Last Updated on October 4, 2024
It is becoming more and more obvious that our children are being plagued by an insidious enemy. We are struggling to fight back, as we are feeling it ourselves.
If we do fight back I wonder if we are not fighting back with the confidence and authority we should be.
Do you have a daily unsettling? Do your kids seem like they are struggling, maybe even stuck,
as if walking through a thick field of mud that is pulling them downward?
That feeling that slithers into human bones and coils itself around a heart in such a way that you truly are gripped by “it” – this unseen force dragging on you. Let’s all just name it – so we can defeat it.
Fear.
Get that word picture description of slithering and coiling in your mind and call it out for what it is my friend. The fear serpent. Fear is a liar. Fear is THE liar.
What does fear do to mankind? It shuts us down. It shuts me down.
Have you ever just wanted to scream, “Make it stop!”
We all realize we do not want this fear epidemic for our children. Moms are talking and sharing that their children are plagued by fear. Something’s up. What exactly is going on here? What’s at stake?
“Humble yourselves, therefore, under God’s mighty hand, that He may lift you up in due time. Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for you. Be self-controlled and alert. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. Resist him, standing firm in the faith because you know that your brothers throughout the world are undergoing the same kind of sufferings. And the God of all grace, who called you to His eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will Himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast. To Him be the power forever and ever. Amen.”
– 1 Peter 5:7-11
The roar is also a silent hiss, and if that slithering serpent can get to children early in life he can repeatedly condition them to shut down.
The enemy is attempting to influence through learned fear and timidity.
Not on your watch. Be steadfast mom, lean in.
You know your children better than anyone. You see who they are and how God designed them – their strengths, the possibilities, glimpses of their future.
What assignment does God have for your grown-up child that the enemy is trying to thwart? What love for others meant to be shown daily is being hidden under a bowl?
The lie of fear is a clever, wicked scheme of the enemy to stifle what God is doing, and will do in your child’s life for His purposes and His glory.
Yeah, get mad about that mom. Get real mad, and equip yourself, and then teach your children how to fight back. Children are SO GOOD at grabbing hold of truth and using it – it’s us older folks that can be skeptics.
“For God does not give us a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.”
– 2 Timothy 1:7
With God’s power, love and self-discipline you can fight back and teach your children to do the same. When fear begins to hiss and tries to manifest itself in your physical body and begins an all-out assault on your mind – fight back with the word of God – out loud.
For me, and my family, we silence fear with a loud, “Whatever!” directed towards the fear. Followed by the spoken word of truth found in Philippians..
“…whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable – if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things.”
– Philippians 4:8
Then think about and declare all those noble, right, pure, lovely, admirable, and praiseworthy things. Your thought life is powerful. Use it to embrace gratitude through all the “whatever’s”. As a result, the fear serpent’s grip is loosened and the liar slithers away.
Victory.
Talk to your kids about fear and what it is – maybe give them that description of what it does to your physical body – which when they begin to feel that – is then their cue to fight back using God’s Word.
Explain to them that when they feel fear trying to slither in, they can name it and come against it with truth – God’s truth. Help them know that as a child of God, they have the power, the love, and the self-discipline to not let fear “in” – they can crush the fear.
How about teaching Romans 16:20 to your kids, and suggest they declare it loudly when that “slithering” feeling starts? And have them jump and stomp.
“The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet.”
– Romans 16:20
The faith of a child is powerful – because it is so pure.
As moms, and parents, we need to teach and model that God’s word, spoken out loud, is powerful. Notecards on mirrors, headboards, kitchen cabinets, car headrests – they’ll be quoting scripture faster than you!
“As the heavens are higher than the earth, so are My ways higher than your ways and My thoughts than your thoughts…so is My word that goes out from My mouth: It will not return to me empty, but will accomplish what I desire and achieve the purpose for which I sent it. You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace…”
– Isaiah 55:11-12
May it be so Lord. Equip Your daughters, mothers who You designed, to nurture Your image-bearers, to teach truth through scripture. Father God, we pray that young hearts and minds would be protected from the schemes of the enemy. That they would have complete victory over fear – that Your children would go out in joy and be led forth in peace to shine your light and love on a hurting world. We humbly and gratefully ask that You protect and equip, empower and embrace each of Your beloved. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
