Emerging from the mire

One of the biggest temptations for any parent is fixating on their fears regarding their children. I wrestled with this when my kids were small, worrying about every little cough, squabble, and academic struggle. As they grew into teenagers and young adults, however, those fears only intensified, especially throughout Covid with all the ripple effects of its traumas. 

One day, I was agonizing over my (not so little) child, tears streaming down my face, heart turbulent with anguish, mind flooded with dreaded possibilities, and I saw myself for what I was: shackled to hopelessness and stuck in a pit of my own making. I was in desperate need of a reset- to emerge from that pit instead of digging even deeper. “Jesus, help me!” I prayed, and in His mercy He tossed me a rope. I heard Philippians 4:6 -7 whispered in the midst of my noisy fretting:

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.  

I grabbed on to that rope and started climbing:

God, thank you that you love my child even more than I do.

Thank you for your faithfulness throughout all of my life, bringing me though trial after trial, healing my soul in the process.

Thank you for the friends and family who love and support us.

Thank you for your promises to never leave or forsake us.

Thank you that I can rest in You, and surrender to You all my fears and negative thinking. 

Thank you that Your perfect will is greater than my own limited understanding. 

With each offering of praise, I felt lighter. Gratitude lifted me out of the mire and into the arms of our loving God. 

Overfunctioning and overthinking leads to drowning in earthly cares but gratitude increases our trust in Christ’s goodness, love, and faithfulness.

Thanksgiving silences the devil’s despairing chatter and flips a light on in the darkness.

Taste and see that the Lord is good, blessed is the one who takes refuge in Him.

• Psalm 34:8