For I, the Lord your God, will hold your right hand,
Saying to you, ‘Fear not, I will help you.’
Isaiah 41:13
When my third son was 2 years old, he always required my hand to hold on to when we rode in the car and as he went to sleep. He would be peaceful as long as he was holding at least one finger. He trusted me to keep him safe in the car or in the dark.
My son taught me a lesson – I should be so needful of God’s presence in my life as my son was of my presence and touch. I believe God gives us our children to train them in the way they should go, but He also gives us them to train us too. We need to find peace in holding Jesus hand just like our children find peace in holding on to us because they trust us.
Proverbs 3:5 tells us to trust in the Lord and Mark 10:15 says we must trust God as a little child trusts. The word ‘trust’ means ‘careless’. When you hear the word ‘careless’, we normally think about irresponsible behavior. But it also has a positive meaning. It means ‘to care less’.
My husband recently gave an excellent illustration concerning this—
When our kids were little, I would tell them that we were going on vacation. They would get giddy with excitement. Never once did they say, ‘how we going to pay for this?’; ‘where we going to stay?’; ‘is our car road worthy?’; ‘where are we going to eat?’; etc. etc. etc.
You see…our kids were ‘care less’. They didn’t think about any of that because they knew that their daddy was the ‘daddy of the details’. Oh, I was planning all of that. I was busy as a little bee working out all the plans. But not my kids! They were ‘care less’!!
We can live ‘care less’ too. We can’t stop the wars, civil unrest, or the storms, but we have been given the power to have peace within in the midst of this tumultuous world by holding onto Jesus, the Prince of Peace, through it all. But how do we do that? How do we take His peace? Here are some suggestions:
Talk to God about everything. Prayer is a way to stay connected to God. Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.” 1 Peter 5:7 tells us, “ Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you.”
Stay in God’s Word. Psalm 119:165 says, “There is lasting peace for those who love God’s teachings.” Search the scriptures and claim God’s promises of peace such as:
Psalm 29:11 The LORD gives strength to his people; the LORD blesses his people with peace.
Ps 85:8 I will listen to what God the LORD says; he promises peace to his people, his faithful servants. . .
Psalm 26:3 You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in you.
Listen to peaceful music. 1 Samuel 16:23 tells of how David brought a peaceful spirit to King Saul when he played music for him. Zephaniah 3:17 says God rejoices over us with singing– now that is a peaceful thought!!!! – Just think of God singing over you as you sing over your peaceful, sleeping baby.
Let’s make our children aware, that as they hold on to our hand, we are holding on to Jesus hand and trusting our Heavenly Father, the ‘Daddy of the details’. Then they will grow to trust God as they have trusted us. We can pray with them, read and memorize the Word together, and fill our homes with peaceful music. We and our children together can have “God’s peace, which is far beyond human understanding, and it will keep our hearts and minds safe in union with Christ Jesus.” (Philippians 4:7)
One of my favorite children’s songs about peace from when my children were young: