Who has more fear than parents?! Before kids, I had the occasional fear or concern, but like most 20-somethings, I felt somewhat invincible and lived life with a certain carefree attitude. Then, I had kids, and everything changed. All I could see was the potential for danger everywhere. And the fear didn’t stop with the danger right in front of my kids; it extended to the potential danger they could face 5 years, 10 years into the future. If I was not thinking about that, I was wondering what I might have missed. What have I not considered? There must be something I have forgotten or not thought of. So, then I became afraid of not being afraid. What a crazy cycle!
Fear truly is a vicious cycle that can easily send you down a dark path. Like most healthy mom figures out there, I just dealt with it by pushing the feeling way deep down. This is not the best method. God does not want me to live in this crazy cycle. He says “fear not” 365 times in the Bible. One for each day of the year. He knows we are fear-prone people. So, knowing this, I ask myself, “What am I so afraid of, and how can I face it or hand it over to God?” For me, this is my biggest fear:
Fear of the unknown or things beyond my control
I can think of a million “what if” scenarios off the top of my head. They are all negative and of course end in some horrible way, usually death or pain. I feel a kindred spirit with Moses when he is talking to God in the desert at the burning bush. Once the introductions are made and God makes a request, Moses responds with “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh? (Exodus 3:11)”. Essentially, Moses is telling God He has the wrong guy because he is not brave enough to complete the mission.
God knows that Moses is scared. So, for the next 11 verses, God counsels Moses with the purpose of easing his fears and concerns. These are the same ways He comforts and assures us when we are afraid.
God is with us. He lets us know we are not alone. God is on this parenting journey with us.
“I will certainly be with you (3:12a).”
God has sent us as parents.
“Thus you shall say to the children of Israel: ‘The Lord God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’” (3:12b)
We are not doing this in our own name or ability. We are empowered and working with Him. If God gave you children, He sent them to you on purpose and with purpose, and He will help you.
God always has a plan.
Then Moses said to God, “If I come to the people of Israel and say to them, ‘The God of your fathers has sent me to you,’ and they ask me, ‘What is his name?’ what shall I say to them?” 14 God said to Moses, “I am who I am.”[a] And he said, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘I am has sent me to you.’” 15 God also said to Moses, “Say this to the people of Israel: ‘The Lord,[b] the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob, has sent me to you.’ This is my name forever, and thus I am to be remembered throughout all generations. 16 Go and gather the elders of Israel together and say to them, ‘The Lord, the God of your fathers, the God of Abraham, of Isaac, and of Jacob, has appeared to me, saying, “I have observed you and what has been done to you in Egypt, (3:16-22)
He proceeds to lay out His plans before Moses. God tells him to gather the elders. He even tells him how the Egyptians will respond and how God will react to their response. God does not always share His plan with us, but we can definitely know He has a plan. When everything feels out of control and unknown, trust that God has a plan.
If that is not enough to calm your fears, that’s okay! It wasn’t enough for Moses, either. After a full explanation from God, Moses responds, “But suppose they will not believe me or listen to my voice; suppose they say, ‘The Lord has not appeared to you (Exodus 4:1).’”
God is so compassionate and understanding of His fearful creation. Our fears and doubts will never keep God from fulfilling His plan and purpose in our children’s lives. His greatest desire is for us to release our fears and live in the freedom He has called us to. In the end, God still took great care of the family of Israel and Moses. He will do the same for you and your family. He understands your fears, and being afraid does not exclude you from being a great parent. God will complete the good work He started in you. As a parent, you can be assured that regardless of the size or quantity of fears you have, God is with you, God has sent you, and God always has a plan.
