Do worries and anxieties keep you from enjoying life? Do you feel like you are trapped, hopeless, and alone? Well, STOP! I do not say this lightly, because I was there. I have known what it is like to be so afraid to live, that I choose not to live life. It is not the life you were created to live.
God created you to have life and have it with peace, joy, happiness. (John 10:10) Yes there will be troubles and pain that come your way, but if you believe in the One true God you do not have to worry. (John 16:33) You have the God of the universe on your side. He is there ready to send His angels to battle for you. You are not alone! (Exodus 14:14)
For too long I dwelt in the self pity party of life. I believed the lies that told me I wasn't good enough. I believed the lies that told me that God didn't care enough about my small problems to help me. Then He woke me up to the truth. I am doing a Bible study with a couple of friends right now on fear, and it has opened my eyes. I have read the scriptures we are studying many times, but they never touched my heart before, like they have now.
Let me share just one story that changed my perspective overnight this past week. In Exodus we read of the Israelites finally being led out of Egypt. No longer will they have to be slaves. As they are leaving, they come a river too big to cross. Behind them they see the Egyptian armies chasing after them. They are not coming to have a discussion. They are coming to fight. The Israelites at that moment had a choice to make; run for their lives or fight. Right? But wait, there was another choice. It's the choice that you and I always seem to forget we have. They could stand, be obedient to God, and let Him take care of the Egyptians. God had the perfect solution to their problem.
God always has the perfect solution. If the Israelites chose one of their human ways, it would have been a blood bath. But instead God delivered them in a miraculous way. He made a way for them when it appeared there was no way. He parted the waters and let them ALL cross. Then he flooded the waters again when the Egyptians, in pursuit, attempted to cross. Amazing.
I realized my life was built on the fight or flight thought. If a problem came up I went into either or those modes quickly, without thinking, and nothing was ever solved. In fact it usually got worse and I would have to make another fight or flight decision. Running never solves your problems, you just hide from them. Fighting doesn't solve anything either, and someone usually gets hurt.
Now, I choose to ask God what He would have me to do. I stand, and I wait on Him. It has only been a little over a week and I am still learning but I have to share it has been a peaceful week and I have had some hard attacks thrown at me. I did cry and have a moment of panic but it was a small moment. I didn't run or fight. I decided to go to God with it, and He is giving me the peace to stand. The storms are still going, but I know that He will calm them in His time. He has the perfect answer. I am putting my trust in Him.
"But you will not even need to fight. Take your positions; then stand still and watch the LORD’s victory. He is with you, O people of Judah and Jerusalem. Do not be afraid or discouraged. Go out there tomorrow, for the LORD is with you!" (2 Chronicles 20:17 NLT)
Wednesday, February 26, 2014
Wednesday, February 5, 2014
2013: A Year Without Fear.
Looking back over 2013, I realize it was a huge year for me. All of my life I had been consumed with fear. I was afraid of everything. My fear prevented me from living life to the fullest. Fear hurt my testimony as a Christian. If my God was so big and was all I claimed He was, why then, did fear rule my life? From the outside I hid it well, but those who really knew me saw it. They experienced it too. My family suffered the most from it, and it even hindered their lives.
In 2013, I decided to stop living this way. I was no longer going to let fear rule my life. It was the most rewarding year so far, and I look forward to more years like it. I made the decision that if my God is who He says He is, that I truly do have nothing to fear. I gave over my fears to Him and I lived life. What are some things I did, you may ask?
In June I took a motorcycle class with my seventeen year old son. He was afraid to ask to try because he thought we wouldn't let him. Again my fears almost prevented us from doing this together. But, I said no to fear and we took the class. I ended up having so much fun, I now own my very own motorcycle. I ride with my husband and son. We have had so many fun adventures together and made some great friends. My next goal is coming up this weekend. I am going to ride to Tortilla Flats in AZ. For those not familiar with this area its a winding road alongside a mountain with some drops along the way.
In Christmas 2012 my husband gave me the gift I've wanted since I was a little girl. My very own horse. I have been riding since I was sixteen but always had fear in me so I never truly let go and just rode. After riding with a very good friend for several months I watched how she rode. Seeing her just let go and ride, I decided to the same. I have had some of the best rides of my life. I have truly felt connected with my horse and become a better rider because of it. My goal this year is to learn to run some barrel patterns and attend a few fun events. I don't want to win a prize. Its about overcoming fears. Not worrying about going fast, or being better than someone else. Its all about getting out there and having fun.
One of the most amazing things I did, this year happened in Sedona, AZ. A few years ago my family took a trip there. My husband drove a jeep, with all of us in it, off road on the trails there. There was one part of the trail that scared me. I actually told my husband not to go down it, but he had to because there was no way to turn around. I cried, laughed in hysterics going down this area. It's called, “the Stairs.” Well, my in-laws came out this year for my husband's birthday and the one thing he wanted to do was take them on this trail. There were too many of us to fit in one jeep so not only did I have to go again, but I would have to drive it. The old me would have said no way. The new me said I will do it, but I have to admit I did it reluctantly. Well, we get out to the trails, and it was amazing. I had the most incredible time. I not only drove all the off road trails, but I also drove down the “stairs”. At the end I put up my arms and let out a scream of happiness. It was the best feeling in the world.
There is nothing that you cannot do. I know that if I can do all this anyone can. My in-laws were so amazed at the different person I was. I can truly say that it isn't me. But my God is so BIG and so amazing that in Him I truly can do anything. I also look at it this way, if anything does happen to me I am not afraid of where I will go. I know my home is in heaven. It may seem a little weird to think like that, but it helps. Life is meant to be lived and experienced. God put so many amazing things on this earth for us to see, to do, and to try. Stop saying you can't do something, and start saying with God there is nothing I can't do. Then start living!
In 2013, I decided to stop living this way. I was no longer going to let fear rule my life. It was the most rewarding year so far, and I look forward to more years like it. I made the decision that if my God is who He says He is, that I truly do have nothing to fear. I gave over my fears to Him and I lived life. What are some things I did, you may ask?
In June I took a motorcycle class with my seventeen year old son. He was afraid to ask to try because he thought we wouldn't let him. Again my fears almost prevented us from doing this together. But, I said no to fear and we took the class. I ended up having so much fun, I now own my very own motorcycle. I ride with my husband and son. We have had so many fun adventures together and made some great friends. My next goal is coming up this weekend. I am going to ride to Tortilla Flats in AZ. For those not familiar with this area its a winding road alongside a mountain with some drops along the way.
In Christmas 2012 my husband gave me the gift I've wanted since I was a little girl. My very own horse. I have been riding since I was sixteen but always had fear in me so I never truly let go and just rode. After riding with a very good friend for several months I watched how she rode. Seeing her just let go and ride, I decided to the same. I have had some of the best rides of my life. I have truly felt connected with my horse and become a better rider because of it. My goal this year is to learn to run some barrel patterns and attend a few fun events. I don't want to win a prize. Its about overcoming fears. Not worrying about going fast, or being better than someone else. Its all about getting out there and having fun.
One of the most amazing things I did, this year happened in Sedona, AZ. A few years ago my family took a trip there. My husband drove a jeep, with all of us in it, off road on the trails there. There was one part of the trail that scared me. I actually told my husband not to go down it, but he had to because there was no way to turn around. I cried, laughed in hysterics going down this area. It's called, “the Stairs.” Well, my in-laws came out this year for my husband's birthday and the one thing he wanted to do was take them on this trail. There were too many of us to fit in one jeep so not only did I have to go again, but I would have to drive it. The old me would have said no way. The new me said I will do it, but I have to admit I did it reluctantly. Well, we get out to the trails, and it was amazing. I had the most incredible time. I not only drove all the off road trails, but I also drove down the “stairs”. At the end I put up my arms and let out a scream of happiness. It was the best feeling in the world.
There is nothing that you cannot do. I know that if I can do all this anyone can. My in-laws were so amazed at the different person I was. I can truly say that it isn't me. But my God is so BIG and so amazing that in Him I truly can do anything. I also look at it this way, if anything does happen to me I am not afraid of where I will go. I know my home is in heaven. It may seem a little weird to think like that, but it helps. Life is meant to be lived and experienced. God put so many amazing things on this earth for us to see, to do, and to try. Stop saying you can't do something, and start saying with God there is nothing I can't do. Then start living!
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