I have never been faced with the mortality of life as I have since becoming a mother. Instead of taking care of just yourself, now you have a tiny human relying on you for all their meals, diaper changes, etc. Driving in the car, putting her down to sleep, wondering if she was eating enough, or if I was doing enough to help her learn. These questions ran through my head nonstop. I panicked about everything and the anxiety was almost crippling.
One night, I was scrolling through Pinterest, an app that has everything from recipes to inspirational quotes, and I stumbled upon a link to Bible verses for anxiety. Luke 12:24-29 was the first in the list of verses, which says:
Consider the ravens: They do not sow or reap, they have no storeroom or barn; yet God feeds them. And how much more valuable you are than birds! Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest? “Consider how the wild flowers grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you, not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today, and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, how much more will he clothe you – you of little faith! And do not set your heart on what you will eat or drink; do not worry about it.
It felt like a slap in the face! Why was I so worried? The Lord would continue to provide and lead me in the right direction. I was spending more time worried about my daughter than I was enjoying the time I had each day with her. My daughter is now 2, the anxiety has never fully gone away, but I try to enjoy every activity we do together. Every time I begin to worry, God somehow reminds me to stop worrying through someone I meet, something I read, or even a kind word.
Mandi Moon, Downtown Campus Children’s Director
