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Let’s talk about fear and anxiety, and how those things can hold us back from doing what we are actually capable of doing.
2 Timothy 1:7 - For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.
Isaiah 41:10 - Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand.
God does not give us a spirit of fear. When I give into my fear, I am not really trusting that there really is nothing that can harm me. Look, I know some things can physically harm us on earth. But God has called us not to fear but to trust in Him.
For many of us, we’ve had lives filled with fear, loss, and unknowns—maybe some of you are experiencing these things. But know, one thing remains the same: the mission of God in our life and of those around us. Sometimes it is God’s will for us to suffer, but we must have no fear. If we suffer for what is good, God is glorified.
Think about all that you have gone through and where you are now. God saw you through then and so therefore there is evidence in that that God can be trusted and we should not fear the unknown.
I have had many times where fear overruled what I knew. I overthink at times and all the scenarios that could happen bubble up in my thoughts and fear can really take over and blind me from the good that could also come of the unknown. I have gotten better because I have learned to rely on God.
When I was younger there was more times than I can say that my mom had to make me go and do things because of my fear and anxiety, I just didn’t want to go…. Then after getting there, I was fine and had a great time. Every time before or on the way to whatever it was, she would say you know you’ll be ok once you get there…that didn’t matter to me. The anxiety of it all clouded that. I had to learn to not let my fear and anxiety dictate what I was going to do…. I really learned this after my parents made me leave and go to college… (not in a bad way)…anyway the point is comfort and security stopped me from a lot and being pushed out of that comfort helped me to rely more on God and not those fears.
Sometimes you have to be stretched or made to change to find your potential and what the Lord has for you.
Philippians 4:6 -7 - Don’t worry about anything; instead, pray about everything. Tell God what you need, and thank him for all he has done. Then you will experience God’s peace, which exceeds anything we can understand. His peace will guard your hearts and minds as you live in Christ Jesus.
We are told not to worry about anything, but instead to pray confidently about everything. We are to tell the Lord our needs, laying our petitions humbly at His feet and thanking Him for all He has done.
We are not to be anxious about anything but are to bring everything in life to the Lord in prayer. As we abide in Christ and He in us we can have that sense of freedom. We are to keep our hearts free from fretting and worry and this can only be achieved as we cast all our care and concern on the Lord Jesus, for He cares for us.
When we allow fear and anxiety to guide us, we obviously are not trusting in God. Even as a Christian this can be hard to let go of, but we have read a few scriptures today that will help us through and help us to understand what to do. Give that fear and anxiety over to the Lord…. Let him guide you and I know it will be fine, we just have to get there.