.png)
We are all afraid sometimes
Life can get scary. Some of us have been fed the lie that a Christian will never be afraid. LIE is the operative word here. Why would God Himself weave throughout the scriptures, “Do not fear. Do not be afraid.” if the reality of our lives would give Christ-followers a pass to fear? Certainly, there are many of us who are thinking, “I love the Lord, but I am afraid.” With that confession in the open, let’s talk about what Christian women can do when fear seems overwhelming.
First
First, face fear with Fatih. So many /f/’s here, each important as the next. First things first. Unless you have never been on an airplane, you’re probably familiar with this scene. Before the pilot sets the bird to the air, the flight attendants stand in front of rows of people who half-heartedly listen to emergency safety instructions . Can you see it right now as if it was playing out in front of you? He or she holds the hose in one hand as if its connected overhead, and the oxygen mask in the other. As the instructions play, sometimes inaudibly, from the speakers, they place the mask over their own mouth. Each air-traveler is instructed to FIRST use the O2 on themselves. Before anything else, the expectation is we go straight to the source of our next breath. We’re no good to anyone else if we can’t breathe.
Face it
I wish I could say this is the most important of the first, face, fear and faith, but when considering working through our fear, they are all needed together to bring us to our desired outcome. Face it. How many times do we disciple our children’s character by ignoring their shortcomings? We don’t. We can’t tuck our heads in the sand to them lying if we want to make them seekers and doers of truth. The data is in agreement, any fear is best defeated by facing it full on.
However, does this change if our fear isn’t tangibly avoided (spiders, heights, crowds etc)? It does. Here’s why, we can combat being afraid of the dark by learning there’s no danger when we hang out in our dark bedroom throughout the night, but when we’re afraid from our own voice inside our heads and heart, that’s a different path of cause and effect. When our fears are based inwardly, from the heart, we have to then directly address them likewise. Good news, we can face our fears straight to our hearts with the Lord. Our fears don’t need to result in us covering them up or running away from them.
Fear
This is not a name it claim type of thing, but what are we really afraid of? When my mom was suddenly diagnosed with a ravishing terminal cancer, I was afraid. Completely afraid. I loved the Lord, but friends, I’m here to tell you it was the scariest time of my life. What was I afraid of?
Loss. I was afraid of losing my mom who I love with all of my heart.
The unknown. Everyone who knew my mom was praying for a miracle against all the doctors could report. The unknown, and the known as it was, out of my control, and it was rocking my world in fear.
Pain. Which of us enjoys pain? I didn’t want to see my mom in pain, and frankly, I didn’t want to feel the pain that sure enough walked along my side every day of each of those months.
Inadequacies. I think it’s fair to admit I was fearful of things to come of which I could offer absolutely nothing besides my presence, and what good is that with death lurking?
In truth, friends, when we find ourselves in a whirlwind of fear, isn’t it the same story? We fear loss, the unknown, pain/discomfort, and our own inadequacies in the actual circumstances or even (possibly even more so) the thought of what could come from our situation. Think about it, the what ifs we tell ourselves are the catalyst to our fears.
Faith is the assurance of our answer
So, Sisters, what are we to do when we are afraid? If we know the Lord, faith is the tested assurance to our answer of fear. WHEN…tells us it’s coming at some point (does this surprise any of us, I think not). I AM, present tense, we are going to be afraid at times. Then what?
Psalm 56:3 When I am afraid I will trust in Thee.
Faith in action
So few words brimming with the wisest advice. Trust in Him. Here the Lord directs us through the times in our lives we find ourselves drowning in fear. We put our faith in action by trusting in the Lord who is faithful, loving and able. I will, I will, I will… trust in thee. . Faith and fear can’t reside comfortably together.
What does trusting in the Lord look like?
We can, and will, discuss more of what that in and of itself looks like, to put our trust in the Lord, but as simple as it appears, it’s really that simple. While I write some more about seeing our trust manifest in life day in and day out, today, will you decide with me to intentionally choose to trust in the Lord where we are afraid? It is the foundation of our response to fear: When I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.
Until tomorrow, much love, Friends. If I can pray for you, leave me a comment or email me through my contact page. God’s blessings!
