No place for fear

I must admit, I have lived a very blessed life. I am 42 years old, both of my parents are still living. I have been married only once for almost 20 years. Both of our children are healthy and happy. Kevin and I have yet to face any significant health issues. I am very thankful for all of these things and many more to list here. (and this isn't even my "thankful" blog entry that will go up later this week) This life has not, by any means, been without trials, however. Some of which have been of significant proportion. We faced decisions that could have brought financial devastation. We have been betrayed by dear friends.  Fears of all types invade our lives.

There was a time I even feared for my safety. It was when we lived in Florida, Kevin had a job which had him out of the state about 200 nights a year. I was more than 600 miles away from any family and was only about 23 years old. There had been a rash of break-ins on our street and the burglars were even bold enough to break in while my neighbors were sleeping. One night, sirens blaring, officers were swarming our street yelling back and forth to each other. I was terrified, literally, for some time. Fear is paralyzingly. It consumes our thoughts, empairs our judgement, and can even affect our health. I am here to tell you, my dear friend, as children of God, fear has no place in our lives. We have believed the lie that society, and even the church, has told us that fear is normal, accepted, and even justified in some circumstances. Not true for the child of God. I want you to hear me, this is a huge fallacy. Christ's protection over lives and our hearts is not circumstantial. "Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. Philippians 4:6. We are to be anxious "for nothing." This is God's word. Do you believe it? Or are your thoughts going to that place of, "but this is too big, it hurts too bad, I just can't help it, or the results are too devastating for it to be that simple." Well, it's not simple. Your child may have cancer and, as a mother, I cannot even allow my mind to go there. So I am not telling you I know how you feel because that would be a lie as well as insulting. What I am telling you is that I know God's word is true down to the very last letter.

The very next verse is a promise of what will happen when we are faithful and diligent to the instructions in Philippians 4:6.  "And the peace of God, which passes all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus." Philippians 4:7. We sometimes think that our fear is too big and for someone not in Christ that is true. But as a child of God we have the power of the living God in us. The peace of God DOES pass all understanding and just because we do not, in our finite minds, understand it does not diminish Christ's ability. We must even at times, moment by moment, with the mental strength of the warriors we are, refuse to accept fear and allow it to dwell in our minds. We must also expect the supernatural intervention of Christ by acknowledging his power IN US, because it is just that, supernatural." For the weapons of our warfare are not carnal but mighty in God for pulling down strongholds, casting down arguments and every high thing that exalts itself against the knowledge of God, bringing every thought into captivity to the obedience of Christ," 2 Corinthians 10:4-5. When those paralyzing thoughts come into our minds we must not let them live there. Our refusal to dwell on the magnitude of our situation must be replaced by dwelling on the enormity of our God.

I know there are terrifying, unspeakable things we must face in this life. And I am not suggesting that nothing painful will happen to us if we are faithful in prayer and supplication. There may times we endure great pain, but pain does not have to involve fear. I know Christ Jesus is more than capable of performing the supernatural in our lives. We have been deceived into believing that some situations are just too scary. My dear friend, that is a lie. Don't take my word for it. Be the Christian who believes Christ is actually who He says He is, and is capable of doing everything He says He can do. It will take us closer to Christ.