Written by Wendy Neill
I hope you don’t mind if I talk to myself here. I mean, feel free to listen in if you want. But you may not struggle with these thoughts.

Wendy, your parenting has been fraught with fear. For years, your head has been a constant simmering brew of “what ifs”:
• What if the baby comes too early?
• What if she dies of SIDS because I put her on her tummy?
• What if she chokes when I introduce solid foods?
• What if she gets into the car with a stranger?
• What if she doesn’t make friends?
• What if she has a terrible car accident?
• What if she sleeps with her boyfriend and gets pregnant?
• What if she marries someone who isn’t a believer?
• What if she walks away from her faith?

Yes, those things can happen. This is a fallen world, and your children have free will. But that is not what you are called to do as a mother. How about these “what ifs” instead?

• What if you rested in the knowledge that God loves your children more than you do?
• What if you truly believed that He works all things for good?
• What if you trusted that the seeds you have planted in your children will bear fruit because He will water them and bring forth a harvest?
• What if you realized that raising children is a joint effort between parents and God?
• What if you DAILY brought your fears before His throne and left them there?
• What if you understood that the Holy Spirit lives in them and speaks to their hearts?

Bottom line: What if you parented out of faith, and not fear?