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.