“Mum,” said my twelve-year old, as she walked into my bedroom this morning. “I am so anxious, and I can’t shake it.”
To be honest, I did not want to start my day here; at this point of frustration. I have been doing everything I can to help her. Shared all my experience with sorting out my own mental mess. Trying really hard not to look frustrated, I asked: “What is making you feel so anxious?”
“It’s Russia, Mum,” she said, tearing up. “The war with Ukraine…”
Not allowing her to finish her sentence, I jumped in with several things that needed to be done to “fix” her anxiety:
- Stay off social media…
- Stop watching the news…
- Direct your thoughts to things that are of good report…
- Make a list of what you’re thankful for…
- Go for a walk or cuddle up with the dog…
All good things to do, but not quite what her heart needed to hear. She grew more and more frustrated with me as I tried to be helpful. I just wanted to make the anxiety go away so that we could get on with our day.
Then, that small still voice started to reign me in. Perhaps, I did not have to fix anything. Maybe what I needed to do was listen, acknowledge the weight of the burden that was on my daughter’s heart and help her to pivot her anxiety towards something useful.
“I think it is great that you have such a beautiful, sensitive heart,” I said. “You care about what is happening in the world, and that is really special. Do you want to pray for Ukraine?”
She agreed.
I thanked God for her heart and her concern for His people.
We took our position as co-heirs that are seated in Christ, who has authority over all powers and principalities.
We sent angles to tend to the hurting and hungry.
We released peace from Heaven over that situation.
We thank God for His goodness and faithfulness.
There was no anxiety left by the time we said amen. There was only hope and a beautiful smile at the end of that prayer.
Now, I wish I could say that it was a clever parenting move, but to be honest, that is not my default. My default is to fix the anxiety. I am so grateful for the Holy Spirit that leads us in every little detail of our lives, if we just lean in for a second and listen. He will guide us and show us a strategy that not only takes care of our hearts, but also affect the world around us.
There is so much that I have learned (am learning) in this conversation with my daughter this morning. I am still unpacking the revelations. How many times have I tackled the wrong problem? Why do we become so paralysed by the presence of anxiety? Why do we not, in the first place, run towards the throne where we are seated with Jesus (Who has ALL authority)? What would the world look like, if we remembered who we are? What would the world look like, when we took what the enemy meant for harm, and turned it into a blessing? What if we can pivot our anxiety, worries and fears into prayers that move mountains?
A light for your path:
…casting all your cares [all your anxieties, all your worries, and all your concerns, once and for all] on Him, for He cares about you [with deepest affection, and watches over you very carefully].
1 Peter 5:7 AMP
Heart Print:
Today I hear the Father say: “Beautiful Child, you are my very own. I have called you by name. You are mine. I have given you authority over scorpions and snakes, and over all the power of the enemy. There is no need to fear. Not even fear itself. There is no need to feel anxious or overwhelmed by what you see. Let go and let me overwhelm you with my love. There you will remember that I have created you to be just like me!” ❤️