Trust

Our little ones come into this world completely dependent on us. We want so badly to protect them, but inevitably they get the diaper rash, the tummy pain, and the first cold. It’s hard work being a baby, but it may be even harder for the moms who watch them struggle. 

When my baby was four days old, he was jaundiced and needed phototherapy. He had to lay in a UV light “suitcase” from Friday evening until Sunday midday. The only time we could take him out or hold him was to feed him and change his diaper. I hated it. I knew the treatment was necessary for him to get better, but it broke my heart that I couldn’t protect him from it all. I felt so powerless. Thankfully, the weekend eventually came to an end and the treatment worked. 

Those difficult days helped me realize the key to surviving parenthood is to trust God. He is my baby’s true protector. While I have an important role to play, my abilities are limited where His are not. And as much as I love my little man, God loves him even more. I can trust that my baby is safe in His hands. 

Choosing to trust God with our children isn’t easy. We may intellectually know that God is trustworthy but still find it difficult to surrender our doubts and fears to Him. However, with practice, we can learn to loosen our grip and drop the weight of our worries at the foot of the cross. 

The book of Isaiah promises God will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in Him. When we choose to trust God with our children, He will replace our anxious thoughts with His peace. It’s something we’ll have to do over and over again, for our child’s entire life. The earlier we master this exchange, the sooner we can learn to live in the freedom God has for us as moms.