Diagnosing Fear: Bible Deficiency
April 2008
5 CommentsWhen this post was written: First child (D) was 4 yrs, 9 mo. Second child (B) was 3 yrs, 3 mo. Third child (L) was 1 yrs, 5 mo.
Do you ever worry about whether you’re doing things right? Worry about the next assignment or deployment? Worry about family, worry about finances?
I found myself worrying last night, and this is what I read.
And, behold, there arose a great tempest in the sea, insomuch that the ship was covered with the waves: but he was asleep. And his disciples came to him, and awoke him, saying, Lord, save us: we perish.
And he saith unto them, Why are ye fearful, O ye of little faith? Then he arose, and rebuked the winds and the sea; and there was a great calm. But the men marvelled, saying, What manner of man is this, that even the winds and the sea obey him! Matthew 8:24-27
So then faith cometh by hearing, and hearing by the word of God. Romans 10:17
See, Jesus identified the source of the disciples’ fear in that storm. They needed more faith. The Romans passage tells us where faith comes from. There’s not a mystical supply somewhere. I don’t see faith coming simply by praying long prayers to God. God tells us faith comes from the Word of God, the Bible.
When I find myself worrying too much, I know one problem is that I’m not reading or thinking about God’s Word. Maybe I’m reading it, but forgetting it throughout the day. Maybe I’m not reading it enough. Maybe I’m stuck on Deuteronomy and need to read something else for awhile. Regardless, I have indeed found that taking my medicine means I need to spend more time reading and thinking about God and His Word.
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What a great reminder…we must discipline ourselves to stay in the word, which is often the first thing to go when we get under stress.
1 Shelley Gallamore said this (April 3, 2008 at 9:40 am)
Michelle,
Deuteronomy is cool. The book lets us know where our hope is and where our life is. I think that parents especially need to read Scripture relationally, rather than devotionally or in a data-gathering mode. Children defy attempts to put life into organized boxes. Like us, they are relational creatures. What impacts them the most is the quality of our relationship with them. It does not matter how close we “feel” to God (devotional reading) or in one sense, how much we know about the content of Scripture (data-gathering mode). What matters is the passing on the vibrancy of our relationship with Christ in the context of our relationship with our children. These two passages in Deuteronomy show this relational quality.
8:3-5 He humbled you, causing you to hunger and then feeding you with manna, which neither you nor your fathers had known, to teach you that man does not live on bread alone but on every word that comes from the mouth of the LORD. 4 Your clothes did not wear out and your feet did not swell during these forty years. 5 Know then in your heart that as a man disciplines his son, so the LORD your God disciplines you.
32:45-47 When Moses finished reciting all these words to all Israel, 46 he said to them, “Take to heart all the words I have solemnly declared to you this day, so that you may command your children to obey carefully all the words of this law. 47 They are not just idle words for you—they are your life. By them you will live long in the land you are crossing the Jordan to possess.”
8:3 we don’t survive by physical nourishment – but from the living & active word
32:47 – thus these words are actually our life
Raising children is not something that can be pushed aside when we think we need a break. Children, especially young ones, are constantly in need of relational interaction. Developmental ed. psych. misses this one. Children are in need of relational, non-concrete, nourishment. This is why parents must have this relational interaction with God’s word. As parents are actively interacting with God relationally in front of their children, they are able to pass this peace (Phil.4) along to their children. You know that God will sustain you even if this is 5th diaper change in the last 30 minutes. Therefore, you are not overwhelmed by the demands of the moment. If you are not overwhelmed then there is less upset being transmitted to your children. Children know when mommy is on the edge of overload and this is relationally transmitted. A mother’s life with her young children may at times “feel” like the storm in Matthew 8. However, Christ is there. The storm is no accident to him. He has the bread of life to give to you. You know with certainty that these children are a blessing given to you by God to engage in one of the most wonderful callings of life – leading your children to Christ.
As you are fed by God and his word it stays with you. How your children comprehend that is not something that can be easily quantified. If thoughts of God are tied to a series of data and emotions that were left behind in “quiet time” they will do little to help with children who seemingly woke up with the intent of making your day a disaster. But, if a mother is able to recognize that these children at this moment are acting in a way to cause her to turn to God for strength to do what she can not do on her own then she can know peace in the midst of the storm.
2 Jay Younts said this (April 3, 2008 at 11:19 am)
Great post. Lately I’ve been very anxious about things in the future and have to remind myself that God is in control.
Matthew 6:34 “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”
3 Carrie said this (April 3, 2008 at 3:32 pm)
Jay, you said: “As you are fed by God and his word it stays with you. How your children comprehend that is not something that can be easily quantified. If thoughts of God are tied to a series of data and emotions that were left behind in “quiet time” they will do little to help with children who seemingly woke up with the intent of making your day a disaster. But, if a mother is able to recognize that these children at this moment are acting in a way to cause her to turn to God for strength to do what she can not do on her own then she can know peace in the midst of the storm.”
You are right, and your post is comforting and challenging at the same time. Thank you. Shelley, you are right that God’s Word seems to get left out when we need it the most. Thank you for your thoughts as well.
On the side note, I guess what’s been frustrating me about Deuteronomy is that I am looking to learn about who God is, and I get more questions. I grabbed a few commentaries on Deuteronomy from my Dad’s house when I was there last, but I still get overwhelmed with what I don’t understand. I guess my husband and I are due for a date so we can talk about these things.
4 Michelle said this (April 3, 2008 at 3:38 pm)
we’ll babysit while you go on a date!
5 kelly said this (April 6, 2008 at 7:38 am)