Consider it all joy, my brethren, when you encounter various trials, knowing that the testing of your faith produces endurance (James 1:2-3)

I've mentioned previously that my daughter is a mermaid – part girl, part fish. She's been tenacious and fearless in the water – until today. She's been swimming so well that her teacher pushed her a little further than her comfort zone allowed for and she absolutely freaked. She was crying really hard and would not discuss what happened with “The Boys” (her brothers). She would only discuss it with Mama in the girls locker room. I attribute this as a direct benefit of our daily Girl Time Alone.

I see the day coming when her teen years will be upon us and will need her Mama, but won't want to reach out to her. I'm trying to invest the time and foundation now, so that coming to me with weighty matters is a natural thing.

Today she wanted to write in her journal together, knit and talk about what happened at the pool. I reminded her of the verse that is on the screen saver of the computer in my room:

I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me (Philippians 4:13).

I reminded her that the verse says all things – not some things or a few things. Additionally, I explained the condition – we do it through Christ – and gave her 1 Peter 5:7-9:

Casting all your anxiety on Him, because He cares for you. Be of sober spirit, be on the alert Your adversary, the devil, prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour. But resist him, (firm in your faith, knowing that the same experiences of suffering are being accomplished by your brethren who are in the world.

I explained that God wants us to give Him all the scary things to deal with and that He will help us. I told her that Satan wants us to be scared and tricks our mind sometimes. The final verse I gave her was the key:

No temptation has overtaken you but such as is common to man; and God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will provide the way of escape also, so that you will be able to endure it (1 Corinthians 10:13).

We might have things happen to us that are scary, but God doesn't give us anything bigger than what we can handle, and He gives us a way to be able to deal with it because he is a good and loving God.

I gave my daughter a script in case she is in that situation again with her teacher. Hopefully, that combined with the talk and all the verses have given her needed help, in addition to planting the seed for a future harvest, knowing that she can always come to me and talk to me about anything on her heart.

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