"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.
Most of us live through a mask of control where we carefully guard what we allow others to see. But deep within each of our hearts and souls, lurk fears, struggles, insecurity and inadequacy that comes from failing.
Yet, those who learn to cast off these dark feelings by replacing them with the truth of God's love and word, will be able to pull aside the mask to operate from truth, humility and grace in relationship to others. Moving from fear to freedom is a process that requires years of practice in casting our fears away from ourselves and into His hands. It has taken me a while to move from the dark of fears and insecurities to the place of peace and rest.
Imagine yourself in a quiet, dark, and comfy bedroom. You are sleeping so soundly and contentedly, when, out of nowhere, your husband sits straight up in bed and starts to scream and rant about some unseen thing or situation that the dreamer is finding himself in. Your heart races as you are pulled from your sweet slumber while trying to calm your dear husband, but it is in vain. He can't be woken, and he falls right back to sleep, not remembering a thing. Imagine this happening to you several nights a week, and on tired nights, numerous times. Each time it happens, you tell your dear loved one all about it the next morning, but he has no recollection and seems to be rested and happy. You get to the point where you are not as alarmed and just ride it out, like your least favorite roller coaster at an amusement park.
I wish the story was about my husband, but it is actually about me. For as long as my husband can remember, I have had night terrors. He has dealt with them as graciously as a heavenly saint sent from above. And, as long as I can remember, I have had no recollection of any such night terrors and am as happy as a clam each morning when I rise. I am SO thankful that my husband still likes to sleep in the same bed with me! Bearing with a spouse that has night terrors could possibly be classified under the whole "in sickness as in health" part of marriage.
To my recollection, there is no situation from my childhood or otherwise that causes my restless sleep. I did have a difficult childhood, but was never abused and was totally loved by my parents.
The only thing to make of it could be some form of worry, stress, or anxiety; and I do, in fact, have all three.
Worry, stress, and anxiety are so difficult to overcome. Let's face it, if we were honest, we would all admit to suffering from at least one of the three on a regular--if not daily--basis. There is so much to worry about!
My worries have mainly stemmed from growing up in a broken, alcoholic family and having no earthly idea how to have a Christian home and raise kids who love God. When you grow up with no modeling and without a Christian example to follow, you are often a bit neurotic, struggling to find the perfect formula to raise kids who follow Christ. Well, after searching and trying to figure things out, I have come to the realization that there is no formula, no matter how hard we try to find it.
It all boils down to trusting God, following Him, and giving Him our cares and worries each and every day.
Trusting God seems so simple, but so challenging at the same time. When our children are growing up, there can be many difficult issues in the lives of our family that cause us to lose heart. It is often during these trying times that we have no idea where God is, and we often want to give up, to quit trying at all. Our marriages can be challenging, our children can be disobedient, and some of them can even start to question the existence of God. How disheartening!
It is comforting to look at God's word and realize that many people in times past struggled with worry and fear. Throughout the Bible, we can see God telling us to trust Him. Look up the word "trust" in your concordance and see how many different verses there are that tell us to trust God. When my children were little, I would put some of these verses on index cards and keep them at my kitchen sink. I also have a chalkboard in my kitchen dedicated to writing encouraging verses that help me to focus on God and not on my own strength.
Struggling and worrying will probably follow me my whole life. After all, this is the broken place. We are not in heaven yet. There is a peace, however, in the midst of the storms and worries of this life that can be found only in God and his word. Spend time with God each day. Let God's word fill your soul and mind so that, when the worries come, you will be able to cope as much as possible and rest in His care.
"Cast all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you." 1 Peter 5:7.
Give your cares and worries each day to God and rest in His love and care for you, for it is wide and vast.
Deb Weakly: Mother of two beautiful and wholehearted children.