Questions and Answers

How can I deal with anxiety and worry as a wife and Mom?

Self-care is important in these roles as women, as we affect so much being centerstage in the home. Some verses that can help as we dwell on them, thinking how they relate:

Confidence: In Romans 8:31-39, we see that God has provided the doctrinal teaching in Romans 1-8:30 to acquire this total confidence in God, which enables us to endure any suffering: “What shall we say then to these things? If God be for us, who can be against us?” (vs. 31)

Peace of God: We are able to attain unto the peace of God in order to keep our hearts and minds secure and protected, as we put all things to prayer, not exalting the problems of this world: Phil.4:7: “And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.”

God of Peace: We have a unique journey while we live in this world, with opportunities to walk by faith and exalt His Word in our mind. When we dwell on verses and think about how they can be applied in our life, and then do them, “the God of peace shall be with you.”

A Thankful List: Choose each day to add to an ongoing list of all the things you know in verses, for which you can be thankful: A few examples of spiritual things to be thankful for in order to start:

Always Victorious: “But thanks be to God, which giveth us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (I Cor. 15:57)

Always Triumphant: “Now thanks be unto God, which always causeth us to triumph in Christ, and maketh manifest the savour of his knowledge by us in every place.” (II Cor. 2:14)

Use this list as a starting point and add to it daily, reviewing what is written to remind you of all you have been freely given. It is so easy to always focus on the problems or circumstances. However, as we gain the mind of Christ, our focus is taken off of self and the challenges and sufferings, and we see the manifold wisdom of God to use the difficulties for glory: “For I reckon that the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which shall be revealed in us.” (Romans 8:18)

2. How can we “take pleasure” in challenges we go through?

This seems to be an outrageous thought! Yet II Corinthians 12 instructs this very thing by our Apostle Paul, who is our pattern. Even in great sufferings he experienced taking pleasure in his life on Christ’s behalf. Understanding how to rejoice in sufferings didn’t come quickly for me, as it was hard to wrap my head around taking pleasure in hardships. Once I realized it was not to enjoy pain or hurt, but it is the process God uses to conform us to Christ, I could see how it produced spiritual edification and experience in me as I went through challenges.

As I go through difficulty, God takes the Word deposited in my inner man to enable and empower me to trust and depend on doctrine in me for my strength and wisdom. It’s Christ’s power, working and helping me to see as He sees; Christ’s mind. God can work even the sufferings for my good, (Rom. 8:28) teaching me to rely on Christ, not what I see, feel, or my fleshly efforts. Then the power of Christ can rest upon me.

A dear friend relayed this in her Facebook post:

I knew someone who used to say, “for Christ’s sake,” but only out of frustration or anger. She didn’t think about what it meant. We as believers are to take pleasure in these things for him who has given so much for us. “For Christ’s sake.”

II Corinthians 12:9-10: “And he said unto me, My grace is sufficient for thee: for my strength is made perfect in weakness. Most gladly therefore will I rather glory in my infirmities, that the power of Christ may rest upon me. Therefore I take pleasure in infirmities, in reproaches, in necessities, in persecutions, in distresses for Christ’s sake: for when I am weak, then am I strong.”