The world is a scary place. You don’t know when or where the next terrorist attack will happen. You cannot will your children to safety. You cannot wish cancer away. You cannot remove the drunk driver from the road. You cannot force world leaders to be wise and responsible. You cannot stop dangers on the playground or even in your backyard. You cannot stop the hurricane or earthquake. In short, you cannot eliminate the things that bring fear in this life.
If this is true, how can you know peace? How can you teach your children to not be dominated by fear? Here is a prayer for trust written by Ruth Younts.
Father in heaven, please help me to trust you. Thank you that you are in control of everything and you do everything for my good. You have promised to care of me. Help me to believe and act on that, even when I’m afraid. In Jesus’ name, Amen.
This prayer recalls the words of Psalm 56 which teaches us that even in scary times, God calls you to trust him. Here is what the Holy Spirit says to you from this psalm:
When I am afraid,
I will trust in you.
In God, whose word I praise—
in God I trust and am not afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?
This short passage gives hope! What can mere mortals do to you? Before God, they are no threat at all, even if your lives appear to be in danger. There is an example of this trust in God by Daniel’s 3 friends when they were faced with death in the furnace for obeying God. Remember what they told the king. They said they would honor God whether they were rescued or not. What can mere mortals do to you!
Today’s headlines shout danger, both at home and abroad. So when you or your children are confronted by fear, even overwhelming fear, trusting God is the way to peace. It is true, you cannot control many of the things that bring fear. But you can take comfort that your God does control all things!
When things are scary, teach your children the security of trusting God.