Do you remember the 1990’s show Fear Factor? Pairs or couples were presented with traumatic situations that involved their worst fears. These included drowning, being buried alive, and more.

While some of us struggle with a significant phobia, others live with generalized fear on a more day-to-day basis. This type of fear is unpredictable. It rises and falls based on feelings or impressions of what might happen and worst case scenarios. In the last eighteen months, fear has consumed more of my time than it should have done.

Maybe you relate. The idea that my loved ones might die of Covid-19 has lurked at the edges of my mind. After all, some of my family is aging and others struggle with poor health. 'What if' is stamped in bold along the margins of the imaginary page marked by the title, Unknown. #fear #faithoverfear Click To Tweet

Spurred on by the Unknown, I scrubbed boxes with disinfectant, quarantined according to state law, and listened to the ‘experts’. The ticking monitor on the television set only increased my fear and I had to close my eyes to what I saw in order to focus on God and be released from worry and overwhelm.

If you’re a worrier, you understand. It’s a battle to maintain balance in an out-of-control world. Still, scripture urges us not to “worry about tomorrow” because “each day has enough of its own troubles”. (Matthew 6:34)

Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. #fridaythoughts Click To Tweet

The Message reads like this, “Give your entire attention to what God is doing right now, and don’t get worked up about what may or may not happen tomorrow. God will help you deal with whatever hard things come up when the time comes.”

A neatly packaged three point mini-sermon, this verse outlines several habits that eliminate fear.

• Focus on God First, scripture exhorts us to notice what He doing presently in our lives.  Is there a lesson for us to learn? A calling to fulfill? A blessing to be noticed?  A heart overwhelmed by anxiety loses sight of the beauty in the everyday and forfeits soul rest, peace, and joy. But, practicing gratitude and giving Him praise fills our hearts with joy.
• Forgo Fear Dwelling on the what-ifs shifts our focus from the possibilities of today to a mindset mangled by fear.  It opens the door to the Enemy’s wily ways of deceit by reducing the greatness of God and increasing the size of our problems rather than comparing our troubles to the immensity of His power and perfect love.
• Find Strength in Him Worry and fear draw us inward rather than upward, but our answers are not discovered within. There, we experience anxiety. Discouragement. Even despair. Our sure solutions are found in the One whose strength is displayed in our weakness. The One who forges paths in places where none existed before and brightens the darkness with Light. Jesus Christ, who overcame death, is more than able to conquer our fear.Action Steps

1. List the 3 areas of your life that cause you the greatest fear, worry, and anxiety.
2. Ask God to reveal His heart for these three areas. Write down the specific ways He wants to enter into your situation and concerns.
3. Post Bible verses that remind you of God’s strength around your home or carry them in your phone, wallet, or bag. I’ve listed a few of my favorites below.

• Romans 16:25 (MSG) “All of our praise rises to the One who is strong enough to make you strong, exactly as preached in Jesus Christ…”
•  Isaiah 33:2 (NIV) “Lord, be gracious to us; we long for you. Be our strength every morning, our salvation in time of distress.”
• Psalm 55:22 (NIV) “Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous be shaken.”

 

Grace and peace,
Tammy

P.S. As a side note, everyone in our home has contracted the virus we had tried so valiantly to avoid. It feels like fibromyalgia with a cold. I know others have had terrible outcomes and my heart breaks for them.  The verses above along with Psalm 91 are a true comfort during these times.

I often link up with the following wonderful bloggers:

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Join us for the Grace and Truth Link-Up. #graceandtruth #bloglinkup #christianbloggers Click To Tweet