Commitment of Persistence

By Kim Doebler

A friend’s son was struggling with anxiety over doing anything new. He was supposed to go to a meeting one afternoon, but spent the morning pacing and saying he didn’t want to go. As his parents tried to encourage him that everything would be all right, they offered to pray with him. He became adamant, “No, don’t pray! I don’t want to pray!” The parents were surprised and concerned about his reaction. Thankfully they thought to ask him why he didn’t want to pray. He answered that question with,

“Why would I ask God to help me, when I know He will, to do something I really don’t want to do?

Do we have such a confidence in prayer?
As mothers do we ask God knowing He will answer?
When we are anxious do we avoid asking God because He may make us do the uncomfortable?

This summer is different for us because we have our Greek cousins staying with us much of the time. While preparing for their coming, I prayed for wisdom in how to direct our children and how to stay connected with them. Two things came to mind. First, to have an hour of quiet every afternoon. Second, to ask the children if they need anything from me on a regular basis.

For the first application I was resistant. I didn’t want to appear too controlling. Finally, I gave into what God was showing me and let go of my own worries. It has been a wonderful break that has allowed us to rejuvenate as well as read our Bibles if we happened to skip it that day.

The second practice seemed easy enough, yet, I hesitated. We have a regular time of sharing as a family each day. We talk through struggles, give compliments for the good things another sibling has done, and take prayer requests. Part of me thought I shouldn’t add another thing, which would mean extending the time. So like the above boy, I wanted to say, “Thanks God, but I don’t want your help.” A little reluctantly I tried asking my children, “Is there anything you need from me?”

In hind sight, I am confident this idea was from the Lord, because it has opened up a direction of conversation we had not been addressing before. The children can now inform me of what they need from me, without making others uncomfortable or risking my not catching their request. Because I am aware of their need, it is on my radar, and I am prepared to help them in time of trouble.

As mothers, how about we rephrase the above boy’s comment of resistance to a commitment of persistence?