give the runny nose to God

Runny noses. The word just gives my anxiety.

As an anxious mom, runny noses trigger so much anxiety. Is it a cold? Is it allergies? Is it the weather? Is it the flu? Once the runny nose starts I'm constantly on edge looking for other symptoms.

My mind automatically goes to the worst possible outcome. Which just makes my anxiety even worse.

My mind tells me that if I stay anxious I can have more control over the situation and the outcome. I hate that my mind works that way. I hate that I always feel the need to be in control. It's stressful. It's overwhelming. But as a single mom we feel like we have to be in control. If not, who will be?

When my anxiety and my need for control starts to fill my mind, that's when God steps in. It's like I can hear God saying, "Just breathe. Remember that I am in control. I love your child more than you do. I will watch over them. I will protect them and heal them. Give your worries and anxiety to me. You be the loving mom that I made you to be. Let me do the rest."

My grip loosens. My body relaxes. My anxious thoughts stop. I'm suddenly overwhelmed by God's peace and love.

We have no control. We live in a broken world and unfortunately that means our babies will get sick. No matter how much germ-x we use or how many times we wash our hands, we still can't control sickness. And that's hard for us to accept as mommas. Seeing our child in pain and not being able to take it away is heartbreaking.

BUT, we can have peace. Because we have a God that loves our babies, with a love that vastly outweighs our love for them. I don't know about you, but that is such a comfort for me.

When I give the control back to God, which is His role; I can then start focusing on being a mom, which is the role He gave me.

Giving that control to God won't be easy. I catch myself all the time trying to take back control. But God so graciously will remind me that the control is not mine.

So don't think you're failing when you take back the control. You're not failing. You're human. Just give the control back to God, and ask Him to help you leave it there. And you do that how every many times you need to until you feel God's peace.

"Give all your worries and cares to God, for He cares about you." 1 Peter 5:7, NLT

"I have told you all this so that you may have peace in me. Here on earth you will have many trials and sorrows. But take heart; I have overcome the world." John 16:33, NLT