“For I know the plans I have for you declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
Jeremiah 29:11 (ESV)
When my children went through the stage of worrying that I would die, I could totally relate. I’d been worried about departing much too soon from the moment I laid eyes on them. If I wasn’t worried about dying myself, I was worried about losing them. After all, under normal circumstances we don’t know how many days we’ve been allotted, and it’s quite apparent no one lives forever.
I rarely had time for devotionals during the childrearing stage, but I did have a daily Bible verse and I talked with Him throughout each day. During one of my more intense battles with worry and stress, I cried out in exhaustion and my heart recalled John 10:10, “The thief comes to steal, kill and destroy.”
Applying those words to my situation opened my heart to the revelation that I was being robbed. True to the thief’s indirect way of sneaking up on us, I had totally missed an even more subtle death: worry was killing each beautiful day that I had been given.
God is THE God of relationship, so He finds no fault in your desire to live a long life and to enjoy your children. You are right where you need to be, doing what you were called to do, but there’s a new level of peace for you, a new understanding of the type of Daddy Christ is.
You love your son’s smile, the twinkle in his eyes, and his laugh. God loves yours, too. Maybe you can’t wait for your daughter to wake so you can hear her voice. Your Father in heaven is excited about kissing your eyelids, taking your hand, and walking/talking with you throughout the day ahead. Does your heart melt as you watch your children discover new things? Your Daddy in heaven adores your every stage far beyond human appreciation.
The challenge then, is to find the courage to lean into the Creator of every day and live the adventure He has for you. What are His plans for you? In what areas will you prosper? What will it be like to experience His hope in all situations?
Take captive those thoughts that terrorize your heart by posting Bible verses throughout your home so that, wherever you set your eyes, your heart is strengthened.
It’s not about how many days we have, but more about how we will be present and engaged in the days we are privileged to open our eyes to.
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
These questions are in no way a substitute for healthcare professionals or any level of professional counseling. I’m an advocate for taking care of oneself mentally, physically, emotionally, and spiritually. These questions reflect my heart, NOT my profession.
This questionnaire is an opportunity to journal your thoughts and feelings. It can serve as a launching pad on which to evaluate your heart condition as you understand it. My hope is that you will take what you discover and hold it up to the Light to evaluate it against who God says you are.
- What is your biggest fear?
- Why is that your biggest fear?
- What coping skills have you learned that keep you trapped in this fear?
- Was this a childhood fear? If so, now that you’re an adult, what choices can you make to change the way you view this fear?
- Is this fear robbing you of anything you want to have or what you want to achieve?
- What are some changes you can make that will give you authority over this fear?
Use God’s word to take control over traumas in your life. Whenever you feel terrorized by your thoughts, take them captive by replacing them with the truth of God’s promises found in His word.
Print, then cut and carry this Scripture with you and/or post it in places where you will see it often. Ground yourself in God’s truths not Satan’s attacks. Encourage your heart and mind every time you are reminded of His great love for YOU!
Here is what God’s word says about His unfailing, relentless, unending love for you:
“The name of the Lord is a strong fortress; the godly run to him and are safe.”—Proverbs 18:10
When you read this verse say to yourself: There is no match when it comes to the strength of Jesus; He is strong and I am safe with Him.
Now LIVE LOVED and THRIVE!
