When fear hits

Lately it seems that many people I know are hitting some pretty hard places in their lives. Even now as I write I'm blinking back tears trying not to let my mind wander to what could be possible, but instead focus on the known. That's what fear is, isn't it? When we let our minds focus on what could be possible rather than focusing on the known? I'm tired of fear having such power in my life. Fear holds me back from telling someone I care about them in case they react the wrong way. Fear holds me back from pursuing goals and dreams because I might fail. Fear holds me back from actually engaging in life because something may happen to someone I love and then I'll be struck with a sadness at times too great to bear. Fear holds me back from letting my children find out who they are because there are bad people in the world and what if something happened to one of my boys ~ how could I live? Fear, unhealthy fear, the fear that comes from letting your mind go to what could be possible rather than focusing on the known is nothing but evil trying to get a foot-hold and keep you from being who God made you to be.

I know - some of you are reading this and you're thinking, "but, Trayc, fear is not always a bad thing." I know! Good fear keeps me from walking down a dark alley in the middle of the night (or broad daylight) so I can be safer. Good fear keeps me from walking away from my faith when God doesn't make sense/I can't find the ability to trust Him right now because He IS still God and I don't want to be a pile of salt. Good fear keeps me from sending the boys off to play in the park without instruction to stay where I can see them at all times. Yes, there is good fear. I'm not talking about that today, though.

No, today I'm talking about the kind of fear that just pisses me off because I'm so sick of the way satan tries to get in there and fool us into thinking God's not really on our side and that He's not really in control. I hate that he convinces people that God isn't really who He says He is and that we believe him because we're afraid he might be right. I hate that that slimy, slithering yuck gets into our heads and gets us to believe that he is more powerful than God and if we don't worry about something then he's going to win. HE WILL NOT WIN ON GOD'S WATCH! And, just so you know...GOD'S WATCH IS ETERNAL!

Two weeks ago we had an incident in our church that, unfortunately, is too familiar. One of our pastors was found to have crossed some boundaries with female members of the group he was a pastor to. (before you immediately think he was a child molester or had an affair let me be clear that neither of those were the case...he allowed these girls to think of him more as a boyfriend than as a pastor. Why do we immediately jump to the worst and then dismiss the lesser, but equally sinful, breaches in boundaries as if they're no big deal? ANYway...)

Thankfully our head pastor didn't do that and there had to be an announcement every church hates to hear..."because of his choices he has resigned and will no longer be in leadership at this church." (notice he didn't say he was no longer welcome nor did he say he will no longer be with us. Instead, our pastor said the pastor in question is most certainly welcome at our church because our requirement to come into a church is to be a sinner ~ something we all qualify highly for ~ and because this is a place to find healing and help and hope...why wouldn't he and his family be welcome? They are more welcome now than ever before.)

Although it isn't criminal in nature, this event has had an impact on many people in our church.

Then, this last Saturday night we had a special speaker come to our young families group and speak to us about how we as parents can help prevent abuse in our children's lives. He speaks all over the US to teens and children about depression and suicide and safety, as well as to the parents about prevention and training in what to teach your children to keep them safe(r). That was a tough talk to sit through. That's a fear I hate because I have seen too many incidences of what that reality does. It can be a healthy fear, but it's a fine-line between healthy and unhealthy in my mind.

And then, Michael Jackson. 'nuff said.

And then, and then, and then. The list goes on. So many friends and extended family members looking at life and circumstances they are in wondering what will happen next. Of course our minds go naturally to the worst. Fear. Fear. Fear.

I just got a phone call and a circumstance I never thought I'd have to look at could possibly be. Instead of letting my mind go there (I'd be a basket case and can't afford that right now) I grabbed my wireless keyboard and started writing. (explanation for a possible randomness to this entry) So, in case some of you are facing fear, I thought I'd share my process in hopes that someone else's fears may be subsided in the truth as well. Here are some verses, quotes, thoughts and truths to set my fears running back to where they belong....

"Looking in the mirror in the light of the truth, there is nothing you can say and nothing you can do that will ever make God care more than He does for His treasure...God's treasure is YOU."
-Steven Curtis Chapman Treasure of You

"We have nothing to fear but fear itself."
-President Franklin D. Roosevelt

1Then the LORD answered Job from the whirlwind: "Who is this that questions my wisdom with such ignorant words? Brace yourself, because I have some questions for you, and you must answer them.- Job 38:2 & 3
(then read the rest of 38 here... http://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Job%2038&version=51)

"In the beginning you laid the foundations of the earth, and the heavens are the work of your hands. They will perish, but you remain; they will all wear out like a garment. Like clothing you will change them and they will be discarded. But You remain the same, and your years will never end."
-Psalm 102: 26 & 27

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want. He makes me lie down in green pastures, He leads me beside quiet waters, He restores my soul. He guides me in paths of righteousness for His name's sake. Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death I will fear no evil, for YOU ARE WITH ME; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me."
- Psalm 23: 1-4

"No eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love Him."
-I Corinthians 2: 9

"We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed."
- 2 Corinthians 4: 8 & 9

"Fear nothing in the things you're about to suffer--but stay on guard! Fear nothing! The Devil is about to throw you in jail for a time of testing--ten days. It won't last forever. "Don't quit, even if it costs you your life. Stay there believing. I have a Life-Crown sized and ready for you. "
-Revelation 2:10

"I have told you these things, so that in Me you may have peace. In this world you will have trouble. But take heart! I have overcome the world!"
-John 16:33

"However, I consider my life worth nothing to me, if only I may finish the race and complete the task the Lord Jesus has given me - the task of testifying to the gospel of God's grace."
-Acts 20:24

"God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in time of trouble. Therefore, we will not fear, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea, though its waters roar and foam and the mountains quake with their surging. The Lord Almighty is with us; the God of Jacob is our fortress."
-Psalm 46: 1- 3, 11

"Why are you downcast, O my soul? Why so disturbed within me? Put your hope in God, for I will yet praise Him, my Savior and my God."
-Psalm 42: 11

Thanks for reading. I know my heart is at a much a slower rate than it was 15 minutes ago. I hope yours is, too.