Parents and Stress 5

All this week we’ve been looking at some strategies for reducing the stress you may be feeling as a parent. This comes in response to the recent Surgeon General’s advisory on Parents Under Pressure, and the fact that forty-one percent of parents say that they are so stressed they cannot function. My suggestion for you today is this: develop habits and rhythms of running to God and His Word. Do you realize that God is your faithful protector? We know that there are many challenges and problems facing our kids today, and these do cause us stress and anxiety. But Jesus tells us in Matthew 28 that he is always with us. In Hebrews 13 we read that God will never leave us. In I Peter five seven we are told to “cast all your anxieties on him, because he cares for you.” The Psalmist says, “When I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” Counselor Ed Welch reminds us that our stressors and fears tell us that we are alone. But faith says “I am with you.” Trust in the Lord, and teach your kids to do the same.