When My Child's Heart is Anxious

In Mark 12:28–34, when asked "Which commandment is the most important of all?" Jesus answered, "...you shall love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind and with all your strength. The second is this: You shall love your neighbor as yourself." Most of us would consider these two commandments to be the core of our Christian lifestyle.

I believe, falling closely behind "love your God" and "love your neighbor," could be a third commandment—"don't worry.” We certainly find an emphasis on not worrying in Matthew 6:25 and Luke 12:22, and Philippians 4:6.

"Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat or what you will drink, nor about your body, what you will put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?" Matthew 6:25

​"And He said to His disciples, 'Therefore I tell you, do not be anxious about your life, what you will eat, nor about your body, what you will put on." Luke 12:22

​"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God." Philippians 4:6

Could Jesus be commanding us not to worry?
I think He could. Certainly it's not a formal command, like the Ten Commandments found in Exodus and repeated in Deuteronomy. However, all throughout Scripture (not just the passages mentioned) we see God taking care of His children so that they would have nothing to fear, worry, or be anxious about. Think about how He took care of the Israelites following their exodus from Egypt. He will take care of us too. We need only to trust Him.

It's easy, even for the most upbeat and optimistic of us, to be a little (or a lot) worried and anxious in times like this. But what about our children, do they worry? Are they anxious? What does anxiety even look like in a child?

One of ours was very anxious as a child, but I did not recognize it. This child did things different than the other three. For one, they walked in their sleep. Thing three would occasionally wander into our bedroom at night, trembling and sweating, babbling nonsense that was not understandable. I look back now and realize this child was struggling with anxiety. ​

Isn't it funny how we can raise four children in the same environment, birthed by the same parents, and yet they turn out so very differently? This child, that struggled with anxiety, has gone on into their adult life struggling there as well. However, by God's grace, they have handled it well and continue to thrive. The struggle with anxiety even changed the course of their career, but still in this we can see God's gracious hand.

Today, I want to share with you some wonderful resources that will help you and your children worry less, be less anxious and trust God more.

Back in March, we began a series of post about 3 small books that included A Small Book for the Anxious Heart, A Small Book for the Hurting Heart, and A Small Book About a Big Problem.

​A Small Book for the Anxious Heart is my favorite of the three. It's just the right size to leave on the nightstands in the guest bedrooms of our home. Let's be honest here, everybody's heart gets a little anxious now and then. Even the most chill of us can experience anxiety when we're out of our element.

​Fear and anxiety are chronic struggles for many, and they are only intensifying and increasing. Best-selling author Edward T. Welch shares the comfort and peace of Jesus in fifty brief readings for those of us who wrestle with fear and anxiety.

A Small Book for the Anxious Heart is a powerful devotional that reminds us of the encouraging, beautiful words in Scripture written to anxious people.

While many books on fear and anxiety exist—promising to help us manage our struggles with methods and formulas—this devotional reaches deeper into Scripture, making the Word of God more accessible. Don’t put a Band-Aid on your fear and anxiety; rather, learn to bring your fear to Jesus, relying on His Word.

Welch has been counseling for over thirty-eight years and is the author of more than a dozen books, including A Small Book about a Big Problem, Running Scared: Fear, Worry and the God of Rest, Shame Interrupted, When People Are Big and God Is Small, and many others.

Jesus cares for us, and in these readings, Welch invites readers to trust God for today, knowing He goes before us always.

​Read a sample of A Small Book for the Anxious Heart here.

​The Moon Is Always Round
​Even young children want answers to the hard questions about God and suffering. 

In The Moon Is Always Round, seminary professor and author Jonathan Gibson uses the vivid imagery of the moon to explain to children how God’s goodness is always present, even when it might appear to be obscured by upsetting or difficult circumstances. ​​

In this beautiful, full-color, illustrated book, Gibson allows readers to eavesdrop on the conversations he had with his young son in response to his sister’s death. Father and son share a simple liturgy together that reminds us that, just as the moon is always round despite its different phases, so also the goodness of God is always present throughout the different phases of life. 

A section in the back of the book offers further biblical help for parents and caregivers in explaining God’s goodness to children. This book reminds children of all ages that God’s goodness is present in the most difficult of times, even if we can’t always see it.

​Zoe's Hiding Place: When You Are Anxious 
​This beautifully illustrated book invites children to remember that God is near, even when they are anxious. Zoe, a fearful mouse, is worried about a class trip. As she talks with her parents, Zoe realizes that she can turn to God for help. Papa Mouse gives her a verse from the Bible that she can read when she is afraid. She learns that she can tell God all about her fears, and He will comfort her. Also included is a tear-out page of Back Pocket Bible Verses that will give children a practical way to remember God's Words when they are afraid.

This new series of hardback, illustrated children's books, specifically for three to eight-year-olds, are each centered on an animal family and brings Gospel truths and biblical counsel to families in need of spiritual assistance. The animal characters, colorful illustrations, and the real-life issues each animal family faces will captivate children. The first three books address anxiety, anger, and failure by bringing biblical help and hope to issues every child faces. The last page of each book contains information for parents on how God, in His Word, helps children apply biblical truth to specific issues. Together children and parents will be guided by the stories into meaningful conversations about living by faith in the details of everyday life.

This book is from the Good News for Little Hearts Series. Here are three other books in this series that we love!

Tori Comes Out of Her Shell:
When You Are Lonely

Henry Says Good-bye:
​When You Are Sad 

Jax's Tail Twitches:
​When You Are Angry 

Promises in the Dark
​This book, by Dr. Eric McLaughlin, strengthens the hearts of readers to persevere in God’s calling to walk with those in need. As a missionary doctor in Africa, McLaughlin knows how walking closely with those who suffer. He also knows that bearing others’ burdens can easily lead to burnout or cynicism—unless we find the path to perseverance that God provides.

This resource explores how to find both calling and hope, living in the tension between a difficult present and God’s promises of renewal. You'll also learn how to cope with despair and futility, the importance of a suffering God for those who suffer, and how the manifestations of God bring life into this dying world.

McLaughlin explores endurance, in this yet-to-be-redeemed world as ours which is full of tragedy and heartache, pointing us to God’s promises.

Mindscape: What to Think About Instead of Worrying
No Worries? We lob that phrase at others yet lie awake at night ourselves. Each day, we struggle to pull our thoughts away from our worries, fears, frustrations, and anxiety. When we get stuck, it's not exactly easy to fixate on whatever is true, honorable, just, pure, lovely and commendable. We are profoundly aware that our worries have negative consequences for our bodies, minds, and relationships. However, like most real people with real problems, our thoughts keep swirling around the same old issues. 

Mindscape builds a practical action plan for changing your mental landscape and your life based on Paul's rich exhortation in Philippians 4:8.

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things." Philippians 4:8

Author Tim Witmer draws from 30 years of experience in helping worried people apply Scripture to their lives to present a clear, biblical, and deeply pastoral guide to replacing worry with a new way of thinking.

This is not a self-help book, it's a real-world guide to the transformation that Jesus works in us as we go to Him in faith and ask for His power to change, to listen, and to think differently. 

Chapter-by-chapter application questions make Mindscape perfect for personal reflection or small group use.

Build a biblical, practical action plan for filling your mind with new thoughts based on Paul's rexhortation in Philippians 4:8 Simple, clear, and pastoral guidance: Mindscape is the overflow of a pastor's 30 years of helping worried people apply Scripture to their lives.

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What are your favorite books and resources for anxiety, either in adults or children?