Does God care about binkies? You may think this is a really weird question, but I am asking because I am fairly certain He just spoke directly to my heart on that very subject.
You see, my two-and-a-half-year-old loves his binkie, although he’s moved into a big-boy bed, and he’s almost potty trained. That little plastic remnant of his babyhood still remains, though. We’ve begged, we’ve bribed, we’ve threatened—but he keeps hanging on to that little piece of plastic.
I can’t say if I’ve prayed specifically about the binkie, but I do try to cover all aspects of parenting in prayer. When I’m anxious, I pray. When I’m exhausted, I pray. When I feel uneasy about a transition or next step, I pray. I take it all to Jesus because I can’t bear the thought of parenting without Him, and because I want Him to be the very center of my role as a mom.
I was worshipping the Lord this morning when I felt a very clear directive in my heart: “Today is the day to take away the binkie.”
It wasn’t the physical part of me that urged this step (that part of me is so exhausted I can’t bear the potential of losing more sleepas a result of removing the binkie). It wasn’t my rational side, either—that part would have taken it away a long time ago. It couldn’t possibly have been my emotional side—I dread the tears that are sure to come from this little boy I love so much. Only the spiritual side of my heart and mind could direct me to make that mothering choice at that very moment.
So, I did—and I have no other word to describe the result than miraculous.
Sure, my little man shed a few tears, but it was more like he was mourning the loss of a good friend than rebelling against my decision. He took his nap without a hitch, and only asked for the binkie a time or two. He went to bed tear-free. No wailing. No screaming. No fit-throwing.
You mommas know how huge this is! The whole thing has me wondering “Did God mean what He said when He told me I could trust Him with everything?”
Philippians 4:6 says, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God” (emphasis added).
Everything? Really? I guess a part of me always assumed this verse meant “everything” as in everything spiritual, or everything I wouldn’t be too embarrassed to mention in my Sunday school class. But everything—everything? I guess I’ve never really trusted that God cares about the insignificant worries of my life, like when to take away the binkie.
But the lack of a battle over a much-loved binkie has me wanting to take God at His Word. It’s got me thinking that He really does care about every corner of my life and that I can truly trust Him with every detail.
Certainly that doesn’t mean that all battles will be so easily won, but it does mean that my God is with me through every parenting trial no matter how huge or seemingly insignificant.
What about you? Is there evidence that God cares about the “small stuff” in your life? If you are a mom, can you think of a time when God helped you parent in an area that was making you feel anxious or unsteady? Are you trusting Him with everything today, even the “binkies” in your life?
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on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 8:20 am
God is good! He cares about everything!!!! I just quoted that verse yesterday as I was going about my day! "Be anxious of nothing, but instead pray about everything!"
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 8:29 am
Letting us know that it is time for us to grow up; much in the same way that we do for our children.
I have recently had some "binkies" taken away from me. And although I desire to have my binkie back at times (much like the Iraelites desired to return to slavery) I knew that it was time to remove the binkie and press on to maturity.
"For the moment all discipline seems painful rather than pleasant, but later it yields the peaceful fruit of righteousness to those who have been trained by it." Hebrews 12:11 ESV
Any other ladies out there had their binkies removed lately?
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 8:40 am
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 8:50 am
Great analogy. I can' certainly think of some "binkies" God has removed from me. Most recently, He has challenged me to start a ministry for moms at my local church. I've been a youth pastor's wife for a decade now. Working with youth is where I am comfortable. I've always seen that as part of my identity when it comes to ministry. But since having little ones, I'm just not practically able to minister as much in that area. He is pushing me to minister in new areas. Sometimes I want to go back to the comfort of youth group instead of pushing myself to minister to moms. But He has faithfully provided everything I need to move into a new sphere of influence. Your comment reminded me of that today. Thank you!
Erin
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 9:17 am
Praise God! I am so glad your daughter enjoyed the Teen Track and was impassioned for the message of True Woman. We need young women like her.
Grace and Peace!
Erin Davis
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 9:18 am
Speaking of binkies, my friend cut her daughters binkies and then told her that the binkies were broken. Her daughter cried the first nap time she didn't have her binkie to suck on but she clung to it in her hand. After that she was okay. My friend said it was nice not having to be the bad guy and "take the binkie away" but instead it was just that the binkie was broken.
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 9:24 am
But a couple years ago, I went through a hard time when I lost two close friendships. Both friendships meant so much to me and both losses were more or less related to my growing closer to Christ and they no longer were accepting me. I was in great, great pain and confused with their coldness after so many long years of closeness.
I had found a new closeness with Christ through my new husband three years ago, and while after losing these friendships he then suggested that I tried praying to the Lord and ask Him to bring me a good Christian woman as a friend. Pray for a new brand new friend? What is this? High School? I never thought of praying for such an odd thing before.
But I thought about it and as I became more heartbroken and lonely, I prayed only a few times, maybe twice, for God to bring me a Christian "lady friend" that I could relate to and laugh with. I think my tears and sadness, when not praying about it, were a different kind of prayer that God heard in a different sort of way. Sometimes, a broken heart, and tears, pray louder than we realize, I think.
Not only did God provide me with one friend, but two! And He didn't make me wait. I wasn't even looking, but I stepped out and took a chance on a bible class and it just clicked with one woman and she introduced me to another. Over time, we began to laugh and share.
As I look back over those heart breaking years (only three years ago) while losing those friendships, I can see now why God allowed them to slip away. Those two women were on different paths and would have placed doubts in my head about my new path and new life. God was saving me. As my husband likes to say, "God will do for you what you can't do for yourself."
So, now, I find myself praying all the time, about everything, everyone, and anything. He is my best friend and I give Him thanks and I try so hard to trust Him when life gets so very hard.
I have learned that He is like the best Father ever, squatting down, with open arms, as we cry in pain. And He is just waiting for us to go to Him and lean on Him with our troubles and to tell Him all about it. What parent wouldn't do that for their child? What parent wouldn't listen? What parent wouldn't pull their child's head into their chest and hold them while they are crying? And what parent wouldn't want to do what is best for their child? What is best isn't always what the child is crying about or wants at the moment, but the parent, who is stronger and wiser can see over the child's anguish, see the child through it. And that is what our Father does for us.
Thanks for this post. :-)
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 9:33 am
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 11:12 am
But what I find most interesting about me is that when God asks ME to "grow up" and relpace my earthly comforting crutches with Him, I resist Him. I get mad, defiant and have a bad attutude. If my children responded to me the way I have responded to God, they would have recieved some serious discipline. God is asking me who do you love more?
Then even more childish, I try to give up the crutch using my plan of attack, my timing and my energy, which ALWAYS fails.
I am awed by his patient countanance that lovingly waits for me to finish my fit and ask again for Him to be my only comfort.
Please pray that the cycle will end and I will draw near to Him full of faith in His grace and completed work on the cross through Jesus.
Thank you for sharing your heart with us.
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 11:50 am
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 12:34 pm
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 12:35 pm
Thanks for this post. I needed the reminder that God does care about the small stuff.
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 1:11 pm
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 1:23 pm
I loved this post. It is so true, trusting the Lord with everything is the best way to go. Though we can get a lot of sound, practical advice from others, only the Holy Spirit can show us the best way to apply it in our own lives. And you're right -- when we pray and ask His counsel (and worship our Lord), His answers and solutions are amazing!
I've had experience with Binkies and thumb suckers (Susan, we had tried everything with our two little girls who sucked thumbs -- nothing worked -- I think I had prayed about it, and it ended up being my husband that came up with a strong enough incentive/motive that got them to stop almost instantly!).
More recently though it has been in crying out to the Lord in one particular relationship -- that needed some restoring -- that our Lord gave me wisdom and a burden to pray and He resolved it without me even saying a word. He is good. How I need to remember this all the time, Erin -- yes -- trusting Him with EVERYTHING!
1 Thessalonians 5:24 (English Standard Version):
He who calls you is faithful; he will surely do it.
In His love,
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 2:12 pm
This short sentence packs so much within in.....Erin..I have not trusted God with everything...ESPECIALLY the "binkies" in my life. Which is absolutely ridiculous because God has been so good to me. I know I don't deserve his Mercy and Grace but I sure do need it...in EVERYTHING. I pray that our Father will forgive me for not trusting him as I want to and as I should...Lord enable me to let go of my binkies and trust you with all my heart in full submission. I know you've taken care of me thru the BIG stuff to me, but help me to see that all of me and all that I go thru big or small is important to you. You are all powerful and nothing can stop you from being GOD! Amen
on Wednesday, October 20, 2010 at 5:40 pm
Thank you for the post and for getting so specific with how the Lord worked for you as a mom.
on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 1:35 am
on Thursday, October 21, 2010 at 11:42 am
on Friday, October 22, 2010 at 10:31 am
on Sunday, October 24, 2010 at 7:53 pm
Your blog has helped me turn the corner in this and move forward with renewed vigour. Thank you
on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at 5:07 pm