The Worry Monster

Kids have trouble sleeping. It’s just a fact of life. At some point in their lives, they will have trouble falling asleep, have nightmares that wake them up, or constantly get in bed with their parents. And if you have multiple kids, the struggle seems to last for years. Because as soon as one gets past it, another one starts to struggle. One of our kids is currently in one of those struggles, which means we are too. They are struggling to fall asleep at night. It’s not an every-night-problem, but it’s a consistent problem. We’ve tried everything. We’ve adjusted bedtimes and bedtime routines; more prayer and relaxation techniques. We’ve tried lights completely off and then small night lights. We’ve tried music on and music off. Nothing seems to work. If the struggle to find the solution wasn’t frustrating enough, the problem itself is more frustrating. The problem that keeps our child awake is the worry that they won’t be able to fall asleep. I don’t blame you if you have to read that sentence twice. The irony of it all is strong. The worry about not being able to do what their body actually wants to do (has to do) is keeping their body from doing what their body wants to do. So we can try the different techniques and solutions that we can think of to fix it, but they won’t work. I know that some of them are helpful, but they can’t solve the problem. The problem is actually in our child’s mind. I can only do so much to help them. It’s a decision that they have to make to let go of the worry and just allow their body to go to sleep.
As crazy and counterintuitive as our child’s problem seems, we have to admit that we all have the same struggle in different areas of our life. Our desire for control over our lives and over all of our circumstances only leads us to anxiety and worry. We are actually being counterproductive and making our problems worse. We’re trying to figure out and solve our own problems when the best thing we can do is let go of our sense of control and trust our lives to the Lord. He knows it all. He knows our circumstances and what we need. He even knows how things will work out and what our circumstances will produce in our lives. That’s His purpose in all of it: to bring Himself glory and to produce growth and faith in our lives.
I’m sure the second half of Matthew 6:25-34 is a familiar passage to all of us, but it’s a passage that I constantly have to return to personally. I encourage you read it for yourself, but make sure to start in verse 19. Before he ever talks about being anxious and worried about what we will wear or what we will eat, he wants us to consider what we value most. Do we value Him and His kingdom? Or ourselves and our own kingdom? Jesus says, do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth…but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven…For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also (v 19-21). It’s highly likely that if we are overly worried and concerned about the things of this world, then that means we value those things over God. But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you (v 33).  When we value Him most, then we will be less concerned about preserving or controlling the circumstances of our lives, and we will rest in His control over our lives.
Pray that the Spirit would examine the areas of your life that are full of worry and anxiety to reveal if you have placed too much value on those things. Lord, help us to value you most and to trust in you, knowing that you care for us and know what we need.

-Kendall Harris