March 8, 2016

Where’s Your Worry Box?


Almost every day among the homeschool moms with whom I speak, I hear worries.
Am I doing enough?  
How do I know if I have the right curriculum?
Is my child really learning what he needs to? 
Where can I find the best extra activities for her?
And I’m quite sure that moms whose children attend any sort of school voice similar questions on a daily basis.
Is he “behind” in reading? 
How can I help her overcome this bullying and find a friend? 
Is this the right school? 
Are these the best activities?
We may know that we’re commanded not to worry – after all, Philippians 4.6 pointedly says, "Be anxious for nothing…” – but putting that mandate into practice, day by day and moment by moment, is another story. In fact, the “worried mother” is such a cultural icon that it almost seems neglectful to consider letting her go.

But one Fruit of the Spirit is peace, the polar opposite of worry. Thus, just as light and dark cannot exist together in the same space, it’s clear that peace and worry can’t co-mingle either. But how on earth can a mother avoid worrying about her children? After all, they’re pieces of our hearts walking around outside our bodies, and we want nothing but the best for them. Worry is inevitable, isn’t it?

In our own strength, yes. However, Philippians 4.6-7 goes on beyond that opening phrase: “Be anxious for nothing BUT in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. AND the peace of God, which surpasses all comprehension, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” God tells us we can choose to relinquish worry by deciding instead to give Him our concerns.

Imagine carrying a package full of worry to the cross and leaving it there; that’s the picture this verse paints. And God tells us that when we do so, peace – not of our own making – will – with certainty – come to protect our hearts and minds. If we still feel worried after praying, it means we’ve failed to leave the worry box where it belongs, so we need to go back and try again until we really can let it stay there with Him. We’ll know we’ve succeeded when peace pervades our minds and hearts no matter what’s going on around us. And in fact, when God’s peace is ruling, we’ll be able to replace hand-wringing with an ability to systematically problem solve so we can see issues clearly and design logical plans for necessary solutions.

As mothers, we’ll always weigh each decision thoroughly and carefully. When we’re living in our own strength, we’ll also worry each step of the way. But when we’re walking in the Spirit, we’ll have His peace as we go. And that requires choosing to leave your worry box with Him. Are you doing that today?

*****
Photo Credit: Outsanity Photos

CK

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