Being a parent requires just as much learning as it does teaching.

My daughter, Nora, is less than a month away from being three years old.  Since she was only a couple of months old, she has slept through the night besides some rare occasions.  We were blessed with a good sleeper! 

Our son, Emmett, is not such a good sleeper.  He doesn’t handle pain nearly as well as Nora and teething has been especially hard on him (and Mama!).  I’m praying that once his teeth are in, we’ll get more sleep! 

But lately, Nora has been waking up in the night.  On one night in particular, she ran frantically into her daddy’s arms and refused to let him leave her sight for the next hour.  There was no big life change or horrible event that could have caused this.  I had no idea why there has been a sudden change in her sleep.  So, I did what I normally do:  I talked to my wise mama about it.

You can never outgrow your mama.

And then, she did what she usually does and gave me the answer.  Immediately, she told me my daughter was having nightmares and that she was at an age where she had begun developing fears.

Along with her change in sleep, Nora also became afraid of random things during our daily activities.  When I say random, I mean RANDOM. Her love of bees turned into a fear.  She NEEDED to pick up all the toys on the floor as soon as her brother’s butt hit the walker or there would be tears.

Other fears included a bird that flew by, the pumpkin that came to life on Scooby Doo, toys in the bath water, cars in parking lots, and a cardboard cutout of a spider I drew (one I specifically drew because she was obsessed with a spider that appeared on the outside of our window every morning). 

As a mama, I don’t like seeing my child afraid, especially so frequently.  I was told the best thing I could do was help her overcome her fears and be brave even when she’s afraid.  But sometimes it’s hard convincing a toddler that everything is fine.  No matter what I tell her, she remains distraught.

Once again, God used my daughter to teach me a life lesson. 

What if we as God’s children are the fearful toddlers and He’s the parent trying to convince us that everything is going to be okay?

We go through life worrying and not trusting in God.  How is it possible that we forget that He spoke creation into existence?  He named every star and designed every detail down to every cell.  God knew your story long before you existed and He’s there every step of the way. 

So, why do we put God in a box? 

We list our fears and beg for His help in prayer but it doesn’t matter.  Because at the end of the day, we’re still afraid and we try to force our will on our lives instead of His. 

In a world where depression and anxiety are rampant, we’re ignoring one major solution:  trusting God. 

Easier said than done, I know.  Depression and anxiety caused by fear have plagued me time and time again.  There are times I let fear take me down a dark hole that I can’t find my way back out of for some time. 

The weight of fear on my shoulders can, at times, be too much to carry.  But what would happen if I put the burdens of this world on the shoulders of someone who can handle the weight of the entire world?  What if we stopped focusing so much on our fears and instead looked up at the God of hope, love, and joy? 

God hates seeing us afraid just like I hate seeing my daughter so fearful.  Fear robs us of our joy.  If we’re not careful, we’ll fearfully hide from the wonderful plans God has for us. 

Trust in God the Father who protects, loves, and saves us.  He alone can pull you from depression and you’re your anxiety.  Surround yourself with His encouraging Word and listen to His voice saying, “Don’t be afraid.  I’m here.”

*** Depression and anxiety are real issues and, in some cases, require medical assistance.  This is not something anyone should be ashamed of.  Get the help you need. 

If you liked this, then read my post, Listening to God’s Truth, where I talk about listening to the voice of God instead of the lies Satan uses to tear us down.

Do you struggle with anxiety and depression?  My mom gifted me with a copy of this beautiful little book, 365 Days of Prayer for Depression and Anxiety. It’s an encouraging reminder every day to lean on God.  Check it out! 

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