David said to the Philistine, “You come against me with sword and spear and javelin, but I come against you in the name of the Lord Almighty, the God of the armies of Israel, whom you have defied… All those gathered here will know that it is not by sword or spear that the Lord saves; for the battle is the Lord’s, and he will give all of you into our hands.” 1 Samuel 17:45, 47
When I was struck with the idea to write a blog post about worry in motherhood, my palms began to sweat. I have always had a sweaty palms problem, but my palms soon became drenched. The truth is, when I try to brush off the fact that worry has at times threatened to envelop me, it seems to come back with a vengeance. So rather than cower in the corner, I suppose that I shall confront the giant of worry, fear, and anxiety in motherhood head on.
The Bible says, “do not worry or be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and petition present your requests to God and the peace of God, which transcends all understanding will guard your heart and mind in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 4:6-7). The fact that God’s Word talks about anxiety means that it is a real human problem. As mothers, I fear that this problem is heightened because we have not only our own selves to worry about and take care of, but also the very lives of the little ones we love and adore. We can state the words of Philippians 4:6-7 all day long, but if we do not believe them and take steps to connect with the heart of God on this matter, then we have not used these fighting words to their full potential.
Looking at how David confronted the giant Goliath, we too can confront the giant of worry and anxiety in our lives. David’s motives were not based on an earthly prize. In warding off worry, our motives need to be to align our hearts with the Lord’s. David was not nearly as concerned about the prize of a wife and tax exemption that the king had to offer as he was about the fact that Goliath was directly defying God on Israel’s soil.
When we let Satan creep in and control our thoughts, we are allowing the enemy to defy the Lord God in his own temple. As temples of the Lord, where the Holy Spirit dwells, we are called and commanded to rise up and fight. Fight against worry and anxiety in your life. Confess negative thought spirals to someone you know or love who cares about you. Be honest when someone in your life who wants to help you asks, “How are you doing?” Instead of brooding, start talking.
The Lord equipped David. God equips us to fight off the enemy of worry and anxiety in our lives. No weapon formed against us shall prosper with the Lord fighting for us (Isaiah 54:17). Use God’s Word. It is available for you to read and glean wisdom from. Read the Word. Pray. Confess to God your worries and fears. Talk to him out loud, in your car, while folding the laundry, or scrubbing dishes.
Memorize scripture. This is a discipline that we need to continue to practice in our lives as avid believers and followers of Jesus. God’s Word written on our hearts is a powerful tool. It is a sword against which no other weapons stand a chance when wielded by the power and authority of the Holy Spirit in our lives. Call upon Jesus’ name. Ask him to go before you, to rid you of all anxiety and fear.
When it comes down to it, we are merely waves tossed by the sea, in complete and utter authority of the Lord and his plans. Because we are held in the palms of his hands, we are ultimately safe. God’s plans are for us. His plans are good. Fight against worry, fear, and anxiety in your life through God’s Word, prayer, and writing scripture on your heart.
Steps of Faith:
David picked out five smooth stones to use to fight against Goliath. Pick out five verses that you want to memorize and have in the pouch of your shepherd’s bag, written upon your heart. The following five verses are great options:
And such were some of you. But you were washed, you were sanctified, you were justified in the name of the Lord Jesus Christ and by the Spirit of our God. 1 Corinthians 6:11 (ESV)
A cheerful heart is good medicine,
but a crushed spirit dries up the bones. Proverbs 17:22 (NIV)
Let the peace of Christ rule in your hearts, since as members of one body you were called to peace. And be thankful. Colossians 3:15 (NIV)
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Philippians 4:8 (NIV)
You will keep in perfect peace
those whose minds are steadfast,
because they trust in you. Isaiah 26:3 (NIV)