Dear Parents,
Fear and worry. They're one of the enemy's most popular weapons used against us. There's a lot of crazy going on in the world today. Conflicts, persecution, crime, illness, terrorism, natural disasters, war... the list goes on and on. It can leave us feeling anxious, overwhelmed, tense, scared, worried, even a little out of control. We feel scattered and aimless with our thoughts spinning in a million different directions. Through fear that whirls around us, Satan attempts to steal from our days, kill our hope, and destroy our sense of freedom in the world. He never fights fair. He will use fear and worry time after time to waste our time, render us ineffective, and leave us feeling powerless and weak. Uncertainty will loom, reminding us of every possible "what if." But reality tells us that so much of what we spend time worrying about, never even happens. Living under the "what ifs" is a hard place to dwell.
- WORRY PRETENDS TO BE NECESSARY, but serves no useful purpose!
- Now substitute the word "SATAN" for the word "WORRY" and reread the sentence. It kind of puts things into perspective.
Ask your child...
What are you worried/fearful about? Is it consuming you?
Do you think of God as your co-pilot or a back-seat driver?
Who do you feel is in control of your journey?
Challenge your child...
Overcome obsessive worry and control by 1) developing trust in your Heavenly Father, 2) gaining perspective on your problems, 3) recognizing the real problem (do you have a need to feel safe; does your life feel unpredictable), 4) recognizing that you are so loved and that you are ok exactly as you are.
Prayer:
Thank you, God, for the ways you bless our lives. Help us to let go of things that are out of our control and to put our trust in you. Amen.