7 Fear Blasters for Moms
I jolted awake in the dark, sweat-soaked sheets indicating another nightmare. It was a common occurrence. My mounting fears for my grown children left me powerless – and senseless.
After the kids were born, I’d lie awake at night wondering, “Why in the world did I have four?! What have I done – I’ll worry about them their whole lives!”
Now that they’re grown and on their own, it’s worse.
Every mom experiences normal, protective fears. But what we do with those fears forms our character.
Or rather – how we allow God to mold our fears.
What would Jesus do?
Do you remember the story of Jesus napping in a boat while the disciples frantically screamed, “Don’t you care that we’re perishing?!”
He was asleep on a pillow. (Mark 4:38)
Ever noticed that phrase?
On.a.pillow.
He was down for the count. Ready to relax after a hard day of ministry.
Ever have a hard day of ministry? Tending our children is a hard day’s ministry. Wiping sick brows, reading bedtime stories, helping with Science projects (the bane of every mother’s existence). You are ministering to your family.
But when you fall into bed at night, does your mind get up and run around? Do the worries begin while sleep subsides?
Is that possible for a mom?
Is it actually possible to fall asleep on our pillows and leave our worries to the Lord?
What if his fever worsens?
What if she fails the class?
What if he drives too fast?
What if she’s bullied again?
Our worries – both real and imagined, overtake our minds if we’re not careful. And that’s what the Enemy wants.
Did the disciples really have an edge on fear?
We know we serve a living God. The disciples weren’t quite sure who this Jesus was yet. When we read this story, we don’t feel the intensity of their fear, because we know Jesus was God.
We know the end of the story.
When our worries loom large, we forget something life changing.
That same Jesus that stilled the waves has the power to calm our storm.
Why do we worry then?
Because we’re afraid He won’t calm our storm the way we want.
Christ’s bravery strategy
Christ’s plan is not for the believer to live in fear.
Why are you so fearful? How is it that you have no faith? (Mark 4:30).
When we grapple with worry, Christ desires to grow our faith.
So how can we squelch our myriad of mom fears?
7 Fear Blasters for moms
- Spend concentrated knee time in prayer
In my deepest, darkest times, I’ve fallen before the Lord on my knees at my bedside. But why don’t we do this on a regular basis? Jesus did. He went away to pray regularly, even though his ministry was busily all-consuming.
- Pray Scripture
Scripture is Powerful, God-breathed, and life-giving! Here are 6 powerful Scripture prayers for the overwhelmed mom.
- Ask God to grow your faith
When we do this, we acknowledge our need, reminding ourselves that this is the deepest reason for our fears – unbelief that God knows best.
- Give thanks
Thanksgiving always puts our problems in better perspective!
- Spend time in praise
Praise God for His attributes – not for what He’s done for you (that’s thanksgiving) but for Who He is! I use Arabah Joy’s Names and Attributes of God during my praise time!
- Start a simple prayer journal and pray for others
This works! It gets the focus off of us and on other’s needs – and we can log God’s amazing answers! Here’s how I created my own simple prayer journal.
- Share your fears with a friend
Our fears always diminish when we share them with others. A trusted friend can put your fears into perspective, pray, empathize, and encourage!
I’ve been putting my fears to rest with these seven steps for a year now. And do you know what? I rarely wake up with panic squeezing my innards. Try these seven steps and see.
You may awaken to find you’ve been asleep on YOUR pillow!
And he awoke and rebuked the wind and said to the sea,
“Peace! Be still!”
And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm. He said to them,
“Why are you so afraid? Have you still no faith?”
And they were filled with great fear and said to one another, “Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?”
Ruthie Gray is a wife, mom of four, Gigi, and caregiver, living in the sandwich generation and blogging to keep her sanity. When she’s not snacking on plastic drumsticks with The Tiny Tornado or snuggling Baby Cakes (her grandbabies), you can find her coaching young moms to capture joy in parenting at RearReleaseRegroup.com. Ruthie is the author of Count to Nine; 9 Liberating Steps for Mom Frustration and Anger. Click to download her Wife and Mommy Survival Kit here.
