Last Updated on March 18, 2024
I’ve often referred to my life as “joyful chaos.” I’ve been exceedingly blessed with five children—five boisterous people who make my life beautiful.
But I have one little person in particular who is gifted at bringing the party, but her parties completely stress me out. How can someone so small cause such mayhem? She is challenging and sometimes a bit rotten. And I love her fiercely. I know that God made me specifically to be her mommy and I’m comforted and blessed by that knowledge. But sometimes I feel quite inadequate to the task.
The other night my sweetie had been openly defiant and exceedingly difficult. I had remained calm (praise God!) and prayed that I was responding appropriately. I was finally able to convince her to be still and I got on my knees next to her bed and began to pray. I prayed for God’s peace which passes all understanding to guard her heart and her mind in Christ Jesus.
As I prayed, God reminded me of the first part of that passage:
“Do not be anxious about anything but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” – Philippians 4:6-7
The last couple of days have been very difficult with this dear little person. She has challenged all that I thought I knew about parenting. And I’m pretty sure she’s enjoyed almost every minute of it. Sometimes I’m very anxious about our future—hers and mine. I worry I won’t figure out how to deal with some of her stuff—and my stuff.
“Do not be anxious …” Those words grabbed hold of me. I’ve clung to my anxious thoughts instead of giving them to God…instead of clinging to Him. He said not to be anxious about anything and to pray to Him about everything.
The cool thing about God is that He doesn’t exaggerate. He tells it like it is … always. He can use words like anything, everything, always, and never with abandon because He means it. I can’t say always or never because I’ve no idea about the next 30 seconds, much less beyond that!
God doesn’t want me to worry about anything. He wants me to trust Him to handle it all. And when He handles it, I get peace to guard my heart and mind.
Our hearts and minds are precious to God—He made them! God makes sure that my heart is safe and secure, and my mind is stable and focused through His peace. That peace is a direct result of knowing who I am and whose I am.
Lord, thank You for Your peace. Thank You for the blessings in my life, even the ones that can sometimes make me anxious. Father, please give me and my children Your peace which passes all understanding to guard our hearts and minds in Christ Jesus. May my life be a testimony to my children of trusting You. In Jesus’ name I pray, Amen.
