This is How God Made Me

I mentioned yesterday that we went to a new church on Sunday. G and I both liked the service and really enjoyed the sermon. It seemed the minister spoke a little louder to me, however, and G was quite tickled at how well it seemed the minister knew the words that I needed to hear.

The minister's message came from John 14:15-21.

If you love me, you will obey what I command. And I will ask the Father, and he will give you another Counselor to be with you forever—the Spirit of truth. The world cannot accept him, because it neither sees him nor knows him. But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you. Whoever has my commands and obeys them, he is the one who loves me. He who loves me will be loved by my Father, and I too will love him and show myself to him.

The minister then described a gentleman that he knew that was literally crippled by his constant state of fearfulness. He went on to explain that this particular gentleman was constantly going through the "what-ifs" in his head and used the phrase "paralysis by analysis" to describe it.

Boy, if the minister only knew the laundry list of worries in my head at that very moment!

You see, most of my worries revolve around the health, safety and well-being of my family. I am sometimes overwhelmed with worry and fear that something will happen to my children or my husband and it literally makes me ill. I think the Lord knew that I needed a strong companion in life, one that could put up with all my worrying, and one that could help me get through the especially tough moments of apprehension and distress. I am thankful that He so very carefully chose G for me!

The sermon was especially relevant as I seem to have been plagued with worries lately over a school trip that little G left on this morning. Here is a photo that I snapped as he was on his way out the door.

G's school organized a trip for the boys and girls to spend the week in the quiet rural village of St Issey on the North Cornwall coast. My only information about the trip came from the sketchy details that little G would relay to me from his teacher.

"Mom, we're going to rock climb over the ocean."

"Mom, we're going to ride our bikes to a different town."

"Mom, we're going to go kayaking. Do you think there will be any whales close to us?"

"Mom, do you think there will be a security alarm?"

Do you see what I am getting at here? Little G's mind seems to be working quite similarly to mine.

As a parent, it is truly painful to see things that you personally struggle with manifest in your children. How can we make sure we are only passing down those good, solid character traits, while holding on to those that are not so pretty?

I am afraid that I have passed down my tendency to over-analyze and worry to my beloved little G. I have even heard him say phrases that have come straight from my mouth.

"Mom, I'm not so sure about this."

"Mom, I don't think this is a good idea."

These moments have been truly humbling. They have revealed all sorts of areas that need work in my life. The Lord truly has a way of exposing you, doesn't He?

It has been through numerous conversations with little G about his trip this week that have taught us both about the strength of our faith and about the sovereignty of our Lord. With the outpouring of fear has come the realization that there will be one and only one way to make it through this week, trust and faith in the Lord our God. I have to admit that is was quite easy for me to tell little G that God will provide for him and give him the strength and courage he needs this week. It's entirely a different story to have to live by that myself as I am searching for those things, too!

I am comforted by those verses from Sunday.

But you know him, for he lives with you and will be in you. I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long, the world will not see me anymore, but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you.

Lord, please let us feel Your presence this week. Both little G and I are needing to know the comfort and peace that only You can provide. Help us to rely on You and You alone when our hearts are troubled and full of fears. Please place Your loving arms around both of us and give us courage, strength and security knowing that You are in control and that no amount of worrying can change that fact!