Mental and Physical Health
Anxiety, depression, and worry are common struggles to many adults, and this is not an exception for those who are parents. While many try to “make it through” these emotional storms, Proverbs 11:14 offers a different perspective. It says, “In the multitude of counselors, there is safety.”
For parents, Christian counseling can be a lighthouse amidst the storms of life, one that offers truth, grace, and the healing hope of Jesus.
Understanding the Storm
Worry and fear are things that our brains use to alert us to danger. God designed these internal alarms as a survival system, but prolonged activation of this system can lead to chronic anxiety and depression.
When we experience anxiety, we are experiencing persistent worry, and when we experience depression, we are experiencing ongoing sadness. God provides two helpful verses in Scripture that we can reflect on when we are experiencing these storms. For anxiety, we can reflect on Matthew 6:34 which says, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” And when we experience depression, we can reflect on Psalm 34:18 which says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
While there are times of acute, or short-term, worry and sadness, when you notice symptoms lasting more than two-weeks, it is time to seek additional help. Symptoms to watch for include sadness, irritability, withdrawal, outbursts, headaches, fatigue, doubt, or isolation.
Responding to the Storm
When we experience one of these storms, we must remember that they are human emotions that require acknowledgement and action, not shame and isolation. When we acknowledge our storm and choose to respond to it in a prayerful and healthy way, we can shift from panic to peace.
Jesus acknowledged the fear He felt regarding His crucifixion in Luke 22:42. As He prayed on the night before His arrest, He surrendered His feelings of worry to God and said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Overcoming the Storm
Utilizing the tools God has provided for you can help you overcome your storm in a way that serves as a testimony to His goodness. Two of the most powerful tools are prayer and therapy. Prayer fosters surrender while therapy equips us with self-awareness. Together, they form spiritual resilience.
When combined, we find connection to God and to others who can help walk with us through our storm, as well as accountability and practical pathways that will transform us from the inside out to the glory of God. God wants us to be whole, emotionally and spiritually.
In order to parent our children from a place of wholeness, we must give adequate attention to maintaining our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. As you go through the rest of your week, ask yourself the following question: What is one change I can make this week to be more emotionally and spiritually healthy?
Parenting Through Anxiety, Depression, and Worry
Anxiety, depression, and worry are common struggles for parents, but Scripture reminds us that seeking help brings safety and hope. God designed these emotions as alerts, yet when they persist, prayer, biblical truth, and Christian counseling can guide parents from panic to peace. By combining surrender through prayer with the support and insight of therapy, parents can pursue emotional and spiritual wholeness that strengthens both their lives and their families.
For parents, Christian counseling can be a lighthouse amidst the storms of life, one that offers truth, grace, and the healing hope of Jesus.
Understanding the Storm
Worry and fear are things that our brains use to alert us to danger. God designed these internal alarms as a survival system, but prolonged activation of this system can lead to chronic anxiety and depression.
When we experience anxiety, we are experiencing persistent worry, and when we experience depression, we are experiencing ongoing sadness. God provides two helpful verses in Scripture that we can reflect on when we are experiencing these storms. For anxiety, we can reflect on Matthew 6:34 which says, “Therefore, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself.” And when we experience depression, we can reflect on Psalm 34:18 which says, “The Lord is close to the brokenhearted and saves those who are crushed in spirit.”
While there are times of acute, or short-term, worry and sadness, when you notice symptoms lasting more than two-weeks, it is time to seek additional help. Symptoms to watch for include sadness, irritability, withdrawal, outbursts, headaches, fatigue, doubt, or isolation.
Responding to the Storm
When we experience one of these storms, we must remember that they are human emotions that require acknowledgement and action, not shame and isolation. When we acknowledge our storm and choose to respond to it in a prayerful and healthy way, we can shift from panic to peace.
Jesus acknowledged the fear He felt regarding His crucifixion in Luke 22:42. As He prayed on the night before His arrest, He surrendered His feelings of worry to God and said, “Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.”
Overcoming the Storm
Utilizing the tools God has provided for you can help you overcome your storm in a way that serves as a testimony to His goodness. Two of the most powerful tools are prayer and therapy. Prayer fosters surrender while therapy equips us with self-awareness. Together, they form spiritual resilience.
When combined, we find connection to God and to others who can help walk with us through our storm, as well as accountability and practical pathways that will transform us from the inside out to the glory of God. God wants us to be whole, emotionally and spiritually.
In order to parent our children from a place of wholeness, we must give adequate attention to maintaining our mental, emotional, and spiritual health. As you go through the rest of your week, ask yourself the following question: What is one change I can make this week to be more emotionally and spiritually healthy?
