Fear. We've all experienced it. But how do we conquer it? How do we deal with fear without becoming paralyzed? The answer is simple, yet challenging. The key to having victory over our fears is Faith.
A week ago my husband had to fly to Washington, D.C. for a work conference. This was my first time alone in our new house. During the daylight hours, I kept myself busy by working, cleaning, walking the dog...doing anything and everything I could to keep my mind occupied so as not to let the fear creep in. But when it came time for bed, after the sun was gone and there was nothing keeping me from my thoughts...that's when the fear began to overtake me. Like water slowly rising, I found myself being drowned in my fears. Every sound was magnified. Every awful scenario played in my head. I was completely consumed with panic.
The first night I opened a bottle of wine in attempt to calm my nerves. But it was pure exhaustion that finally lulled me to sleep around 4am. The next night was just as tormenting. I couldn't shake the dark thoughts and feeling of terror at what could happen as I lay there...all alone.
Then I chose faith.
A week ago my husband had to fly to Washington, D.C. for a work conference. This was my first time alone in our new house. During the daylight hours, I kept myself busy by working, cleaning, walking the dog...doing anything and everything I could to keep my mind occupied so as not to let the fear creep in. But when it came time for bed, after the sun was gone and there was nothing keeping me from my thoughts...that's when the fear began to overtake me. Like water slowly rising, I found myself being drowned in my fears. Every sound was magnified. Every awful scenario played in my head. I was completely consumed with panic.
The first night I opened a bottle of wine in attempt to calm my nerves. But it was pure exhaustion that finally lulled me to sleep around 4am. The next night was just as tormenting. I couldn't shake the dark thoughts and feeling of terror at what could happen as I lay there...all alone.
Then I chose faith.
As I laid there in my bed, vulnerable and seemingly alone, God whispered through the dark to my heart and repeated His promise "I will NEVER leave you." (Deut. 31:6) And in that moment I had a choice to make...either I was going to trust that God IS who He says He is and therefor trust in His promises or I was going to believe Him to be a liar and stay stuck in my fears. In Isaiah 41:10 Christ says, "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand."
I began to remember every instance where God had come through for me. I looked back at all the moments where at the time it wasn't clear that God was there with me but in hindsight....He had never left. His track record was perfect. Not once has He failed me. Even though I constantly fail Him. I began to ask myself if I could trust Him with my eternity...why couldn't I trust Him with my right now? I thought to myself, what if my worst case scenario came true...what then? Would it change the fact that whenever my life here on earth ends I will be with my Savior in eternity? And that's when I felt His peace embrace me.
My God has conquered the grave. There is no greater power on Earth that can keep me from Him. And in that knowledge...through faith...there is nothing left to fear. We have eternal victory through Christ!
As human beings, fear will inevitably rear its ugly head throughout our lives. But fear is NOT from God. We must bring our thoughts back to His love and power. Turning fear into praise. Our God is FOR us so who could ever be against us? I pray you find the same peace in His promises today.
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