The Connected Mom

Becky Harling

Form a deeper connection with God, more empathetically connection with other Moms, and more intentional connection with your child.

  1. 3d ago

    Healing Your Anxiety with the Names of God

    This is an episode of the Connected Mom Podcast, hosted by Becky Harling, kicking off a new series on managing anxiety as a mom. Her guest is Grace Fox, an author and speaker, whose newest book is The Names of God: Growing Strong. Key points: No guilt allowed. Becky opens by rejecting the "you shouldn't feel anxious" messaging she grew up with, since it just adds guilt on top of anxiety.Personal stories of mom-anxiety. Grace shares a vivid memory of her son's first kindergarten bus ride — she and her husband secretly followed the bus to school just to make sure he got inside safely. Becky shares similar worries, like anxiously texting her college-age daughter late at night.Anxiety changes, doesn't disappear. Both agree worry doesn't go away as kids grow — it just shifts from things like potty training and street safety to bigger issues: choice of college, life partners, and letting go of control once kids are adults.Anxiety as an invitation to prayer. Grace reframes anxiety as a trigger to "go to the knees," but notes that dwelling only on fears in prayer makes them grow bigger. Shifting to gratitude and praise — even when the outcome is unknown — helped calm her fears more than rehearsing worries did.Knowing God's names/character builds trust. Much of the conversation centers on Grace's book: knowing God intimately (like knowing a close friend vs. a stranger) makes it easier to trust Him with your kids. She highlights two names in particular:Yahweh Rohi ("The Lord is my Shepherd," Psalm 23) — a shepherd who leads, protects, and provides.Ruach Elohim (God's Spirit) — the Spirit that hovers over chaos, near enough to comfort, bringing order without being scared off by hard situations.Practical anxiety tips:Praying and praising with other moms rather than just discussing worries.Writing scripture/promises on cards and posting them (mirror, dashboard, computer) as go-to reminders — "emergency verses" to recite during panic.Speaking prayers and praise out loud.If anxiety becomes overwhelming, seek help from a medical doctor — no shame in that, just as you'd treat a broken arm.Exercise, like walking while praying, helps release tension.Becky recommends Grace's book The Names of God: Growing Strong Grace website is gracefox.com and there are free monthly devotionals.

    Healing Your Anxiety with the Names of God
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Form a deeper connection with God, more empathetically connection with other Moms, and more intentional connection with your child.

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