“Trust God’s Word and His power more than you trust your own feelings and experiences. Remember, your Rock is Christ, and it is the sea that ebbs and flows with the tides, not Him.”
~ Samuel Rutherford
Photo Credit: Angelina Odemchuk / Editing Credit: Me 🙂
It’s been cold inside my heart for the past week or so. I’ve been dealing with a lot of anxiety, a lot of doubt, a lot of perfectionism…just a discouraging time. On one hand, I know the Truth of what God says, but on the other hand, I’m having a difficult time believing it.
At two points during the past several days, I’ve been so anxious that I’ve had to actually write out a list of all the things I was anxious about, just to get them “out of my head” so I could try to go to sleep. Thankfully, I feel better after doing this – and I always try to end with reminding myself of the positives and the promises of God. Somehow this keeps me going.
For example, one night I wrote out my list of worries, and then asked myself, “Why am I worrying so much about all of this?” I answered myself:
But then I countered myself with these truths:
A verse that encouraged me at this time was Deuteronomy 31:6 (NLT) – “So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you.”
Then another night I was worried about something else, and how things weren’t going as I had hoped. But again, I tried to encourage myself with truths:
The hardest part is that I feel like no one understands. People try, but they just don’t struggle with the same things. Truthfully, however, no one can fully understand someone else. The ONLY Person who can COMPLETELY understand me and each and every person is Jesus Christ.
“For we do not have a High Priest who is unable to sympathize with our weaknesses, but One who in every respect has been tempted as we are, yet without sin.” ~ Hebrews 4:15 (ESV)
PRAISE GOD that He understands! Sometimes it is just this knowledge that gets me through. ❤
I’ve been reading The Purpose Driven Life by Rick Warren for the past several weeks. I’ve read the book before, but it’s such a great book that it merits re-reading. 🙂
Last night I began perusing a Chapter entitled “What Drives Your Life?” It states that there are hundreds of things that could be driving your life – but it also lists five of the “most common” driving forces.
Unfortunately, I would have to admit that my life can be driven by all of these things at certain times. But the driving force that hit me the hardest was “Fear.”
Many people are driven by fear. Their fears may be a result of a traumatic experience, unrealistic expectations, growing up in a high-control home, or even genetic predisposition. Regardless of the cause, fear-driven people often miss great opportunities because they’re afraid to venture out. Instead they play it safe, avoiding risks and trying to maintain the status quo.
Fear is a self-imposed prison that will keep you from becoming what God intends for you to be. You must move against it with the weapons of faith and love. The Bible says, ‘Well-formed love banishes fear. Since fear is crippling, a fearful life – fear of death, fear of judgment – is one not yet fully formed in love.’
I am so often driven by fear. I let it hold me back, let it cripple me, let it keep me from taking the next step.
Sometimes I feel that the Lord wants me to do something for Him, but I’m afraid to move forward in faith. Unfortunately, I miss the blessing that comes with being obedient.
What are you afraid of today? Is it progressing with a business venture (I’m having trouble with this, myself)? Returning to school or taking an educational course? Trying a new hobby or embarking on a new adventure?
Don’t let fear hold you back. Look to God, and rely on Him to help you take those “baby steps” forward. It’s the only way to beat this driving force!
Blessings to you today. ❤
Photo Credit: David Marcu
Knees to the Earth 