A Mom’s Guide: Navigating a Scary World With Faith

Do you parent from a place of worry or faith? Like a lot of you mommas, I have to be brave every day, sending my children into an uncertain world. Following God’s lead, relying upon His Word and teaching my children how to do the same is what helps us parent in faith and not fear.

As parents, we need to evaluate: Have I let fear saturate my parenting? Do my children see me as fearing God or fearing the world?

If we are so fixated on what could happen in the horrors of this world, how can we be “seeking first the Kingdom” (Matthew 6:33, NIV)?

If we are not careful, we can make an idol out of “what if” instead of trusting “I am.”

What Does God Say About the Darkness?

Before we banish our kids to a protective bunker, let us see what Scripture has to say on the matter. Thankfully, it’s a lot!

First, God knew we would be living in a scary world.

That is precisely why He warned Adam and Eve against eating the fruit (Genesis 3), to protect them from the “knowledge of good and evil.”

Second, we are admonished and encouraged throughout Scripture to: “not be afraid” and to “take courage.”

An Example of Courage

For a biblical account of taking courage, we can look to Exodus. God sent out twelve men from each tribe to spy on the Promised Land He had “already given” them. He continuously reminded them, “Do not be afraid,” and “I am the Lord your God, who brought you out of Egypt, out of the land of slavery” (Exodus 20:2).

Let us be parents who are like Joshua and Caleb, who trust the Lord’s promise despite how frightening the landscape around us appears. We can trust God over what the majority is saying around us.

The Bible gives us a practical tip here: Remembering what God has done.

Moms, our strength comes from the Lord and what He has done and will do. To access this strength, pray and remember all the times God has been faithful in your life and the lives of those around you.

When I get afraid of what my children might face in the world, I recall John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

That is Jesus telling His disciples He has already overcome whatever the world has in store.

Christians Have the Best Tool, the Best Armor, and a Mission

Let’s look at what we are working with as believers.

1. Our Flashlight

The world is dark, but we have a flashlight—God’s Word, the Bible! In it, we see this enlightening truth: “Your word is a lamp for my feet, a light on my path” (Psalm 119:105).

For all that is holy, parents, TEACH YOUR CHILDREN THE WORD OF GOD! Light their path with Scripture that will help them stand firm, be strong, trust in the Lord and thwart attacks of Satan. Jesus used Scripture to battle temptation, and we must give our children this ability.

We would not send our kids into a cave without a light. Let’s send them into the dark world with the light of Scripture and Jesus.

How do we teach our children scripture?

1. We read and study it for ourselves, so we know what it says.
2. At the same time, we read it either with our kids or have them read it for themselves.
3. We use every moment we can to teach them about the Word.

Practical Tip: Create a Doctrine Binder. (I got this idea from  SimplyCharlotteMason.com).

I like to have older children create a doctrine binder with sections on important pieces of our faith: God, Jesus, Holy Spirit, Bible, Church, Sin, Man, Salvation, Prayer, Heaven, etc.

When you come across scripture that talks about one of those topics, you write the verse in that section. This provides scripture-based belief for key doctrinal points.

2. The Armor

We have a saying in our home, “We are not scared, we are prepared.” Prepare your children, and yourself, by putting on the “armor of God” found in Ephesians 6.

• The belt of truth
• Breastplate of righteousness
• Feet fitted with the readiness that comes from the gospel of peace
• Shield of faith
• Helmet of salvation
• Sword of the Spirit, which is the Word of God

We put on the armor by reading and heeding what God’s Word says. It is so important to impress upon your children that knowing God’s promises and His faithfulness through His Word protects us.

3. Our Mission

God has places for our kids to go! Jesus gave us all a mission by telling us, “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit” (Matthew 28:19).

Perhaps our kids will come across a neighbor or friend who has never read the Bible or been to church. God arranges friendships that have the opportunity for witnessing.

If we are too afraid to let them be out in the world, then the mission gets halted.

It is Time to Throw Out Fear

If Jesus is the “bread of life,” then fear is a mold that spreads and breeds more fear. It spoils our parental joy. We are supposed to be joyful as parents, resting in the Lord, not sick and striving with worry.

When our children see us trusting God instead of worrying about the world, it instills faith that God is trustworthy.

How Do We Trust and Show Trust in the Lord?

1. By believing what God says in His Word, this gives us hope! Hope is much stronger than fear. “So that through perseverance, and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
2. We can ask the Holy Spirit for wisdom and guidance on how to proceed.
3. We bring our trust-based decisions to our children’s attention. “I made this choice to not worry about it because I’ve seen God work in my life.”
4. We let our kids see us praying first to God about whatever fear or circumstance has arisen.

If my child has a big appointment, tournament, or assignment that is particularly tough, we pray together over it as a family. Always. Doing this instills in them the future action of praying first in their lives.

The Most Important Truth God Says About Our World

God has provided a way out of the darkness for ALL time—His Son, Jesus Christ. When it is too dark of a day, remember the Light of all Creation!

If you and your children are believers, then they have the Holy Spirit to guide them and bring to remembrance His Word, which is “a lamp unto my feet and a light unto my path!” (Psalm 119:105).

Only through belief in Jesus Christ and His sacrifice do we have victory over sin and death!

“Where, O death, is your victory?

      Where, O death, is your sting?”

The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law. But thanks be to God! He gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.” (1 Cor. 15:55-57)