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How To Teach Your Kids to Pray When You Have No Clue

Reading Time: 5 min 17 sec

Every Sunday she stared out the window with longing as she watched her next-door neighbors leave all dressed up in their Sunday best for church. She longed for the love, peace, laughter, and stability that the family exuded. And she promised herself that one day when she had a family of her own she would do the same.

Years later, all grown up with three kids of her own, she desperately wonders how to teach her kids to pray when she isn’t comfortable with the practice of praying, herself. She has this vision of three clean little children, all kneeling to pray, but reality overwhelms her like an ice-cold bucket of water.

Her kids are rolling all over the couch, laughing and irritating each other, and prayer seems to have quickly spiraled into a gross-out contest. After several attempts at praying, which resulted in several children being sent to their room for misbehavior, she is left feeling like a failure.

Here are three steps that you can do today with your kids that that don’t require a seminary degree:

1. Kids Pray: Journey Together

2. Kids Pray: Simply

3. Kids Pray: And Respond

1. Kids Pray: Journey Together

In our society, we have been taught to believe that as parents, we have to have all the answers.

Our child’s spiritual journey can sometimes feel like we are driving on a busy highway, desperately trying to interpret the Holy Spirit’s directions while our child is sprawled out on the backseat.

Talk about pressure! However, God created children not as people that need to be filled up with facts, but as spiritual beings.

Catherine Stonehouse in her book, Listening to Children On The Spiritual Journey says this, “Often adults have assumed that they could give children their understanding of God by just telling them what God is like… We cannot literally transmit to them what we know. As they are ready, children construct or form their understandings for themselves, with the gracious presence, encouragement, and guidance of God’s Spirit.”

The Holy Spirit does the heavy lifting! Yay! Right now, he is inviting your child into a deeper relationship with Jesus. Our role, as parents, is in accompanying our children on their spiritual journeys. We do that by helping our kids recognize and respond to the work of the Holy Spirit in their lives.

One of the most powerful tools at our disposal is our own relationship with Jesus. As you grow in your walk with God, that passion and love for Jesus naturally flow out into every aspect of your life. When your children experience the power of your own authentic relationship with God the longings of their hearts are stirred.

Pat Lynch, in Awakening the Giant, says it this way: “Notice that not once did Jesus make his disciples pray. He just kept on praying until they could contain their hunger no longer and asked Him to teach them how to pray.”

You don’t have to have all the answers or get it “right” when it comes to teaching your kids how to pray. Your role is to help your child look out the window and notice all the amazing landmarks along the way.

2. Kids Pray: Simply

So how do we partner with what the Holy Spirit is doing in the lives of our children? One way is by offering different tools or resources for their journey. Prayer is simply talking with God. Over time, prayer becomes a way of life, a way of being present to God 24/7.

Jesus walks us through how to pray in Matthew 6:6-13 as he says these powerful words.

“Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role-play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”

-Jesus encourages us to find a place where we are free of distractions, where we can be vulnerable, honest, and quiet before God.

“The world is full of so-called prayer warriors who are prayer-ignorant. They’re full of formulas and programs and advice, peddling techniques for getting what you want from God. Don’t fall for that nonsense.”

-He shares with us that God doesn’t play games. That we don’t need to teach our children special language, a specific tone of voice, or posture to be seen as holy or to somehow trick God into answering our prayers.

“This is your Father you are dealing with, and he knows better than you what you need. With a God like this loving you, you can pray very simply. Like this:”

-Jesus also reminds us that our prayers are received on a foundation that is based on a love relationship with God.

“Our Father in heaven, Reveal who you are. Set the world right; Do what’s best—as above, so below. Keep us alive with three square meals. Keep us forgiven with you and forgiving others.Keep us safe from ourselves and the Devil. You’re in charge! You can do anything you want! You’re ablaze in beauty! Yes. Yes. Yes.”

-Jesus models simply talking with God about your needs, asking for forgiveness, praying for protection, and praising him.

The Lord’s Prayer or Psalm 23 are wonderful tools to teach our kids how to pray. Simply. No flowery language or long prayers needed.

3. Kids Pray: And Respond

When we teach our kids to pray, the most amazing gift that we can give our kids is the gift of space. I tell my kids that we are creating “elbow room for the Holy Spirit”. We can get so focused on making sure we include prayer in our everyday lives that we forget that prayer is an active, not passive activity.

Silence at the end (or throughout) prayer forces us to slow down, even for a couple of seconds and to listen and respond to God’s voice. We are reminded that prayer is a conversation between us and God, not an endless monologue.

Silence has been a powerful tool in my own life, and in the lives of my children and the students, I have worked with over the years. The very act of slowing down long enough to hear God’s voice can be used so powerfully by the Holy Spirit. It reminds your child that we serve a talking God, who is very present in our lives. It also encourages children, by helping them move from acquiring more head knowledge about God to an actual experience of God.

So practically, what does this look like? Here are just some of the ideas to teach your kids how to pray:

Start off by focusing on your own relationship with God. Your desire for Jesus sparks a hunger for him in the lives of your children.

Read and wonder together about the Lord’s prayer or Psalm 23. Use it as your family prayer for a week or more.

Practice the habit of prayer by praying for skinned knees, fights, delightful or beautiful moments, hurt feelings, nightmares, or fears. Focus on including him all throughout the day. These don’t have to be long prayers (we are talking 30 seconds).

At the end of family prayers, start by incorporating 30 seconds of silence. Let your children know what to expect before you pray. For instance, “We are going to spend some time in prayer. Prayer is a conversation between you and God. At the end of your prayer, we are going to be quiet for a little bit and practice listening to God’s voice. I will make sure to close in prayer when the time is up.”

I will leave you with this, as parents, “We are responding to the child’s silent request: ‘Help me come closer to God by myself.” Sofia Cavalletti, Christian Educator

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to teaching your kids to pray? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

30 Powerful Bible Verses That Destroy Toxic Anxiety

Reading Time: 5 min 3 sec

Have you ever been in a situation where you desperately needed to hear bible verses on anxiety? I remember sitting listening to the doctors, my mind racing with the implications of their words. My head felt stuffy like everything was in slow motion, and I found it hard to concentrate.

“Wait, what?” I asked.

“There is an infection that is spreading throughout his body. We need to hospitalize him for the next several days as we try and figure out how to fight it.”

The words infection and hospital stood out like blaring sirens; my anxiety skyrocketing as I imagined all the worst-case scenarios in the blink of an eye.

Where is God when your feelings of helplessness and fear grow out of control? Anxiety is an ugly master. And Satan loves to use its grasping stranglehold to cripple us.

We live in a world filled with uncertainty, pain, violence, and disease. So how do we fight the lies of the enemy? We combat fear with truth. Check out this article for how to handle the pain in your life.

Mother Teresa who was faced each day with the utter pain and desperation of humanity, said this about anxiety,

“The future is not in our hands. We have no power over it. We can act only today. We have a sentence in our Constitution that says: ‘We will allow the good God to make plans for the future – for yesterday has gone, tomorrow has not yet come and we have only today to make Him known, loved and served.‘ So, we do not worry about the future.”

If you desire to walk in freedom, to live a life of peace, despite the latest headline, you need to hide God’s words in your heart.

Psalm 119:9-11 says, “How can a young person stay on the path of purity? By living according to your word. I seek you with all my heart; do not let me stray from your commands. I have hidden your word in my heart, that I might not sin against you.”

Memorizing and meditating on scripture is not just a good idea or something Christians should do; it is mission-critical to destroying the lies of Satan in your life.

Here is a list of thirty powerful bible verses that will help you destroy toxic anxiety and allow you to live with peace.

I have also created beautiful cards that you can print and post around your home with these verses.

1. Anxiety Bible Verses Exercise

2. 30 Anxiety Bible Verses

3. Anxiety Bible Verses Download

1. Anxiety Bible Verses Prayer Exercise:

As you read through these verses, I would challenge you to read slowly and reflectively, inviting God to speak to you through his word.

1. Pray and invite God to speak to you through the verses below.

2. Read through the verses slowly and notice any phrase or quote that jumps out at you.

3. Bring that phrase or verse to the Lord in prayer. Ask him to speak to you through those words.

4. Read through the phrase or verse again slowly. Then sit in silence allowing elbow room for the Holy Spirit to speak to you. If this is your first time sitting in silence I would highly recommend setting a timer for two-three minutes. It keeps you from constantly checking the time. 🙂

5. Close your time in prayer by thanking God for his presence.

6. Journal any thoughts, feelings or impressions you experienced during this exercise.

Check out this article for how to spend time with God when you feel awkward.

2. 30 Anxiety Bible Verses

These are great verses to remind yourself of God’s desire that you walk in freedom. He wants to carry your worry and surround you with His peace, love, and wisdom that surpasses all understanding.

Philippians 4:6, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”

Matthew 6:25, “If you decide for God, living a life of God-worship, it follows that you don’t fuss about what’s on the table at mealtimes or whether the clothes in your closet are in fashion. There is far more to your life than the food you put in your stomach, more to your outer appearance than the clothes you hang on your body.”

Matthew 6:31-32, “So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them.”

Matthew 6:34, “Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own.”

Psalm 94:19, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Proverbs 3:5-6, “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight.”

Psalm 9:10, “Those who know your name trust in you, for you, Lord, have never forsaken those who seek you.”

Psalm 28:7, “The Lord is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me. My heart leaps for joy, and with my song I praise him.”

Psalm 56:3-4, “When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise—in God, I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?”

Psalm 62:8, “Trust in him at all times, you people; pour out your hearts to him, for God is our refuge.”

Psalm 143:8, “Let the morning bring me word of your unfailing love, for I have put my trust in you. Show me the way I should go, for to you I entrust my life.”

Psalm 112:7, “They will have no fear of bad news; their hearts are steadfast, trusting in the Lord.”

Psalm 118:8-9, “It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in humans. It is better to take refuge in the Lord than to trust in princes.”

Isaiah 26:4, “Trust in the Lord forever, for the Lord, the Lord himself, is the Rock eternal.”

Nahum 1:7, “The Lord is good, a refuge in times of trouble. He cares for those who trust in him”

Romans 15:13, “May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.”

John 16:33, “I have told you these things, so that in me you may have peace. In this world, you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world.”

John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.”

Psalm 4:8, “In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, Lord, make me dwell in safety.”

Psalm 36:7, “How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings.”

Psalm 5:11, “But let all who take refuge in you be glad; let them ever sing for joy. Spread your protection over them, that those who love your name may rejoice in you.”

Psalm 20:7, “Some trust in chariots and some in horses, but we trust in the name of the Lord our God.”

Matthew 6:27, “Can anyone of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?”

Matthew 6:28, “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin.”

Psalm 94:19, “When anxiety was great within me, your consolation brought me joy.”

Isaiah 41:10, “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to fighting fear? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

How To Combat Fear When The World Is In Crisis

Reading Time: 6 min 17 sec

How do you combat fear when you are in living in a state of crisis? Are you tired of the news playing havoc with your emotions? Does each press conference, or latest update feel like a stranglehold on your desire for security? Are you desperately searching for a safe haven in the midst of a storm?

At the time of this writing, COVID-19 is assaulting the world. We are daily hearing stories of toilet paper skirmishes, mask shortages, and how hoarding has become the norm. The mainstream media continue to stir the pot of fear each trying to outdo each other with elaborate headlines.

We wrestle with the idea (turned reality) that in our age of advanced technology, and strong healthcare systems, a pandemic can have such an effect on our lives. We subconsciously believe that we are too evolved for viruses that we can’t control.

But pandemics, wars, natural disasters, widespread poverty, and pain are not a new phenomenon. These life-altering events have been affecting humans since the beginning of time. We fight against it because it forces us to come face to face with our own helplessness, our own vulnerability, our innate humanness.

We are not God, and that is never more apparent than in a time of crisis. You wonder is it even possible to live with peace when fear is the common currency? We are going to be talking about three practical ways to combat fear:

1. Fight Fear: Recount His Faithfulness

2. Fight Fear: Praise God When The Sky Is Falling

3. Fight Fear: Practical Tips To Turn Your Eyes Toward Jesus

1. Fight Fear: Recount His Faithfulness

The Israelites from the Bible were very familiar with overwhelming odds and near-death situations. After escaping Egypt, the Israelites were caught between the Red Sea in front of them and Pharaoh’s army pursuing them from behind.

I can’t imagine how terrifying and helpless it would feel to see a huge army, including 600 hundred of Pharaoh’s fastest chariots hurtling towards you, as you are stuck on the banks of the Red Sea with no way to get across.

The Israelites responded to the crisis in the typical human fashion, “They said to Moses,“Was it because there were no graves in Egypt that you brought us to the desert to die? What have you done to us by bringing us out of Egypt? Didn’t we say to you in Egypt, ‘Leave us alone; let us serve the Egyptians’? It would have been better for us to serve the Egyptians than to die in the desert!” Exodus 14:11-12

When faced with overwhelming odds, instead of looking too God, they started planning their own funerals. They forgot that they served a God who had just unleashed his mighty power through plagues, rescued them from Pharaoh, provided a pillar of cloud to guide them by day, and a pillar of fire to guide them by night.

So, what do we do, when we feel like the world is closing in around us and there is no way out? We need to learn from the Israelites and remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness. Nothing that is or will ever happen is a surprise to God. He is not scrambling to try and figure out a solution to the issues at hand. When we are tempted to panic, we need to stop and remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness to us. So, let’s get practical, shall we?

Recounting God’s Faithfulness Prayer Exercise:

a. Grab a piece of paper, or journal and a pen. Find a quiet place and get comfortable.

b. Optional -Light a candle as a visual reminder that God is with you right now.

c. Close your eyes and invite God into this time of prayer. Spend a couple of minutes in silence just spending time with God.

*If this new to you, set a timer for 2-3 minutes, so you are not constantly checking your watch wondering if it broke. 🙂

d. Ask God to remind you of his faithfulness in your life. Record those events by writing down any time, large or small, that God has shown up.

Option 2: If you are finding this is difficult, or you have a relatively new relationship with God, start by listing all the ways he showed up for:

People in the Bible
Members of your family
Current Godly men and women that you admire
In the lives of Christians throughout history

e. Post that paper in a prominent place as a daily visual reminder of God’s presence in your life.

2. Fight Fear: Praise Him When The Sky Is Falling

The story continues with Moses challenging the panicking Israelites to not be afraid and to trust in God. With everyone watching, God made history yet again. 🙂 He saved the Israelites from the hands of the Egyptians, by dividing the Red Sea and allowing the Israelites to pass through on dry ground.

Exodus 14:28 says, “The water flowed back and covered the chariots and horsemen—the entire army of Pharaoh that had followed the Israelites into the sea. Not one of them survived.”

The Israelites spend an entire chapter, singing a song of thanksgiving to God praising him for his mighty power.

I don’t remember a majority of the sermons that I have heard over the years much to my dismay. However, I once heard a pastor unpack the story of Moses and the Israelites in a way that I have never forgotten. He said that the Israelites praised God on the wrong side of the river.

In the face of adversity, they promptly forgot his track record of faithfulness, and they demanded proof yet again that God was who he said he was. Anyone can praise God AFTER he shows up in a mighty way.

God is inviting us, built on our love relationship with him, to trust him. To praise him when it looks like everything is crumbling around us, and the world is screaming, “The sky is falling! The sky is falling!”

We need to remember that we serve Immanuel, which means God with us. Deuteronomy 31:6 reminds us of God’s character as it says,

“Be strong. Take courage. Don’t be intimidated. Don’t give them a second thought because God, your God, is striding ahead of you. He’s right there with you. He won’t let you down; he won’t leave you.”

Will you choose to accept God’s invitation to trust him and to praise him on this side of the river?

3. Fight Fear: Practical Tips To Turn Your Eyes Towards Jesus

Take a breath and remind yourself that there is nothing new under the sun. The Bible alone is full of men and women faced with extraordinary challenges, completely helpless, and chose to accept God’s help to see them through.

David hiding from Saul in the mountains. Daniel in the lion’s den. Esther facing death. Ruth facing starvation. Baby Jesus and the threat of King Herod are just some of the examples.

I am always looking for ways to take head knowledge into practical heart transformation. I have compiled a list of practical ideas to help you when fear starts to creep up. They are not in any particular order.

a. Place Restrictions on Media Consumption.

I am not advocating burying your head in the sand. It is important to be an informed citizen. However, be wise at how much control the headlines have over your mental and emotional health.

b. Set Parameters on how Long you will Discuss the Latest News.

Along those same lines, be intentional on how much time you spend discussing the latest headline.

c. Spend Time in the Bible.

I would highly recommend reading through the Psalms. They are full of David’s sometimes brutally honest cries to God for deliverance. I would recommend reading a Psalm or two a day and using them as your own personal prayer to God.

d. Don’t Isolate Yourself

Find ways to connect with others, even if it can’t be in person. FaceTime, phone calls, text messages, and yes, even letters. Skype with your small group. Get creative! 🙂

e. Memorize Scripture

The great Christian mothers and fathers throughout history have used meditating on scripture as a way to live in peace, not fear. You can focus on topics like peace, hope, and joy.

f. Exercise

This is so important to your mental, emotional, and spiritual health. Go for a walk around your neighborhood, try out a new exercise video on youtube, play outside with your kids. The point is to get moving!

g. Be Honest With God

Talk with God about your thoughts and feelings. Be honest. He wants to hear from the real you not the “good christian” you.

h. Eat Healthy Foods

I know you want to indulge in comfort foods 24/7 to help manage the stress. But eating whole foods is crucial to supporting a healthy immune system. The little choices you make today affect your overall health tomorrow.

i. Get Rest

Don’t use the latest restrictions as an invitation to binge watch tv until one am. Be wise and set aside six to eight hours for much-needed sleep!

j. Engage in a Hobby that Brings You Joy

Seriously, now is the time to try out that new hobby. This should be something that allows you to decompress and invites you to experience joy, wonder, and beauty in this world. Explore music, exercise, art, fix a car, learn to knit, try a new card game, or a new recipe. The skies the limit and there are no acorns in sight. 🙂

To God be the Glory, Forever, and Ever, Amen.

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to fighting fear? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

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13 Inspirational Faith Quotes for When You Are Discouraged

Reading Time: 4 min 2 sec

Stories of inspirational faith can be used by God powerfully in the dark and dreary seasons of life. Have you ever felt utterly discouraged? The I want to stay in my sweat pants, eating ice cream and binge-watching Hulu forever seasons?

You know, those times where nothing seems to be going right and you are out of answers. Have you ever wondered where is God when you feel so miserable?

In times of great discouragement or disappointment, it can be hard to see the light at the end of the tunnel. The feelings of helplessness and discouragement can threaten to overwhelm you. However, there is hope! God in his infinite wisdom did not design us to journey alone through life. We were meant to live in community with others.

One way we can do that is to remind ourselves of God’s faithfulness even in the midst of unbeatable odds. It is these stories of faith that bolster our sagging spirits. Throughout the Bible, stories played a powerful role in the encouragement and instruction of future generations by proclaiming who God is and what he has done.

I see quotes as mini-stories of God’s power at work in the lives of men and women of faith. Today, I have compiled a list of my favorite quotes and scriptures specifically for discouraging seasons. I would encourage you to use the exercise below to allow God to speak to you through their words of hope.

When we read articles with bullet points it can be extremely easy to want to speed through the article. But I would challenge you to engage, by inviting God to speak to you through the words of godly men and women by reading slowly and reflectively. Their inspirational faith can serve as a catalyst for our own spiritual growth if we can slow down long enough to listen.

Inspirational Faith Exercise:

a. Pray and invite God to speak to you through the quotes below.

b. Read through the quotes slowly and notice any phrase or quote that jumps out at you.

c. Bring that phrase or quote to the Lord in prayer. Ask him to speak to you through those words.

d. Read through the phrase or quote again slowly. Then sit in silence allowing elbow room for the Holy Spirit to speak to you.

If this is your first time sitting in silence, I would highly recommend setting a timer for two-three minutes. It keeps you from constantly checking the time. 🙂

e. Close your time in prayer by thanking God for his presence.

f. Journal any thoughts, feelings or impressions you experienced during this exercise.

Here are 13 Inspirational Faith Quotes from great men and women of faith that if read reflectively can serve as a catalyst to a deeper walk with God even in times of discouragement.

13 Inspirational Faith Quotes

1. “Worrying does not empty tomorrow of its troubles it empties today of its strength.” Corrie Ten Boom

2. “If you want to get warm you move near the fire. If you want joy, peace, eternal life, you must get close to what has them.” C.S. Lewis

3. “O God, when my faith gets overladen with dust, blow it clean with the wind of your Spirit. When my habits of obedience get stiff and rusty, anoint them with the oil of your Spirit. Restore the enthusiasm of my first love for you.” Eugene H. Peterson

4. “When I trust deeply that today God is truly with me and holds me safe in a divine embrace, guiding every one of my steps I can let go of my anxious need to know how tomorrow will look, or what will happen next month or next year. I can be fully where I am and pay attention to the many signs of God’s love within me and around me.” Henri Nouwen

5. “The fundamental fact of existence is that this trust in God, this faith, is the firm foundation under everything that makes life worth living. It’s our handle on what we can’t see.” Hebrews 11:1

6. “Let us come alive to the splendor that is all around us and see the beauty in ordinary things.”-Thomas Merton

7. “The ultimate freedom we have as human beings is the power to select what we will allow or require our minds to dwell upon.” Dallas Willard

8. “Hope is willing to leave unanswered questions unanswered and unknown futures unknown. Hope makes you see God’s guiding hand not only in the gentle and pleasant moments but also in the shadows of disappointment and darkness.” Henri Nouwen

9. “One way to define spiritual life is getting so tired and fed up with yourself you go on to something better, which is following Jesus.”-Eugene H. Peterson

10. God’s loyal love couldn’t have run out, his merciful love couldn’t have dried up. They’re created new every morning. How great your faithfulness! I’m sticking with God (I say it over and over). He’s all I’ve got left.” Lamentations 3:24

11. “When a train goes through a tunnel and it gets dark, you don’t throw away the ticket and jump off. You sit still and trust the engineer.” Corrie Ten Boom

12. “You don’t have a soul. You are a soul. You have a body.” C.S. Lewis

13. “But the Master said, “You don’t need more faith. There is no ‘more’ or ‘less’ in faith. If you have a bare kernel of faith, say the size of a poppy seed, you could say to this sycamore tree, ‘Go jump in the lake,’ and it would do it.” Luke 17:6

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to pursuing a deep relationship with God? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest!

Scripture quotations marked MSG are taken from THE MESSAGE, copyright © 1993, 2002, 2018 by Eugene H. Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress. All rights reserved. Represented by Tyndale House Publishers, Inc.

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What To Do When Pain Smacks You In The Face

Reading Time: 5 min 44 sec

The pain hit like a sledgehammer, followed by the unmistakable realization that life would never be the same. I gulped back a sob and tried to breathe, my whole-body seizing, ready to crumble. I shook my head in bewilderment, as thoughts of grief, flooded my mind. I gasped, “Everything was fine just a few moments ago. How could this happen?!”

Pain is one of those unavoidable experiences that strike each of us with deadly accuracy. The loss of a loved one, the death of a relationship, or a dream, the end of a job, or even a cross country move can leave us reeling.

We stumble around in a fog, desperate for something that will stop the ache inside. We believe that if we can just find our new normal, maybe this debilitating pain will stop, or at least not punch us in the gut when we least expect it.

We self-medicate by binge-watching tv, finding comfort in food, spending long hours at work, living at the gym, or filling our calendars so full, you have to schedule a time to use the bathroom.

God invites us into something different.

He asks us to journey with him as he transforms the pain in our lives with the renovation of our souls.

So, how do we work with the Holy Spirit when pain smacks us in the face?

1. Stop Running

2. You Can’t Do This Alone

3. Rehearse God’s Faithfulness

4. Embrace Transformation

1. Stop Running

I remember as a little kid arguing with my mom over the removal of a band-aid. I was convinced that if she went slow and took it off bit by bit, it wouldn’t hurt nearly as bad as taking it off in one brutal swipe.

She tried to warn me, but I was determined, so I started to slooowly peel the band-aid off. With my whole body tense, I squirmed, yelled and did everything in my power to fight against a quick removal.

That agonizing band-aid experience was the longest two minutes of my life.

Just like the band-aid removal, when presented with agonizing situations, our first urge is to do anything that might minimize the pain. We drown our sorrows in every distraction that presents itself. We try to outrun, to bury, or do just about anything but face our pain.

Pain is like a disease, when suppressed, it just eats away at our souls. It spreads throughout our lives leaving nothing uncovered. It affects the quality of our relationships, our jobs, and our relationship (or lack thereof) with God.

If you want to find hope, healing, and rest, you have to stop trying to submerge your pain in a carton of ice cream.

“Pain insists upon being attended to. God whispers to us in our pleasures, speaks in our consciences, but shouts in our pains. It is his megaphone to rouse a deaf world.” C.S. Lewis

Attempting to conceal your pain only adds unnecessary grief and stress to your life. Taking the time to acknowledge your agony is the first step to healing.

Take a moment and ask yourself:

In what ways am I trying to bury unresolved pain in my life?

2. You Can’t Do This On Your Own

As American’s we are obsessed with the need to control. We try to control our bank accounts, our kid’s futures, our food, and our wardrobes. And that’s just the tip of the iceberg.

We celebrate independence as a virtue. The phrases, “He stood on his own two feet.” “He pulled himself up by his bootstraps” shout we don’t need anything or anyone. We can do it all on our own.

We take that cultural lie into our relationship with God. “God helps those who help themselves” seems to be the common mantra of the American church. I’m willing to bet that some people would even think that’s an actual Bible verse.

And so, we press on, trying to control the pain and fix the situation, desperately trying to make our lives go back to normal. We fumble around in the dark with our limited knowledge, trying to be the god (small g) in our own lives. We are so quick to assume that God wound the clock and then left us to get the job done.

But God is calling us to a different type of life. A life of freedom, peace and rest. A life where we don’t have to carry around a huge weight of expectations or operate under the constant threat of failure.

Matthew 11:30 says, “I won’t lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you.”

God in his infinite wisdom and love is encouraging us to surrender our need to try and control our world.

He is inviting us into a safe place, a place of vulnerability, a place of comfort, a place of lavish love. A place where you don’t have to have all the answers.

The weight of the world wasn’t designed to lay on your shoulders.

Like children who can play and move throughout their days in the comfort of their parent’s protection, God offers us that same benefit. We can go through our days, finding rest, and peace in the comfort of his wings.

Pause and ask yourself:

What do you think God feels (or thinks or is doing) in you as you experience this situation?

3. Rehearse God’s Faithfulness

Let’s be honest, it can feel inconceivable to think about releasing control when you are going through a painful situation. In a time when we feel so helpless, we can jealously hoard any small measure of control that we have left.

One practical way to let go is to rehearse God’s faithfulness to ourselves. God promises time and time again to never leave or forsake us. His very name “Emmanuel” means God With Us. He wants to journey with you minute by minute, hour by hour, day by day, in the painful and joyful moments of your life.

Prayer Activity:

Time: 10-15 minutes

Pray and invite the Holy Spirit. Ask him to bring mind all the ways God has shown up in your life (large and small). Give the Holy Spirit elbow room to speak by sitting in silence.

Write down each moment or experience.

If you have a relatively new relationship with God it might be helpful to start reading through the Old Testament. Look for situations where God showed up for his people and write them down.

As you look over the list, share with God your thoughts and feelings. Praise him for his faithfulness to you. Ask him for the grace to surrender daily your pain to him.

The pain doesn’t go away, but it becomes easier to surrender when you have a tangible reminder of God’s proven track record in your life.

4. Embrace Transformation

So how do we embrace everything God has for us during our pain?

We have to understand that our lives are a daily (sometimes hourly) process of surrender. Acknowledging our pain, surrendering and praising God is not a one-time deal. This is a lifelong process that takes patience and perseverance. And we cannot embark on this journey BY OURSELVES.

When we are in pain, we want to lick our wounds in isolation, believing the lie that no one has ever experienced what we are going through. However, God designed us to live in community with one another. To truly embrace health, healing, and transformation, amid pain, we need each other.

We serve a God who in large part is unseen. When we encounter the listening ear of another person that is God’s tangible touch of love in our lives. He uses each of us to support, care and love one another; as his hands and feet in our communities.

Here are some ideas of ways you can find community in your local setting.

Church Services
Church Small Groups
Recovery Groups ( AA, Overeaters Anonymous, etc.)
Grief, Single Parent, or Divorce Support Groups
Accountability Groups

If you want to know how to get started in living a deep life with God; grab our Deeper Life Beginners Guide (below). And join our community of moms who are hungry for more Jesus in their lives and in the lives of their families.

What about you? What is your #1 issue when it comes to pursuing God when you are in pain? Leave a comment, and don’t forget to follow Most Important Work on Pinterest! [/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]