I was recently listening to a story about how sheep need still, calm water to drink from. A good shepherd would build a dam, in order to make a pool of still water for the sheep to drink safely. However, when the water was completely still, the sheep would bend down to drink and scare themselves by their own reflection in the water. They were fearful of what they saw and ran in the other direction.

We laugh at the picture of that, but God says we are His people and the sheep of His pasture, and sometimes we are not so different than that.

One way that I have seen that scenario in my life, is when I see my reflection in my children. There are times where I like what I see and I say, "Thank you Lord!" and give Him glory for what He's done. But then there's times where I say, "Wait what happened here?!" When I see my children’s behavior, habits, attitudes, or whatever it might be, I want to run, because it scares me, because it often is a reflection of us as parents, or something that we have given room for in their lives.

My natural tendency is to either want to fix it immediately, or else ignore it (as in, run from it) because I don't know what to do or it looks too overwhelming or scary. I believe the hardest thing to know how to help our children deal with is when we see reflections of ourselves and our issues in them.

But thank God, we don't need to run in fear. We can stop and look ourselves and our children in the face and thank God that through Jesus, we do have answers and we can look to His Word for help.

Colossians 3:15 (NLT), " Let the Peace that comes from Christ rule in your hearts, for as members of One body, you are called to live in peace. And always be thankful."

When you face fear of what your child's doing or what they are becoming, listening to that voice of fear is only giving an ear to the enemy. Instead stop, and choose to say "Thank you Lord, for what you are going to do in this situation." Pray, asking for wisdom, power, love, and a sound mind, and He will give it to you liberally, He promises in James 1:5. Praise and thanksgiving go a long long way in breaking the power of the enemy and his strongholds in our minds and our children's minds.

Psalm 100:3-5 (NLT), “Acknowledge that the Lord is God! He made us and we are his.”

We are His people and the sheep of His pasture. Enter into His gates with Thanksgiving and into His courts with praise. Give thanks to Him and praise His name. For the Lord is good! His unfailing love continues forever, and His faithfulness continues to each generation. Be blessed today! Don't run in fear when what you see in your life, or your children's lives scares you. Instead turn your heart, mind, and focus to God, and thank Him for who He is, and His power to do what you can't. Remember, He is good and His Mercy endures forever, and to each generation!