By Grace Fox

BEFORE writing the book Moving From Fear to Freedom, I conducted a survey at retreats and conferences where I spoke.

What was the #1 fear expressed by the participants? Fear for their children’s well-being.

One woman said: “My greatest fear is for my children’s safety . . . and I don’t even have kids yet!”

I can relate. I’ll always remember the day our eldest child, Matthew, started kindergarten. “Don’t drive me to school,” he had said the day before. “I want to ride on the yellow bus.” And so my husband drove 45 miles from his office to join me in watching our firstborn board the bus after lunch.

Our little blonde tyke climbed the stairs, dropped into a seat and, peering through the window, waved goodbye.

The door slammed shut, and the vehicle lumbered away carrying our precious cargo. That’s when a dread thought popped into my mind.

“Are those things equipped with seatbelts?” I asked my husband.

“No,” he said.

We stared at each other for a second – and then, without saying a word, grabbed our other kids and bolted for the family car.

Like sleuths in a spy movie, we shadowed the bus from a discreet distance until it rolled into the school parking lot. Then, sneaking into a nearby slot, we watched unseen as the children exited the vehicle and entered the playground.

Satisfied that Matt had reached his destination safely, we headed home. I cried the whole way.

Will our son find friends in his class? I wondered. Will his teacher understand his learning style? Will he have the energy needed to focus and learn well?

Eleven years later, I watched the same boy, at age 18, walk across the tarmac of the Campbell River airport and board a plane in the early morning darkness.

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This time, he was bound for Germany. After several weeks of training with Operation Mobilization, he would fly to Portugal – where he’d board a ministry ship headed for the Caribbean. He had volunteered for a two-year term, and we didn’t expect to see him until the term ended.

I watched the plane taxi and take off. A literal ache filled my heart as the inky sky swallowed the plane’s red blinking lights.

Again, questions swarmed my thoughts: Who will care for him if he becomes ill? How will he deal with homesickness? Will he develop good friendships aboard the vessel? A myriad of what-ifs threatened to undo me.

Realizing my emotions were carrying me down a dangerous road, I whispered a desperate prayer:

“Help, God! I can’t ensure Matt’s safety and health. I can’t be there to help him make wise decisions. His well-being is in your hands. Please fulfill your promise to never leave or forsake him. Be his refuge, his strength, his provider. Thank you for being faithful.”

Peace enveloped me then, and it held fast – even as the two-year commitment turned into three.

Yes, I can relate to other parents’ concern for their kids’ well-being. When fearful moms and dads ask for advice, I say this:

“Take heart. When fear strikes, refuse to dwell on the anxious thoughts. Instead, focus on God’s promises. They’ll win over the worrisome what-ifs.”

If you struggle with fear for your children’s well-being, here’s a promise: “Our help is from the Lord, who made the heavens and the earth” (Psalm 124:8).

Remember these words in good times and bad. No matter what happens, your help comes from the One who made the heavens and the earth. With him on your side, there’s every reason to have courage and confidence.

Grace Fox is an international speaker, and author of four books. Her latest release, Moving From Fear to Freedom: A Woman’s Guide to Peace in Every Situation , is available in Christian bookstores nationwide.  GraceFox.com

September 2007