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Bible Reading for Childhood Anxiety and Sleeplessness
Just like you and me, our kids find themselves wrestling with the challenges of anxiety and sleeplessness. Worrying and not sleeping enough can mess up our children's overall well-being, concentration, and academic performance. As parents, our goal is to find strategies that can help. We want our kids to be able to manage difficulties and find peace and rest at the end of the day.
Reading the Bible is the best gift we have to offer our children. Let's talk about the ways the Word of God can provide comfort for our kids.
I. Embracing God's Reassurance in Times of Anxiety
No matter the source, stress can be overwhelming. It could be from school, family problems, sibling issues, or peer pressure. It can come in waves, bring panic attacks, and make trying to cope unbearable. Anxiety make kids feel uncertain, overwhelmed with emotions, and unable to calm down enough to get a good night's rest.
In reading the Bible, though, we can find (and we can share with our kids) comfort and encouragement.
Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. — Philippians 4:6-7
Energize the limp hands, strengthen the rubbery knees. Tell fearful souls, “Courage! Take heart! God is here, right here, on his way to put things right and redress all wrongs. He’s on his way! He’ll save you!” — Isaiah 35:4 MSG
1 Peter 5:7 says
Cast all your anxiety on Him because He cares for us.
Parents, when we share these verses and others with our children, we nurture within them the capacity to rely on Him.
II. Cultivating the Gift of Restful Sleep
Sleeplessness poses a major problem for children. When they can't sleep, it messes with their ability to function normally during the day, their emotions, and relationships, too.
Raise your hand if you know the difficulty of having a child who does not sleep well. 🙋♀️🙋♂️🙋♀️
It's horrible! Especially when the lack of sleep is chronic. The poor kid gets up exhausted, falls asleep in school, and it negatively affects their studies. At home, they're irritable, argumentative, or emotionally fragile.
- Anxious sleeplessness affects everyone, especially the one missing out on sleep.
The Bible, with its timeless wisdom, highlights the importance of rest and extends comfort to anyone tossing and turning at night. The words of Psalm 4:8 resonate deeply:
In peace, I will lie down and sleep, for you alone, O Lord, make me dwell in safety.
Exodus 33:14 reminds us that God said,
My presence will go with you, and I will give you rest.
After our regular bedtime routine, we can share these and other comforting Bible verses and talk about them together. We can invite our children to surrender their concerns to God, finding comfort in His presence.
III. Nurturing a Habit of Daily Devotion
Adding in regular Bible reading into our children's daily routines can help them develop a lifelong habit of seeking God. Practicing being in His presence not only alleviates anxiety but also fosters restful sleep. Joshua 1:8 says
This Book of the Law shall not depart from your mouth, but you shall meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do according to all that is written in it. For then you will make your way prosperous, and then you will have good success.
Encouraging our kids to read the Bible and spend time thinking about what they read, it can give them a gift. This gift is peace, purpose, and holistic spiritual well-being in knowing God.
IV. Prayer as a Source of Comfort
Speaking of knowing God, along with Bible reading, we need to teach our kids about the comfort that comes with prayer.
Psalm 34:17 assures us,
When the righteous cry for help, the Lord hears and delivers them out of all their troubles.
Teach your kids to tell God everything. It's nothing He doesn't already know. But, it teaches children to bring everything in their lives to Him. Seeking God, asking for His guidance, praying constantly... those all bring a deep sense of security and peace.
When our kids grow in their faith, they'll face troubles and their faith with be tested. It doesn't mean that anxiety won't crop up, even regularly. But, managing stresses and troubles with God is an entirely different ballgame than going it alone.
God promises us in Matthew 11:28 that He will give us sleep when we turn towards Him.
Come to Me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.
V. Conclusion
Anxiety and sleeplessness can be overwhelming for grown-ups. It's even more overwhelming for kids who have lower tolerance. Learning to take that stress to Jesus, to pray, and to find comfort in Bible reading can change their world. It can help them to cope with difficult times to come.
The Bible is God's gift to us. It's a book of peace, encouragement, and tucked in the pages is the promise of rest. When we teach our kids to read the Bible, and know the Bible, and love the Bible, it opens the door to them knowing the God who loves them and wants them to know how deeply they are loved. Nothing can bring peace like the Holy Spirit and He can be found in prayer and Bible reading.
Our kids worries and stresses are heavy, but God is stronger and He is bigger. Let's go to Him, read His word, and pray and teach our kids the same and to receive the sleep and peace He has to offer.
RECOMMENDED RESOURCES
10 Tips for Studying Your Bible
6 Facts You Need to Know When You Read the Bible
Bible Studies for Beginners: Read, Listen, Watch… Just Get Into the Bible!
