Thursday, August 8, 2013

Fear Not - Easier Said Than Done

Hey Friend,

It's confession time again...I used to be a control freak.  Not that I don't still fall back into past patterns, but God has opened my eyes to why I tried to control things and why I don't have to anymore. 

What drives the need to have to be in control?  Insecurity, yes...I doubted my own ability to handle difficult situations.  Worry then became my constant companion.  But what drives a person to have contingency plans A-Z?  I'm afraid it's the four letter "F" word - FEAR. 

Fear results when we place our confidence in ourselves instead of in God. 

And, since I didn't have a lot of confidence in myself, I lived as a very fearful person and that's no way to live.  I know, however, that I am not alone.  Most of us live with some degree of fear.  This world can be a hard and scary place a lot of the time.  God knows our frame - he knows that we are going to have fear.  That's why there are more than 300 scriptures in the Bible on fear.  God put them there, not so we will go on a guilt trip for having fear, but for reassurance when we do (and we will) face fear.

Sometimes when I get overwhelmed and fearful, I forget just how big God is.

That's when I turn to scripture to remind myself just how big God is.  The Creator who spoke the world, the oceans and the stars, into being; the One who knows the exact number of hairs on my head loves me beyond measure and is bigger than my fears!

If God is for us (me/you) who can be against us (me/you)?  (Romans 8:31)

The Lord is my light and my salvation - whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life - of whom shall I be afraid?  (Psalm 27:1)

God is not only bigger and stronger than our fears, He takes it several steps further and promises to get rid of what we fear and will fight for us when we do fear. 

What are we to do with our fears?  Turn them over to God...why?  Because God IS love. And what does Love do?  It casts out fear.  If I hand over my fears to God and not try to handle them myself, what does He promise?

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear.  (1 John 4:18)

When I was in the sixth grade, I was tall for my age.  People may find that hard to believe since I'm a whopping 5 ft. 3" now.  I just stopped growing after that point.  I vividly remember being on the playground and this one boy (bully) was tormenting my friend who was much smaller than me.  I'm not quite sure what came over this usually mild mannered young thing with braids, but I walked up to the boy; told him to stop teasing my friend and then I did it...I decked him.  Yep, laid him out flat on his back.  Of course I was immediately whisked off to the principal's office, but the mama bear instinct just rose up in me and I wasn't going to let someone I cared about be treated that way.

We are created in God's image and that's how He cares about us.  He will fight for us if we will let him.

The Lord will fight for you; you need only to be still.  (Exodus 14:14)

Personally, the image that brings me the most comfort when I am fearful, is the one found in Psalm 23.  I picture myself as the lamb being nestled in Christ's strong, yet loving arms.  He's holding me safe - close to His heart.  I don't have to do anything but just be in His presence.  There is no expectation, no condemnation and He understands what I am going through.

As sheep we are prone to wander.  Sheep don't have any natural defenses like the quills of the porcupine or poisonous venom or sharp teeth and claws.  Basically, on their own, sheep are toast. 

The Good Shepherd goes to great lengths to protect his sheep.  Sheep are skittish, fearful animals.  The Shepherd calms those fears; makes them to lie down and rest; makes calm pools in running water so that they can drink.  His rod and staff protect the sheep and He will put His life in danger to protect His flock.

My soul ultimately finds reassurance that God and I are super-glued together.  Nothing...NOTHING...can separate me from His love.

For I am persuaded beyond doubt (am sure) that neither death nor life, nor angels nor principalities, nor things impending and threatening nor things to come, nor powers, nor height nor depth, not anything else in all creation will be able to separate us (me) from the love of God which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.  (Romans 8: 38-39)

That's one "neither" and nine "nors" for a perfect score of ten.  Fear not - easier said than done, but thanks to God's merciful intervening, not impossible!  God is ultimately the one in control and His plan for us is good!

Love,

Bev

ps.  Just a reminder that if you are reading this blog, I continue to lift you up in prayer every morning and every evening.  May you be blessed!







18 comments:

  1. I showed up from #outoftheblue and I with you, friend. Control is such a con-man and fear is his accomplice. Don't we need to lay them both out on the playground?!! :) Thanks for your wise words today.

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  2. Dea,
    So glad you popped over from Out of the Blue! I love the way you describe control and fear...and yes, we need to lay them both out on the playground!!
    Blessings,
    Bev

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  3. Bev,
    Thanks for reminding us all that fear should NOT be crippling us, God's lambs!

    And just for the record, i probably would have done the SAME thing to that bully.....just sayin'!

    As always, i love your words and the verses you chose - God is GOOD and calms our EVERY fear
    Lisa : )

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    1. Thanks Lisa, you are always such an encouragement to me!! Yes, he will calm our every fear if we just turn it over to Him. Love you girl!!
      Bev xo

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  4. Oooo, I had my own "deck the bully" moment in junior high. Desperate times call for desperate measures. :)

    Thank you for pointing us to the One who wipes away all fear!

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  5. Kristen,
    I could see you "decking the bully"...you have that spunk!! So thankful for you!!
    Love and hugs,
    Bev

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  6. Love this, Bev! Thanks for sharing your brave and beautiful heart with us. Bullies beware--we sisters are stickin' together! :)

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  7. Holley,
    I am so glad you stopped by my blog!! You have been a big inspiration in getting me to start writing and to keep me keepin' on! Thank you for being you!
    With gratitude and blessings,
    Bev

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  8. I needed to be calmed by this! Thank you Bev!!!

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  9. Amy,
    God's words ARE a calming balm to all our fears...I know, I've been there. Praying for his calming presence to surround you! Love and ((hugs)), Bev

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  10. I really needed this today as I am certainly in one of my "need to control" moments in my life. I so quickly get wrapped up in my to-do list forgetting that I can give it to him. Im acting out of fear...fear of what? Fear it won't get done? He is so much bigger than anything and his expectations none. I must walk towards Him to receive His grace and cast my fears aside.Thanks friend stopping by from Behind the Scences

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    1. Jenny,
      So glad you stopped by from Crystal's site! We put these tremendous expectations on ourselves - not God. Here's to fewer expectations and more peace and contentment!!
      Blessings,
      Bev

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  11. Dear Beth
    Sheep are not only skittish and fearful, they are also not very intelligent and need a shepherd to lead and care for them! Bev, it hurts me when I think how I have been taught that fear is a very sinful emotion for apparently it is sign of not trusting God. If that was the truth, King David was definitely a BIG unbeliever, as well as many other great old saints. If that was true, why do we need "perfect love" to cast out all fear?
    Blessings XX
    Mia

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  12. Mia,
    Great point that David (and many others) would be unbelievers if fear is a sin. We ALL face it, it's where we go with it that makes a difference. Let's run to the only One who can cast it out!!
    Thanks friend,
    Bev XX

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  13. Hi Bev. I found you after we both commented on Amber Haines post about taking heart. You mentioned dealing with an anxiety disorder and felt immediately connected. I was on Celexa for OCD/Anxiety for about 2 years. Went off of it last November and have done well until the past month. And boy is it back with a vengeance. I've struggled with it, prayed about it, tried all kinds of things and yet my brain seems to be winning the struggle. I'm on the verge of going back to the dr. to ask about possibly going back on meds. I feel like a failure spiritually. And I'm trying hard not to believe that but also trying hard to know what's best for my health.

    Eagerly going through your posts. Thank you for starting this blog and for being an honest Christian.

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    1. Karla,
      I can so empathize with you. OCD/anxiety is really an insidious illness! I have been diagnosed and on medicine for 20+ years. I went off my medicine a couple times - because I was feeling well and didn't think I needed the medicine or because I was sick of the side effects like gaining weight. I did ok for awhile, but then like you, I found myself back in the pit again. One thing I truly want you to hear is that OCD/anxiety is an illness. You are NOT a failure spiritually. You would not tell a diabetic that he/she was a failure spiritually because they had to take insulin?! OCD is caused by a chemical imbalance in the brain...it is not caused by a lack of faith. Satan would like nothing more than for you to buy into that lie and the other lies that OCD generates. For me, I NEED the meds as well as therapy and an environment where I can continually grow my relationship with God. It's a three pronged attack on this illness. I hope this helps?! I strongly urge you to get your dr's opinion. Please know that you are and will continue to be in my prayers!! Please let me know how things are going..With love and blessings,
      Bev

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  14. Oh my dear friend. Can I call you that? I feel such a deep connection already.

    I feel like you have written my story but mine has just been a bit shorter. The reality is I wonder what life would have looked like when my girls were little and how much sweeter time as their mommy would have been back then had I known I needed the help getting my brain to function correctly. No regrets here but I do wonder.

    Thank you, thank you, thank you for this wise response. I am printing it as a reminder and keeping it in my prayer notebook. I did go to the doctor today and am starting back on the Celexa tonight.

    Praying for you as I know you are also praying for me. So many blessings sent your way!
    Karla

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  15. Dear Karla,
    Of course you can call me friend!! I am so glad we made this connection! I am also very encouraged that you are starting back on your medicine...it may take a little while, but hopefully you will start to feel some relief from the symptoms. You have a wise doctor.

    I wasn't diagnosed until my daughter was about 3 years old and I do wonder, too, if I would have been a better mom had I known what was going on with my brain. Another wise counselor told me to pray and thank God for enabling me to do the best that I could do and to ask Him to fill in the gaps or cracks that my illness left behind. God is their ultimate parent, and I believe He "filled in" where I wasn't able and I have been able to come to a peace with knowing that. I will pray for that peace for you too! The fact that you care so much shows that you are an awesome mom!! Blessings, prayers and ((hugs)) sent your way!
    Love,
    Bev

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I would really LOVE to hear from you!! Your thoughts, opinions, suggestions and prayer requests mean a lot to me.