How do we trust God with our children during scary times? Excellent question, and one I specifically wrestled with just recently. Full disclosure and complete transparency? I’ve been struggling with my anxiety around that the past few months. A lot. Maybe you can relate?
I have had a resurgence of panic attacks this summer that has NOT been helped by the non-stop negative headlines. You know the legitimate news turned sensational click bait I’m talking about, right? COVID. Racial injustice. Protesters, extremists and agitators. Trump/Pence. Biden/Harris. Record-breaking unemployment. Murder hornets. Mystery seed packets. Hurricanes. Wildfires. Deceased superheroes (RIP Black Panther). And the cherry on top? Ellen DeGeneres is reportedly not at all nice. Lord, save us. (Literally.)
If you allow the headlines to direct you, the world feels extra dangerous right now. I am not particularly worried about my OWN well-being. No, my anxiety peaks regarding my CHILDREN’S well-being. How was I supposed to feel positively about sending my two oldest “babies” off to their respective colleges last month? And how was I supposed to relax about sending my youngest baby (an actual toddler) off to the sitter while I ventured back to uncertain work with other peoples’ “babies” in our public school system?
How do we trust God with our precious children during scary times?
Related content: Letting go of our children in an uncertain world.
Panic attacks aren’t at all fun.
Anxiety is a funny thing. I can logically tell you all the educated reasons I have to move forward in relative confidence. But anxiety doesn’t deal with logic. It capitalizes on the emotions and the body follows right behind. My brain perceives heightened danger (however exaggerated from reality that may be) and my body physically reacts with all the adrenaline goodies – racing heart beat, rapid and shallow breathing, butterflies in my stomach. And the inexplicable powerful urge to get somewhere “safe”. It’s not fun.
If you haven’t lived what I’m talking about, it is hard to understand. I get that. If you HAVE walked this same path, then you know the past several months have generated lots of potential ammunition.
During one particularly tough anxious episode this summer, I went somewhere quiet with my Bible and poured over some words I knew would shed some perspective. But my typical “go-to” verses left me feeling unsatisfied this time. My increased anxiety seemed to be winning out over the pages and familiar words I held in my hands.
Let’s look at it together, shall we?
Psalm 46:10
Here is a popular verse. “Be still, and know that I am God.” (Psalm 46:10) We commonly quote those words during times of anxiousness or fear. In fact, we like those words so much, we’ve put them on t-shirts, coffee mugs and mass produced wall art. No harm in that. Still, I tried to find solace in the familiar words this time. I believe those words are true, so why weren’t they comforting me?
More disclosure and transparency? Okay, I will be completely honest with you although you may judge me. Psalm 46:10 was not comforting me because it felt passive. My anxious heart read it more like, “Just relax, Melissa. (Be still.) And remember that I am the good and kind Shepherd.” You know. The “turn the other cheek” guy.
This image was stuck in my head…
Truth be told, I am letting my “babies” go into a world full of unrest and upheaval. I didn’t necessarily want them protected by the good and kind, “turn the other cheek” guy. Our world is at war with itself physically and spiritually. If I had to let my children go into the fray, I wanted my children accompanied by a fierce warrior with a flaming sword.
Show me something different.
So, I did the only thing I knew to do at that point. I was honest with God. Yep. I talked openly with my Creator and told Him I was struggling. And I asked Him to show me something different. To open my anxious mom heart to whatever He wanted me to see this time around. Tell me, Lord. How do we trust God (You) with our children during scary times?
And He did tell me. He gave me a fresh perspective. And it was kick-butt awesome.
I forgot the other side of Him.
God reminded me that I forgot and discounted the other side of Him. Sure, He is good and kind. Yes, He is loving and gentle and full of mercy. The “turn the other cheek” guy, if you will.
AND He is also the rest of Psalm 46, too. Let’s unpack that together by looking at two translations.
The Message (MSG)
First, The Message version, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. (Bolded emphasis and italicized commentary mine.)
God is a safe place to hide,
ready to help when we need him.
We stand fearless at the cliff-edge of doom,
(Yep, I feel like that’s where I am standing some days. The cliff edge of doom.)
courageous in sea storm and earthquake,
Before the rush and roar of oceans,
the tremors that shift mountains.
Jacob-wrestling God fights for us,
God-of-Angel-Armies protects us.
(My children have a whole supernatural army surrounding them!)
4-6 River fountains splash joy, cooling God’s city,
this sacred haunt of the Most High.
God lives here, the streets are safe,
God at your service from crack of dawn.
Godless nations rant and rave, kings and kingdoms threaten,
but Earth does anything He says.
(There sure is plenty of ranting and raving on the news and on social media these days. And my brain certainly perceives those as threatening. Yet, Earth must bend to God’s voice. So, the loudest voices figuratively screaming in my face don’t have the ultimate authority in the end? I’ll say an AMEN to that.)
8-10 Attention, all! See the marvels of God!
He plants flowers and trees all over the earth,
Bans war from pole to pole,
breaks all the weapons across his knee.
“Step out of the traffic! Take a long,
loving look at me, your High God,
above politics, above everything.”
(The November 2020 US Presidential Election isn’t my focus? Not COVID? Not even BLM??? I’m allowed – even encouraged – to step away from the noise and the chaos to abide with God for a long, loving while? I’ll say a grateful AMEN to that, too!)
New International Version (NIV)
And now the same verses in the New International Version translation, copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica. (Bolded emphasis and italicized commentary mine.)
God is our refuge and strength,
a very present help in trouble.
2 Therefore we will not fear though the earth should change,
(So much global change in 2020. And frankly, I’m weary from it all. Anyone else with me on that?)
though the mountains shake in the heart of the sea;
3 though its waters roar and foam,
though the mountains tremble with its tumult.
4 There is a river whose streams make glad the city of God,
the holy habitation of the Most High.
5 God is in the midst of her, she shall not be moved;
God will help her right early.
6 The nations rage, the kingdoms totter;
he utters his voice, the earth melts.
(I certainly sense rage and tottering. But, God simply opens His mouth and the whole earth MELTS?! Now THAT is power. THAT’s the guy I want with my children.)
7 The Lord of hosts is with us;
the God of Jacob is our refuge.
8 Come, behold the works of the Lord,
how he has wrought desolations in the earth.
9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear,
he burns the chariots with fire!
10 “Be still, and know that I am God.
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth!”
Now THIS image was stuck in my head. And it was much better for this momma’s anxious heart.
A mighty King
How do we trust God with our children during scary times? By remembering that our loving, gentle and merciful Father is also a mighty King. He has the final say over creation and over the nations. He can melt the earth by simply uttering a single breath. Entire armies of angel warriors are at his command. The “weapons” we so fear harming our children? He breaks them over His knee like play things.
I am not guaranteed a lengthy, pain-free life. And neither are my children. We will undoubtedly experience hurt and hardship. Possibly even tragedy. I cannot ultimately shield my “babies” from that. But, no matter what befalls us, I have assurances that the fierce, earth-melting, weapon-breaking King is in our corner. As is the loving, gentle and merciful Father. And in the End, He has the last word. His Word says so. And I choose to trust Him.
