Kids are more stressed than parents realize. Some kids worry about getting a C on a test, while other kids just hope they don’t get an F. Other kids worry about striking out when the team really needs them. Other kids struggle because they don’t feel like they have friends. Maybe there’s even bigger stuff. Are your grandparents sick? Are your parents divorcing? What if you are moving across the country or starting a new school? Maybe you have worries so big that you haven’t talked about them with anyone.
Each one of these can make you worry so much that you get a stomachache or you can’t sleep. Once you talk to someone, though, you can almost feel the worries get lighter because you realize you aren’t alone.
David felt a little sick to his stomach too; sometimes he couldn’t even sleep at night because of all his worries. When he was king, his nation was at war and his children were out of control. So he had problems at work and at home. Still, David knew where to find his peace. “Examine me, O God, and know my mind. Test me, and know my thoughts” (Psalm 139:23).
David was asking God to look over him like a doctor checks you at your annual visit. Are you afraid of asking God to examine you because you’re worried what he’ll find? Just like talking to a friend or parent helps, talking to your God is even better. He’s the God of the whole entire world, and he loves it when you talk to him. When you ask him to examine you, you are asking him to find those hidden worries—and take them away! As you read the Bible, have family devotions, and pray, you remember that the King is your Daddy, who loves to forgive your anxious thoughts and bring you peace when you worry.
