Are Your Kids Anxious? DUCK DYNASTY Star Says Do This
By Movieguide® Contributor
Korie Robertson discussed the difficulties of raising anxious kids and how to push them to overcome their fears.
“One of the things that [Sadie] tells me was helpful to her during that time [of anxiety] that I tried to do for her is not to ignore it, you know, not act like it’s not there…” Robertson said. “If you can acknowledge that and notice that and say, ‘Oh, okay, I’m not dying, like, this is manifestations of anxiety.’”
“Another thing that we talked about a lot is I think part of our culture is this, like, labeling culture of like, ‘Oh, I have anxiety.’ And then it can just become you, you know,” Robertson continued. “In our world we can be like, ‘Oh, I am this. Like, I am an anxious person. Or I am this.’ And then you just kind of sit with that label and you allow that to be okay for your life because you’re like, that’s just who I am.”
Instead of allowing Sadie to sit with that label and let it define her, Robertson encouraged her to turn to the Bible and seek the labels that God gives us. Furthermore, she pointed to the fact that our God defeats fear and encouraged her to find peace through Him.
READ MORE: SADIE ROBERTSON HUFF SPEAKS ON DEFEATING ANXIETY
“We talked about how God doesn’t give you a spirit of fear, so whenever you are feeling that, that’s not of God. He’s not putting that in you…” Robertson explained. “[Instead,] He put in her this ability to overcome it. This ability to walk away…He’s going to also give you that courage to step into [those situations] and overcome them.”
Beth Redman, wife of Christian artist Matt Redman, had a similar experience shepherding her kids who suffered from extreme anxiety, only finding the tools to help them through Christ. One of her sons, in particular, struggled with anxiety much more than his siblings, and pointing him towards the Lord was the best way to give him strength.
“It was so helpful in scripture when I actually was looking and thinking how did God parent His children?” Redman said. “So often He gave them hard assignments, you know, almost gave them anxiety. Like Moses, He was asking him to do something that gave Moses anxiety and he was telling God I am disqualified in these areas that you want me to lead. It’s this area of speaking that God said, ‘Well, no. I’m with you.’ And He kept affirming him in that.”
“I decided that I would just continue to walk with my child and walk with them away from dependence and started to take things away,” Redman continued. “And it started off, you know, when they were younger with the blanket, and that was a process…But then as we’ve gone through life, you know, he is averse to new things. I’m like, you can’t avoid new things, I am not going to stop you from facing new things.”
“But also validating the feelings and just saying to him, ‘Well, we’re still going to do [new things] so what would make it easier?’” she added. “We’re not going to strip you down to the bone and force you. That’s kind of where I’ve been at with my parenting.”
READ MORE: DUCK DYNASTY STAR SHARES HOW TO BUILD A LEGACY
The Bible frequently speaks to our anxiety, reminding us that God’s peace is available for each of us.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus,” Paul reminds believers in Philippians 4.
In fact, Jesus promised to give us peace.
“Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid,” He said in John 14:27.
When fear, anxiety and worry creep into our minds or our children’s minds, threatening to debilitate us, we can run to Jesus. All we need to do is ask for His peace.
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