Why Worry?

We moms tend to worry a lot, don't we? We worry about our children. Will they grow up to love the Lord like we do? Will they pass their test this week? Will they be continually healthy? Will they go to college? Will they marry the right person? Will they produce grandchildren for us to dote on? Will they make good financial choices? Will they... and the list goes on.

After tossing in bed all night, we look in the mirror and see this:

Why do we put ourselves through all that? Do we trust God with our children, or not?

Psalm 127 is one of my favorites. I reads:

Unless the Lord builds the house,

They labor in vain who build it;

Unless the Lord guards the city,

The watchman stays awake in vain.

It is vain for you to rise up early,

To sit up late,

To eat the bread of sorrows;

For so He gives His beloved sleep.

Behold, children are a heritage from the Lord,

The fruit of the womb is a reward.

Like arrows in the hand of a warrior,

So are the children of one's youth.

Happy is the man who has his quiver full of them;

They shall not be ashamed,

But shall speak with their enemies in the gate.

If God is first in our hearts and in our homes, there's no need to worry through the night. He is doing the work in us and in our kids. He is watching over our home. He is our guard. He guards our children. 

His word tells us not to stay up all hours of the night fretting over things. We are to sleep.

Our children are a heritage, a reward. God says they are like arrows in the hand of a warrior. We should be happy when our home is full of them. There is God-given power in parenting.

So why do we continue to wrestle our blankets and allow worry and fear to control our nights? We need to trust God that His plan and purpose for our children is good. That He has everything under control. That He will watch over them and guard them. Meanwhile, we need to sleep and sleep well.

"I will both lie down in peace, and sleep;

For You alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety."

~ Psalm 4:8

Photo Courtesy of Supreet Vaid