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Biblical Response to Child's Pride-Rooted Panic Attacks

Pride is identified in biblical texts as a sin and is hateful to God [7]. It is often connected with anger and can originate from self-righteousness, religious privileges, or even unsanctified knowledge [3, 7]. When considering a child's pride-rooted panic attacks, a biblical response would involve addressing the underlying pride and fostering a proper fear of God, humility, and reliance on divine mercy.

Children are considered a gift from God and are capable of glorifying Him [1]. They should be instructed in God's ways, judiciously trained, and taught to obey and fear God [1, 2]. The fear of God, in a positive sense, is a reverential affection for God that springs from a sense of divine goodness and is accompanied by holiness [18]. This differs from the fear experienced by the wicked, who dread punishment rather than the offense itself [16]. Origen notes that children do not experience the fear of the wicked, but a different kind of fear [12].

Pride, however, hardens the mind and defiles a person [7]. It can lead to a false sense of security based on one's own merits rather than God's mercy [15]. Calvin emphasizes that believers should not indulge in vain confidence or allow temerity to gain upon them, but neither should they be struck with terror that prevents them from feeling secure in God's mercy [9]. Instead, true repentance involves the suppression of all pride, leading to earnest entreaty for pardon, humble confession, and sure confidence in divine mercy [10]. Augustine also warns against pride in God's gifts, stressing the importance of humility [17].

When a child experiences panic attacks rooted in pride, the focus should be on teaching them to lay aside thoughts of their own merits and to find confidence in God's promises [15]. This involves recognizing that God is omnipotent and able to protect those who honor Him [13]. The anger of God, which is righteous, is averted by Christ and from those who believe [8]. Confession of sin and repentance also avert God's anger [8].

Parents are encouraged to bring their children to Christ and to the house of God early [1]. They are to instruct their children in the ways of God, ensuring they attend to parental teaching and honor their parents [1]. The Canaanite woman's plea for her daughter, who was "severely possessed by a demon," highlights the parental concern and reliance on divine mercy for a child's well-being [4]. Similarly, Jacob prayed for deliverance from Esau, fearing for his children [5]. Lamentations 2:19 encourages pouring out one's heart to the Lord for the lives of young children [6].

The biblical response to pride-rooted panic attacks in children, therefore, involves a multi-faceted approach:

Calvin notes that while believers may experience disquietude and even tremble with terror due to temptations, this does not negate the certainty of faith [11]. The goal is to lead children to a place of tranquil confidence in the Lord's promises [14].

Sources

  1. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Children — Christ was an example to -- Lu 2:51; Joh 19:26,27. Are a gift from God -- Ge 33:5; Ps 127:3. Are capable of glorifying God -- Ps 8:2; 148:12,13; Mt 21:15,16. Should be Brought to Christ. -- Mr 10:13-16. Brought early to the house of God. -- 1Sa 1:24. Instructed in the ways of God. -- De 31:12,13; Pr 22:6. Judiciously trained. -- Pr 22:15; 29:17; Eph 6:4. Should Obey God. -- De 30:2. Fear God. -- Pr 24:21. Remember God. -- Ec 12:1. Attend to parental teaching. -- Pr 1:8,9. Honour parents. -- Ex 20:12; Heb 12:9. Fear parents. -- Le 19:3. Obey parents. -- Pr ”
  2. Psalms “Come, you children, listen to me. I will teach you the fear of Yahweh. -- Psalms 34:11”
  3. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger — Forbidden -- Ec 7:9; Mt 5:22; Ro 12:19. A work of the flesh -- Ga 5:20. A characteristic of fools -- Pr 12:16; 14:29; 27:3; Ec 7:9. Connected with Pride. -- Pr 21:24. Cruelty. -- Ge 49:7; Pr 27:3,4. Clamour and evil-speaking. -- Eph 4:31. Malice and blasphemy. -- Col 3:8. Strife and contention. -- Pr 21:19; 29:22; 30:33. Brings its own punishment -- Job 5:2; Pr 19:19; 25:28. Grievous words stir up -- Jdj 12:4; 2Sa 19:43; Pr 15:1. Should not betray us into sin -- Ps 37:8; Eph 4:26. In prayer be free from -- 1Ti 2:8. May be averted by wisdom -- Pr 29:8. Meeknes”
  4. Matthew “Behold, a Canaanite woman came out from those borders, and cried, saying, “Have mercy on me, Lord, you son of David! My daughter is severely possessed by a demon!” -- Matthew 15:22”
  5. Genesis “Please deliver me from the hand of my brother, from the hand of Esau: for I fear him, lest he come and strike me, and the mothers with the children. -- Genesis 32:11”
  6. Lamentations “Arise, cry out in the night, at the beginning of the watches; Pour out your heart like water before the face of the Lord: Lift up your hands toward him for the life of your young children, that faint for hunger at the head of every street. -- Lamentations 2:19”
  7. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Pride — Is sin -- Pr 21:4. Hateful to God -- Pr 6:16,17; 16:5. Hateful to Christ -- Pr 8:12,13. Often originates in Self-righteousness. -- Lu 18:11,12. Religious privileges. -- Zep 3:11. Unsanctified knowledge. -- 1Co 8:1. Inexperience. -- 1Ti 3:6. Possession of power. -- Le 26:19; Eze 30:6. Possession of wealth. -- 2Ki 20:13. Forbidden -- 1Sa 2:3; Ro 12:3,16. Defiles a man -- Mr 7:20,22. Hardens the mind -- Da 5:20. Saints give not away. -- Ps 131:1. Respect not, in others. -- Ps 40:4. Mourn over, in others. -- Jer 13:17. Hate, in others. -- Ps 101:5. A hindrance to”
  8. Torrey's Topical Textbook “Torrey's Topical Textbook: Anger of God, The — Averted by Christ -- Lu 2:11,14; Ro 5:9; 2Co 5:18,19; Eph 2:14,17; Col 1:20; 1Th 1:10. Is averted from them that believe -- Joh 3:14-18; Ro 3:25; 5:1. Is averted upon confession of sin and repentance -- Job 33:27,28; Ps 106:43-45; Jer 3:12,13; 18:7,8; 31:18-20; Joe 2:12-14; Lu 15:18-20. Is slow -- Ps 103:8; Isa 48:9; Jon 4:2; Na 1:3. Is righteous -- Ps 58:10,11; La 1:18; Ro 2:6,8; 3:5,6; Re 16:6,7. The justice of, not to be questioned -- Ro 9:18,20,22. Manifested in terrors -- Ex 14:24; Ps 76:6-8; Jer 10:10; La 2:20-22. Manifested in judgments and”
  9. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: and so abused the goodness of God to their own destruction. But though you should hold that the words were addressed to elect believers, no inconsistency will follow. It is one thing, in order to prevent believers from indulging vain confidence, to repress the temerity which, from the remains of the flesh, sometimes gains upon them, and it is another thing to strike terror into their consciences, and prevent them from feeling secure in the mercy of God. 23. Then, when he bids us work out our salvation with fear and trembling, all h”
  10. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: pray always. This answer confirmed by an examination of the dangers by which both our life and our salvation are every moment threatened. Confirmed farther by the command and permission of God, by the nature of true repentance, and a consideration of impenitence. Conclusion. 8. Third rule, the suppression of all pride. Examples. Daniel, David, Isaiah, Jeremiah, Baruch. 9. Advantage of thus suppressing pride. It leads to earnest entreaty for pardon, accompanied with humble confession and sure confidence in the Divine mercy. This may”
  11. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: from the experience of believers, who, in recognizing the grace of God toward them, not only feel disquietude (this often happens), but sometimes tremble, overcome with terror, 290 290 As to the imperfection, strengthening, and increase of faith, see Book 4. chap. 4 sec. 7, 8. so violent are the temptations which assail their minds. This scarcely seems consistent with certainty of faith. It is necessary to solve this difficulty, in order to maintain the doctrine above laid down. When we say that faith must be certain and secure, we”
  12. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “ANF Vol 9: Gospel of Peter, Diatessaron, Origen's Commentaries — 16. WHY THE GREAT ARE COMPARED TO LITTLE CHILDREN. (part 2): so that he is worthy of love, who, being converted as the little children, has reached such a point as to have, as it were, his passions in subjection like the little children. And with regard to fear, therefore, similar things to those spoken might be conceived, that the little children do not experience the fear of the wicked, but a different thing, to which those who have an accurate knowledge of questions in regard to the passions and their names give the name of f”
  13. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 32: have full provision for their infants, and others almost none, according as it is the pleasure of God to nourish one child more liberally, and another more sparingly. Those who attribute due praise to the omnipotence of God thereby derive a double benefit. He to whom heaven and earth belong, and whose nod all creatures must obey, is fully able to reward the homage which they pay to him, and they can rest secure in the protection of Him to whose control everything that could do them harm is subject, by whose authority, Satan, with a”
  14. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 79: they have signs of calling similar to those given to the elect; but I do not at all admit that they have that sure confirmation of election which I desire believers to seek from the word of the gospel. Wherefore, let not examples of this kind move us away from tranquil confidence in the promise of the Lord, when he declares that all by whom he is received in true faith have been given him by the Father, and that none of them, while he is their Guardian and Shepherd, will perish ( John 3:16 ; 6:39). Of Judas we shall shortly speak (”
  15. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 75: hand. When making such comparisons, there is no wonder that they bring forward their integrity and simplicity of heart, that thus, by the justice of their cause, the Lord may be the more disposed to give them succour. We rob not the pious breast of the privilege of enjoying a consciousness of purity before the Lord, and thus feeling assured of the promises with which he comforts and supports his true worshippers, but we would have them to lay aside all thought of their own merits and found their confidence of success in prayer sole”
  16. CCEL (Reformed) “John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, section 57: and the fear of believers there is a wide difference. The wicked do not fear God from any unwillingness to offend him, provided they could do so with impunity; but knowing that he is armed with power for vengeance, they tremble in dismay on hearing of his anger. And they thus dread his anger, because they think it is impending over them, and they every moment expect it to fall upon their heads. But believers, as has been said, dread the offense even more than the punishment. They are not alarmed 493 by the fear of punishment, as if”
  17. Schaff ANF/NPNF (Patristic) “NPNF1 Vol 8: Augustine — Exposition on Psalms — PSALM CXXXI.(2) (part 2): Christians. ... What is above my strength, he saith, I have not sought; I have not stretched myself out there, I have not chosen to be magnified there. How deeply this self-exaltation in the abundance of graces is to be feared, that no man may pride himself in the gift of God, but may rather preserve humility, and may do what is written: "The greater thou art, the more humble thyself, and thou shall find favour before the Lord:"(2) how deeply pride in God's gift should be feared, we must again and again impress upon you.”
  18. Romans (Baptist/Reformed) “John Gill on Romans 3:15: There is no fear of God before their eyes. The place referred to is Psa 36:1, by the "fear of God", is not meant a fear of God's wrath, of hell and damnation; nor a fearful distrust of his presence, power, providence, and grace; much less an hypocritical fear; but a reverential affection for God, and which is peculiar to the children of God, which springs from a sense of divine goodness, is attended with holiness of heart and life, is consistent with faith, even full assurance of it, and with spiritual joy in its highest degree; it stands opposed to pride and haughtin”
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