Facing an unexpected preponderance of anxiety in my life, I turned back to an old “friend”, Isaiah 40:11. “He tends His flock like a shepherd, He gathers His lambs in His arms and carries them close to His heart; He gently leads those that have young.” Ahhh, soothe my soul, dear friend.

I am not raising young children anymore; I no longer derive my comfort from the verse’s last sentence, I now look to the first few sentences. I am filled with compassion and hope for the younger moms who receive the promise of the last sentence, much as I used to.

The term “In His Grip” wasn’t popular back when my kids were young and God was gently leading me, sustaining me through those exhausting days, but I can assure you, when I turned to this verse, I was most definitely “In His Grip,” and oh, how I needed to be there!

Raising young people – the future of our nation – is a serious responsibility. Politicians have power leading this country, but don’t be fooled: the person raising a child has just as much power and is much more personally invested.

Being a mom is a risky job.  A demanding, exhausting, exhilarating, deeply satisfying, under-appreciated, self-abusive, honorable, hilarious, emotionally intense, creative, dirty job. Those “top of the world” days are to be cherished, memorialized (blogged about!) and shared. Those “bottom of the pit” days are to be prayed over, learned from and let loose to our Heavenly Father, who “gently leads those that have young.”

Go to Him for guidance. It is my prayer that when you’ve lost your grip, you’ll find His. Read the whole chapter, or at least verses 28-31. It’s so much better than vitamins or live juices to sustain you.

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Valerie Sliker travels extensively, specializing in social and cultural documentation and preservation. “Life — a work of art” is her prevailing source of inspiration which she occasionally embellishes in her blog “I Can Only Imagine.” She currently is in the slow and painful process of becoming an empty nester.