I was a “shy child”, so I am not being unsympathetic. There are a few things in life that God has truly opened my eyes to and this is one of them. As I read my Bible, I came to a verse in II Timothy. In chapter one verse seven it says, “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline.” Do you see that? No timidity, only power, love and self-discipline. It takes God’s power to overcome shyness and it takes love for others to put them above shy feelings. Self-discipline is how a shy person will go beyond what comes naturally to the boldness God wants of us.
So that verse alone is a prescription for shyness, yet God took it one step further for me. Originally, I had memorized that verse as saying, “God has not given us a spirit of fear….” When I read the same verse translating fear to timidity, it was light bulb time. I wasn’t just shy, I was afraid! Knowing I am not to fear man—only God, I needed to change.
Shyness still haunts me. I am not the best in crowds. But I know it is a battle that God wants me to fight. He wants me to put others before my own feelings and to love because He first loved me. Can you see how to help a shy child? Help them by having a different perspective. Practice with them how to handle upcoming situations so they are not frozen in fear. Encourage them to think of others and not how they feel. Pray with your child to be filled to overflowing with God’s love, so they see needs and hurts and can’t help but meet them.