Posts Tagged ‘afraid’

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Baby Jesus has Grown Up

Friday, December 9th, 2011

Christmas approaches bringing familiar strains: “Away in a manger, no crib for a bed…the little Lord Jesus lay down His sweet head…”

"Away in a manger..."

I love that carol, especially when sung by children’s sweet voices. The lyrics transport me to another place and time, to that star-studded night in a distant land. They take me to a dark and lonely stable where a nervous young husband coaches his bride through childbirth’s groans and writhes. They help me envision a young couple wrapping their infant in a blanket and gazing on His face with wonder, awed at the privilege of holding God incarnate in their human hands.

Imagine the baby Jesus cooing, crying, sucking at his mother’s breast. Squinting through newborn eyes. Wrapping his wee fingers around Joseph’s man-sized thumb. Demanding nighttime feedings. Spitting up on Mary’s shoulder.

Now imagine baby Jesus all grown up. Need a little help with that? Try this description, courtesy of John the Baptist:

“And standing in the middle of the lampstands was someone like the Son of Man. He was wearing a long robe with a gold sash across his chest. His head and his hair were white like wool, as white as snow. And his eyes were like flames of fire. His feet were like polished bronze refined in a furnace, and his voice thundered like mighty ocean waves. He held seven stars in his right hand, and a sharp two-edged sword came from his mouth. And his face was like the sun in all its brilliance.

“When I saw him, I fell at his feet as if I were dead. But he laid his right hand on me and said, ‘Don’t be afraid. I am the First and the Last. I am the living one. I died, but look—I am alive forever and ever! And I hold the keys of death and the grave’” (Revelation 1:13-18).

Wow. This season, we celebrate the baby Jesus—the newborn wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger fast asleep as sheep and cows stand reverently nearby. He deserves our adoration, but let’s not forget to worship Him as the King of kings and Lord of lords. He is indeed, the living one who holds the keys of death and the grave. He’s our Savior, our Hope, our Peace, and our Joy not just in this season, but forever.

Take time this busy season to ponder John’s description of the grown up Baby Jesus.  What part of it grabs your attention the most? Why?

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The Key to Living Well

Monday, November 28th, 2011

Psalm 119 is one of my all-time favorites because it’s loaded with spiritual truths designed to help us lead abundant lives. Its impact on me started ‘way back in my elementary school days when I attended Pioneer Girls club every Wednesday evening. The club’s key verse was Psalm 119:105: “Your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path.”

God's Word -- the light that illumines my path.

I memorized the verse then, and it remains in my brain today. It’s a truth that never grows old. As long as I live, God’s Word will show me how to live well.

When I walk the path of parenting, the Scriptures give me principles to help me raise my kids. They give me practical strategies to keep my marriage strong. They teach me how to respond to people who treat me unkindly, how to manage my money, and how to regard authority. When I feel afraid, God’s promises shine light into the dark, scary places. When I face major decisions and don’t know which way to go, His Word directs me. There is nothing that God’s Word fails to address.

God’s Word holds the key to living well. It’s a lamp to guide our feet and a light for our path.  There’s no need to flounder in confusion. There’s no reason to languish in defeat. Knowing God’s Word – and doing what it says – is the key to living well. Do you believe this is true? I hope so!

Question: Do you have a favorite verse in Psalm 119? If so, what is it?

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My Secret to Inner Peace

Monday, May 30th, 2011

John 14:1 says, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me.” Verse 27 says, “I am leaving you with a gift—peace of mind and heart. And the peace I give is a gift the world cannot give. So don’t be troubled or afraid.”

The command is clear—don’t let my heart be troubled or afraid. Okay. I get that. But how is that possible when the news is full of reports about floods and tornadoes and wild fires? Closer to home, how can I experience peace after learning that a lifelong friend is being moved into palliative care as her valiant fight with cancer draws to a close?

Last week was a tough one. A profound grief filled me upon hearing of my girlfriend’s situation. A physical heaviness settled into my chest and my tears flowed. I had three major speaking engagements, and I honestly wondered how I’d get through them without crying.

My friend and I are the same age. We attended the same Sunday school and mid-week girls’ club while growing up. We shared secrets. Laughed together. Graduated from high school together. I was maid of honor at her wedding. Now she’s saying goodbye to her husband, her kids, and her grandbabies while I’m free to linger here and enjoy mine. It feels unfair that our lives have taken such different paths. And why, though her husband has soaked his pillow with his tears while pleading for God to heal his best friend, has God said no?

I know what a troubled heart feels like. Thankfully I also know what it feels like for peace to overrule. How did I come to experience this peace in the midst of grief?

Here’s my secret: I’ve chosen to do what John 14:1 says—to actively trust God in this situation. He has promised eternal life to all who place their saving faith in Him. My friend did this as a child, therefore, she’s guaranteed a home in heaven. In a short time, she’ll take up residence there. Her suffering will end. And best of all, she’ll meet Jesus face to face.

If I allow my thoughts to linger on what seems to be unjust, and if I focus only on the pain that my friend and her family are experiencing right now, then my heart will indeed remain troubled. But Jesus said, “Don’t let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God and trust also in me.” And so I choose to trust, even when I don’t like what’s happening.

How about you? What do you do to find peace when your heart’s troubled?

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3 Characteristics of True Friendship

Wednesday, May 18th, 2011

What does true friendship really look like?

What are the characteristics of true friendship?

I guarantee it runs deeper than Facebook. Here are three characteristics that I glean from the friendship between David and Jonathan:

“One day near Horesh, David received the news that Saul was on the way to Ziph to search for him and kill him. Jonathan went to find David and encouraged him to stay strong in his faith in God. Don’t be afraid,” Jonathan reassured him. “My father will never find you! You are going to be the king of Israel, and I will be next to you, as my father, Saul, is well aware.” So the two of them renewed their solemn pact before the LORD. Then Jonathan returned home, while David stayed at Horesh” (1 Samuel 15-18).

#1 – True friendship means being willing to go out of one’s way to lend encouragement. Scripture says David and his motley crew were roaming the countryside, trying to escape Saul and his henchmen.  They must have been difficult to find, but Jonathan took the time and made the effort to locate his friend because he knew he needed encouragement.

How does look in today’s world? We need to take the time and make the effort to encourage others in need. Yes, life is busy. We’re all busy.  But truth be told, sometimes we just need to stop the rush long enough to pray with someone, send a greeting card, or make a phone call.

The finger’s pointin’ at me today. I’m sweating over preparing several workshops for an upcoming conference, but a friend just learned that her husband has three months to live. What to do? She needs encouragement, so I’m having supper with her in the hospital cafeteria tonight and trusting God to multiple my hours so I can finish the workshop prep.

#2 – True friendship means helping one another keep the right focus. Jonathan encouraged David to stay strong in his faith in God. He could have planned a strategy to get rid of Saul so David could return home and get on with his life, but he chose a better way.

What a great example for us today! We, too, need to encourage our friends to keep the faith. To live God-honoring lives. To rise above the status quo. To settle for nothing less than God’s best even when it’s tough.

#3 – True friendship means spurring one another on to become what God has intended. “Don’t be afraid,” said Jonathan. “My father won’t find you. You’ll be the king of Israel, and I’ll be next to you.” I love this picture. You see, humanly speaking, Jonathan was heir to the throne. He saw life from God’s perspective, however, and knew that David was God’s choice. In essence, he was saying to David, “Face your fears! Go for it! I’m with ya all the way!”

We, too, need to encourage our friends to face their fears and pursue God’s purposes for their lives. We need to reassure them that we’re there for them, cheering them on through thick and thin.

What are your thoughts? What characteristics do you value in true friendship?

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What Makes Believers Different?

Wednesday, February 16th, 2011

Scripture says Jesus’ followers are supposed to be salt and light, right? How does that happen? Here’s my two cents’ worth:

God’s presence is the key that sets us apart from the rest of the world. His Holy Spirit lives in us 24/7. If we allow Him full control, then He fills us with peace, patience, joy, gentleness, love, and wisdom. He teaches us how to behave in a people-respecting and God-honoring manner.

Practically speaking, that means we don’t yell and stamp our feet or slam the door behind us when we don’t get our own way. We don’t cheat on our income taxes. We stay true to our spouse. We turn off the TV when it’s broadcasting smut. Get the picture? God’s presence in us is supposed to make us different than the average Joe. But I think there’s more.

I believe His presence produces courage in us. Whether facing personal problems or global crisis, followers of Christ can emulate confidence. That doesn’t mean we never feel afraid, but it means we know how to deal with the fear when it strikes and we refuse to let it consume us.

When people look at us, they see something different – or at least they should! They ought to see character qualities and inner strength that attract them and cannot be counterfeited.

“For your presence among us sets your people and me apart from all other people on the earth,” said Moses (Exodus 33:16). I think he’s right. How about you?

 Question: How do you think God’s presence sets His people apart from all others on the earth?

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Insights About Fear and Praise

Wednesday, August 18th, 2010

Yesterday I rode a Gold Wing motorbike for about six hours between Pasco and Snohomish, Washington. I usually cherish riding time because it gives me uninterrupted opportunity to ponder, pray, and praise. But yesterday’s experience was different. I pondered alright, but my thoughts sent me careening down a road shadowed with worry about a situation I’m currently facing. As the miles passed, my angst about this situation grew. I knew I had to do something and do it quick or fear and anxiety would consume me.

Past experience has taught me that praise is a powerful force when fighting fear. And so I put my head-knowledge into practice. I praised God for being sovereign in all (not merely some) circumstances. I praised Him for being wise, and for being faithful, and for being merciful. I praised Him for His strength and for His unfailing love. I also praised Him for redeeming our mistakes and turning them into something useful and good when we love Him. The result? Peace washed over me, slowly replacing my angst with a calm assurance that God was in control and I could rest in Him.

Praise isn’t a natural or easy response when messing with negative emotions. It takes effort and discipline to lasso and corral one’s thoughts. It requires deliberate action to turn them around and to focus them on the Truth of God’s promises. The effort is worth it, for then and then alone is when peace is restored.  

Psalm 35:9,10 describe how I felt yesterday upon making that effort: “Then I will rejoice in the LORD. I will be glad because he rescues me. With every bone in my body I will praise him: “LORD, who can compare with you?”

Fear’s weight lifted from my shoulders. I was finally able to relax and enjoy the ride and the beautiful scenery through which we passed. As we rounded a bend in the road to see majestic and snow-capped Mt. Rainer towering in the distance, I thought of God – the One who spoke it into being – and my heart sang, “Lord, who can compare with you? Surely I can trust You with every circumstance of my being.”

Today the same fear threatens to engulf me again. But I refuse to let it harm me. I’m rejecting its force by applying the power of praise as I did yesterday. There’s a battle raging, but praise will ultimately win.

Can you relate? What insights can you share with us about applying the power of praise when you feel afraid?

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Fear and the Storms of Life

Wednesday, May 12th, 2010

What’s with the fear issue? Seems that’s all I read about when I open my Bible these days. Maybe God’s trying to tell me something, ya think?

Yesterday I read about sailors whose ships were tossed to the heavens and plunged to the depths. These men cringed in terror, reeling and staggering like drunks. The storm drove them to their wits’ end where they cried, “Lord, help!”

And He did. “He calmed the storm to a whisper and stilled the waves. What a blessing was that stillness as he brought them safely into harbor!” (Psalm 107:26-30).

Several years ago I wrote a “Drama in Real Life” story for Reader’s Digest. I interviewed two men who’d survived a fishing boat accident off Vancouver Island. My blood ran cold as they described the storm they’d encountered at sea – howling winds and frigid waves that towered several stories high, tossing their boat like a bathtub toy and eventually sucking it beneath the water’s murky depths. The men’s terror matched the sailors’ fear as expressed in the Psalms. So did their cries for help.

It’s not only sailors at sea who experience storms that leave them at wits’ end. Landlubbers do, too – homemakers, office professionals, clergy, teachers, nurses, students, single moms….the list goes on indefinitely. I know several women my age and younger who are battling end-stage cancers right now. I know others who are reeling from marriage breakups or staggering under the weight of their kids making lousy choices with lifelong consequences. They’re at their wit’s end and crying, “Lord, help!”

And He does. Sometimes He calms the storm immediately; sometimes not. But regardless of the wind and waves of our circumstances, He can calm the storm that rages in our minds and our emotions.

The enemy of our souls wants to keep us entrenched and immobilized by fear. But God wants to fill us with courage, to calm our anxious thoughts, and to set us free from fear’s power. Every time I feel afraid, I call, “Lord, help!” I remind myself that His love for me never fails. I find courage in remembering His faithfulness to me in the past, and I find peace in reciting truth such as, “God has promised to never leave or forsake me, and He’s bigger than any storm I will ever encounter.” My circumstances might not change immediately, but I experience a blessed stillness within.

Have you experienced a storm in life? If not, I want to know your strategy for storm evasion. If so, how did you survive?

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No Reason to Fear

Monday, May 3rd, 2010

Watching the evening news can be a scary thing sometimes. We hear reports about the economy rising and falling, stories about children being abducted and assaulted or killed, roadside bombs blowing up soldiers, and natural disasters such as earthquakes and hurricanes. Now we’re seeing an oil spill slither towards the southern U.S. coastline and endangering its wildlife habitat.

Some people grow calloused toward the news because it feels far removed from their little safety bubble. Some refuse to watch because they find it depressing. Some listen to the reports and their hearts grow faint from fear. They lock themselves in their houses, afraid to go outside lest the sky fall. Others don’t watch because they’re too busy or they’re dealing with painful personal situations that demand their time and energy.

Global and local news can strike fear and uncertainty into our hearts. So can personal situations. But in the midst of the fearful stuff of life, we can have hope and courage when we remember Jesus’ words to His disciples when He appeared to them after He rose from the grave.

“’Why are you frightened?’ he asked. ‘Why are your hearts filled with doubt? Look at my hands. Look at my feet. You can see that it’s really me’” (Luke 24:38).

Beautiful.

Jesus knows the fears we face, and He knows the secret to dealing with them. “Look at my hands,” He says. “Look at my feet. Don’t look at the storm blowing about you. Don’t look at the waves. Don’t look at the overwhelming circumstances…look at Me.

“Why are you afraid? Do you see the nailprints in My hands and feet? They’re proof that I love you. They’re proof that I value you. I’ve invested My life in you – I will never leave you or forsake you.”

When fearful situations face us whether on a global or personal scale, let’s focus our eyes on the Savior. Let’s remember the nailprints in His hands and feet. And let’s draw courage in knowing that they’re proof of His unfailing love for us.

Where do you place your focus when you feel afraid?

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Do it Afraid

Monday, April 26th, 2010

Last week I wrote an article based on interview with Cindy Winters. She’s the widow of Fred Winters, a Baptist pastor who died on March 8, 2009, when a stranger entered his church, sauntered down the church aisle, and opened fire on him as he preached.

Cindy told me that she used to be a very fearful person. She said that when she identified and confessed fear as an area of bondage in her life, God began teaching her how to move beyond it through experiences that were far beyond her comfort zone, such as short-term mission trips. She admitted that she didn’t embrace these lesson-learning experiences with joy, but she chose to do them despite her fear because she knew God was asking her to obey. She used a phrase that has stuck with me like Velcro: “Do it afraid.”

Gideon did it afraid, too. He was simply going about his routine tasks when God showed up one day and gave him a special assignment: “Go with the strength you have and rescue Israel from the Midianites. I am sending you!” (Judges 1:1-40).

How did Gideon respond? He completely overlooked the Israelites’ need for rescue and saw only the obstacles. He argued with God: “But Lord….” Gideon replied, “how can I rescue Israel? My clan is the weakest in the whole tribe of Manasseh, and I am the least in my entire family.” The fear of inadequacy loomed large, but he had other struggles besides:  

  • The fear of the enemies that ravaged his country (v. 11).
  • The fear of encountering the angel of God face to face (v. 22, 23).
  • The fear of opposing his family and townspeople by destroying Baal’s altar and the Asherah pole (v. 27).

Yes, he was a fearful guy, but thankfully he didn’t allow his fears to stop him from obeying God’s call. As a result of “doing it afraid,” he experienced God in an intimate way. Verse 24 says it like this: “And Gideon built an altar to the LORD there and named it Yahweh-Shalom (which means ‘The LORD is peace’).” In the midst of his fears, he knew God’s peace. This discovery would never have happened if he’d said no.

What swayed Gideon to “do it afraid?” Personally, I think he believed God’s promise spoken twice within a few moments.

  • “Mighty hero, the LORD is with you” (v. 12).
  • “The LORD said to him, ‘I will be with you’” (v. 16).

To every believer, God has assigned the task of rescuing the lost from the enemy’s clutches. He tells us to go, to be actively involved in this mission, and then He gives us the same promise He gave to Gideon: “Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age” (Matthew 28:19,20).

The choice is ours. Say no, or say yes. Our answer reveals what we believe to be true about God – saying no means that His presence and power are insufficient for the task. Saying yes reveals the opposite and results in knowing God’s peace.

What is God asking of you today? Please don’t let the enemy win. Please – do it afraid.

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Follow the Leader

Monday, February 15th, 2010

About two months ago, changing circumstances pointed toward a shift in my ministry focus. That meant investing big bucks in training, doing homework assignments, and experiencing a straight-up learning curve. Believing this shift was God-directed, I took a leap into the big unknown. I’m not sure where or when I’ll land, but I’m okay with that so long as He’s in control. Psalm 25:1 describes how I feel right now: “O Lord, I give my life to you. I trust in you, my God.”

Moving in this new direction is keeping me on my knees. Every day I pray that God will clearly lead me one step at a time on the path He’s chosen for me. Here are several Scriptures that reassure me of His ability and desire to answer my prayer:

  • Psalm 25:4 – “Show me the right path, O Lord, point out the road for me to follow.”
  • Psalm 25:5 – “Lead me by your truth and teach me, for you are the God who saves me. All day long I put my hope in you.”
  • Psalm 25:8 – “The Lord is good and does what is right; he shows the proper path to those who go astray.”
  • Psalm 25:9 – “He leads the humble in doing right, in teaching them his way.”
  • Psalm 25:10 – “The Lord leads with unfailing love and faithfulness all who keep his covenant and obey his demands.”
  • Psalm 25:13 – “Who are those who fear the Lord? He will show them the path they should choose.”

Wow – reviewing these Scriptures as I write this only serves to affirm my confidence in the Leader. I can hardly wait to see what He’s planning for the future. I’ll keep you posted as He reveals it to me!

Perhaps you’re headed down a new path, too. Maybe you’re facing a critical, potentially life-changing, decision. Perhaps your stomach knots at the thought of making the wrong choice. If that’s the case, then here’s my word to you — don’t be afraid. When your heart is bent on honoring God rather than serving yourself, He will guide your steps.

What Scripture has been meaningful to you when traveling a new path in life?

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