mission trips to places I’ve only dreamed of (Africa, India, Albania, Thailand, etc.) I could fear they would catch a disease or encounter hostility from the native people or fear for their safety.
God, through various trials, had me come to the realization that worry was a sin because ultimately I was not trusting Him fully and instead was putting distance between Him and I.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” Philippians 4:6-7
(I would also encourage you to look at the different translations of this verse.)
Do you see what we are responsible for?
- Do not be anxious about anything
- Pray
- Petition
- Be thankful/grateful
And THEN we will be given the peace of God.
Guess what?
God does a much better job protecting and caring for our children than we ever could.
When I am fearful, I am not trusting God. Thankfully, I can trust God with ALL details related to the health and safety of my daughters. In this great big world, wherever you are, God promises to be with you. Thus, God is with our children in every situation as seen in the following few verses:
- Joshua 1:9 Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.
- Isaiah 41:10 “Do not fear, for I am with you.”
- Psalm 73:23-24 “I am always with you; you hold me by my right hand. You guide me with counsel, and afterward you will take me into glory.”
Seriously most things we fear or worry over will never happen and if they do it’s usually not as painful or bad as we anticipated. Worrying is a waste of time.
“Worry is like a rocking chair, it’s a great pass of time, but never gets you anywhere.” – Linda Dillow
“If you want to test your memory, try to recall what you were worrying about one year ago today.” – E. Joseph Cossman
“When I look back on all these worries, I remember the story of the old man who said on his deathbed that he had had a lot of trouble in his life, most of which had never happened.” – Winston Churchill
Just as the GPS in your vehicle helps you stay on the right track, may the following GPS acronym guide you when worry begins to creep in.
Gratitude
Be grateful for the present. Worry lures us to examine what bad things could happen, which I refer to as “the what ifs.” Gratitude focuses on the good things happening, or that have already occurred. Personally, I find it helpful to write down the many blessings in my life – my marriage, my children, my health, my faith, my wealth, etc. Then share these with others as numerous studies have shown that gratitude improves our overall well-being.
Pray
Take all the stuff you usually worry about and give it to God through prayer. If we talked to God about all the things we worry about it would strengthen our trust in Him and help us regain the time that would have been lost on worrying. Remember, worry doesn’t change anything; prayer, however, does.
When our children come to mind, we have an opportunity to talk to Papa asking Him to protect and guide them.
Don’t worry about anything; instead pray about everything; tell God your needs… if you do this, you will experience God’s peace, which is far more wonderful than the human mind can understand. Philippians 4:6
I want God’s peace, as my eldest will be traveling eight countries in the month of February.
I’ll need God’s peace when my husband and I take a much-needed vacation for an early 30th anniversary get away as Cayley, our 13-year-old, will not be joining us. My mother and middle daughter, Courtney, will be in charge while we cruise, but there will be little to no cell coverage. I have a choice to trust God or waste time and energy worrying.
Steadfastness
God’s word offers much comfort and wisdom for those who are anxious and troubled if they would drench their mind daily with His truths. Begin by memorizing some of the verses in this article. Then practice new norms such as not being anxious, praying, and being grateful and by that being less susceptible to the enemy’s attacks and living the most abundant life promised. Jesus said,
[Satan] comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly. John 10:10
For me to succeed at not being affected by “worry-itis,” accountability was needed. My husband and a friend encouraged me greatly. I also sought professional help, which provided some necessary assistance along the way. While my journey to overcoming being a worrier (anxiety) took time, effort, and practice, it was well worth it in the end because I am living the most abundant life that Jesus promised!
“The beginning of anxiety is the end of faith, and the beginning of true faith is the end of anxiety.” – George Mueller
May you find peace in God’s promises knowing that He is true to His word and that He loves you.
What steps will you take today to begin living a life of trust and dependence on God?
