Posts Tagged ‘fear’

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Five Truths About Joy

Monday, January 9th, 2012

The more I read about joy, the more I’m convinced that God’s kids, more than anyone else on earth, ought to be living demonstrations of this characteristic. Anyone can be joyful when life’s honky-dory, but it’s not so easy when the basement floods, the kids break out in chicken pox, the car breaks down, and income runs out before the month ends.

Joy? What's that?

Our family shares a joke about a van we owned years ago. It was a lemon. Extra sour.  The head gasket blew between Christmas and January 1st two years in a row. It burned through three engines during its tenure as a member of our family. And once, on a trip through the Rockies in December, we discovered that the heater didn’t work. Picture this: Gene driving with our four-year-old son sitting beside him, wrapped in a blanket. Our two wee daughters sitting in the middle seat bundled with sleeping bags. And me—shivering in the back seat while scraping ice off the windows.

I’m sorry to say I allowed that van to dictate my attitude ‘way too many times. Like I said, joy comes easy when life’s easy. But it’s not so quick to show up when life presents challenges.

I read Psalm 5:11,12 recently: “But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them sing joyful praises forever. Spread your protection over them, that all who love your name may be filled with joy. For you bless the godly, O Lord: you surround them with your shield of love” (Psalm 5:11,12).

Several important truths about joy come to mind as I ponder these words:

  • Knowing that God is our refuge is reason for joy whether our circumstances feel good or not.
  • We’re to sing joyful praises forever. Doing so is non-optional for God’s kids. He knows that joyful praises breed life in us and in those who hear us speak. Let’s do what He says—He knows best.
  • We’re to sing joyful praises forever.  That means always, not only until the good times end.
  • God spreads His protection over those who love Him. That knowledge should result in our being filled with joy rather than fear, insecurity, or worry.
  • The knowledge that God surrounds us with His shield of love is pretty good cause for joy, too, don’t you think?

Joy ought to be a hallmark of those who follow God. How are you doing in that department? Do you have a favorite Scripture that speaks about joy? If so, what is it?

Photo courtesy: FreeDigitalPhotos.net

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Jesus Prays for Me and You!

Monday, November 7th, 2011

Hebrews 7:25 encourages me, especially on days when I’m frustrated, discouraged, or doubt-filled. It says, “Therefore he (Jesus) is able once and forever, to save those who come to God through him. He lives forever to intercede with God on their behalf.”

Why does this verse encourage me? Because it assures me that Jesus is praying for moi! How sweet is that? How powerful is that?

My hunch is that Jesus prays a lot more than, “God, please bless Grace today.” If I could hear Him pray on my behalf, I might hear requests such as…

  • “Please grant her a hunger and thirst for righteousness.”
  • “Please cause her to seek for wisdom as for hidden treasures.”
  • “Please cause her to love You with all her heart, soul, mind and strength.”
  • “Please enable her to love mercy, do justly, and walk humbly with You, her God.”
  • “When she feels anxious, remind her that You are her Shepherd and will provide everything she needs.”

In all honesty, until now I’ve never really thought about what Jesus prays for me day in and day out. I’ve found this an enlightening exercise. Exciting, too. Think about it—with Jesus interceding on my behalf, I have no reason to fear or fail or flounder. He’s pullin’ for me. What more do I need to face life with hope?

If you’ve come to God through Jesus, then He’s praying for you, too. What do you think He’s asking on your behalf? Complete this sentence: I think Jesus is asking that I will ______________________.

Photo courtesy: www.freedigitalphotos.net

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Weeding Out Fear

Friday, October 14th, 2011

Today I’m featuring a guest blogger who I’ve come to know online. Meet Elizabeth Veldboom–she’s a freelance writer and a student in Jerry B. Jenkins’ Christian Writers Guild. She has previously been published in Guidepost’s Angels on Earth Magazine and Susie Magazine, and enjoys blogging about helping others to overcome their fears. Visit her at www.thefearlist.wordpress.com, the place that is for the faint at heart.

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Often in life tiny worries quickly get blown up until they are more than just possibilities, but reality. Being a worry-wart, I have done this many times.

One night my family and I noticed police cars scouring the road across from us as if they were searching for something—or someone. Since we live only a couple miles from a prison, it was a plausible theory.

As I prepared for bed, I passed my window and noticed the lights were on in our detached garage. This was unusual. I slowly crept closer, my heart beating faster. As I stared, I was sure I could see a man in a trench coat leaning against the side of our garage. You’re going to look really stupid if you’re wrong, so make sure, I warned myself. But he was there! I knew he was! Then he turned his head to look at me. I ducked, and ran to my parent’s room.

“Mom,” I whispered frantically, trying not to wake my dad. “I think there’s a guy standing by the garage. Will you come look and make sure I’m not seeing things?” We huddled together at her small bathroom window and peered out. Pretty soon I had her convinced too. “Should I wake up dad? Or call the police?”

We decided to wake my dad from a sound sleep. “Dad, there’s a guy standing by the garage in a trench coat!” Three of us now peered out the window.

“Where did you say you saw this guy again?” My dad asked. “I know there’s a weed on that side of the garage.”

“It’s not a weed! He turned his head and looked at me!” Without another word, Dad grabbed his flashlight and started outside.

“Be careful!” I admonished. Mom and I stayed glued to our post at the window. We heard Dad go out, but we didn’t see him. And the figure against the garage didn’t move.

In a few minutes we heard Dad climb back up the stairs. I rushed from the bathroom and met him as he placed his flashlight on his dresser.

“Well?”

“Just the weed.”

I was so embarrassed;I could have melted into the floor. I nearly called the police for a weed?

My dad’s eyes twinkled. “But it was a very scary weed.” I stared at him in shock. He wasn’t mad I woke him up? He wasn’t thinking about what an idiot I was? His smile held no condemnation.

We do something similar in life. Just as I ran to my father when things looked scary, so we also have the opportunity to run to our Heavenly Father. But I wonder: how often do we run to him in terror of a few weeds in our life? How many times are we pleading with him to send an arsenal of angels for an immobile plant?

Jesus says it this way in Matthew 6:27: “Can all your worries add a single moment to your life?” And later, “And if God cares so wonderfully for wildflowers that are here today and thrown into the fire tomorrow, he will certainly care for you. Why do you have so little faith?” (Matthew 6:30).

The more we dwell on fear, the more it becomes reality. The trick is learning to recognize when we’re starting to blow things out of proportion, and then stop to refocus.

I imagine God, too, sometimes says, “See? I told you. It was just a fear.” And with a twinkle in his eye, “But it was a very scary fear.”

When we bring our concerns to God’s throne, we can bring them without any fear of condemnation. And when we see them in the light of who He is, we see them as they really are—just weeds on a dark night.

© Elizabeth Veldboom   2010

www.thefearlist.wordpress.com

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When the Wasp Stung

Friday, September 16th, 2011

My oh my, what a week it’s been! On Wednesday a wasp stung my husband near his right eye while he was trying to clear out the insect’s nest (some of you may have read about it on FB). He’s been stung before. No big deal. He continued the yardwork, cleaned up his tools, and deflated our grandkids’ plastic pool. Five minutes later, he suddenly grew lightheaded. He walked into our house, told me that he felt very dizzy, sat on a loveseat, and immediately fell into unconsciousness.

The next three minutes seemed surreal. As our visiting 2-year-old grandson and 3- year-old granddaughter watched, our 24-year-old daughter dialed 911 while I tried to revive Gene. No luck. He slumped on the seat, his breathing labored. Perspiration soaked his body. Suddenly he opened his eyes, slurred a few words, and lapsed back into his unconscious state. That’s when his breathing stopped. I cried out to God for help. I don’t even remember what I said, but I know it was short. And desperate. Something like, “God—help!!!” Gene started breathing again, albeit very shallow.

“Lay him on the floor,” instructed the 911 operator. Easier said than done. Gene was dead weight, plus he had two cracked ribs—the result of slamming into a wave while tubing on a local lake last weekend. I couldn’t drag him to the floor if I tried, and I was afraid of causing more damage to his ribs, but I gave it my best effort.

That’s when hubby woke again. This time his eyes focused. “What are you doing?” he asked.

I should have turned his question around: “What are you doing?” but I held my tongue and continued trying to do as I was told. “Trying to put you on the floor,” I said.

His face registered confusion. “Why?”

“Because the 911 operator said so. You stopped breathing. Now work with me, would ya?”

Gene’s mental faculties cleared quickly. He knew he’d missed something somewhere: If he’d stopped breathing, and if his daughter was talking with 911, then he’d best listen and obey.

Minutes later, a fire engine with four uniformed men arrived. Next came the ambulance with two paramedics. After a quick assessment of Gene’s vitals, they loaded him into the ambulance and drove him to the hospital. There the staff ran a battery of tests, gave him Benedryl by IV, and scheduled him for a Cat scan on Thursday. His reaction, combined with headaches he’d been having lately, made the ER doc want to rule out the possibility of an aneurism.

Yesterday we spent the afternoon at the hospital again, this time for the scans. Results came back as normal, for which we’re very thankful. Next week Gene will undergo another test, this time to rule out a cardiac event.

Wednesday’s scene has replayed itself countless times in my mind. Those three minutes terrified me. I could scarcely believe that my husband might die suddenly and before my eyes. After the initial trauma subsided, however, we were faced with the possibility of an aneurism. The hospital requisition read, “URGENT.” We knew the doctor meant business.

The prospect of something sinister lurking in hubby’s brain unsettled me, but at least I had a few hours to process the possibility. In all honesty, I can say that I felt deep peace. Many people were praying, and I’m sure that had a lot to do with it. But I also know that the peace came from applying the truth that I’ve been teaching for several years.

Psalm 56:3,4 says, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you, I praise God for what he has promised. I trust in God, so why should I be afraid?” When crisis comes, we need not fear. What has God promised? That He will never leave or forsake us. No matter what life brings, His presence remains.

If you were one of those who prayed for Gene and I this week, I owe you a HUGE thanks. We’re grateful for your love and concern. To all who read this blog, have a great weekend. Keep putting your trust in the Lord and praising Him for what He has promised. If you have a minute or two, take time to ponder those promises.

My hubby after the wasp encounter...smiling as always.

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God is on Our Side

Monday, September 12th, 2011

This morning started early with a radio interview at 5:15 (the station was in Ohio, on ET). A second interview followed at 8:30. Both hosts wanted to discuss fear. How timely, considering that yesterday was the tenth anniversary of 9/11 and media had splashed the word fear across radio and TV for the past few days.

I’ve personally felt fear sneak up on me several times in the past week. Not in relation to 9/11, but in other ways. First, a cousin’s 2-year-old granddaughter was diagnosed with a brain tumor and underwent surgery on Tuesday. She’ll undergo further surgery this Wednesday. Her family still awaits the pathology report.

Second, the 26-year-old daughter of a local Romanian pastor/friend was diagnosed with advanced breast cancer.

Third, a 3-year-old boy in BC was abducted from his home while he slept. Having friends who live in that community, and being a grandma with grandchildren the same age, my heart raced each time I thought about the little tyke and what he might be experiencing. (Thankfully he was returned unharmed yesterday although his kidnapper remains at large).

My list contained a couple other situations that I’m not free to discuss, but they, too, rattled my nerves and threatened to topple me into a dark pit. In each case, the moment I felt fear encroach, I turned my thoughts to prayer for the well-being of the precious people involved.

I also trained my mind to praise God for who He is—a God who is sovereign, faithful, wise, able to provide, and filled with unfailing love. That was no easy feat; it took great effort to succeed when my emotions tugged me the opposite direction. But guess what happened when I made the deliberate effort to praise? My fears calmed. Whadaya know? They did exactly what Psalm 56:9 says: “My enemies will retreat when I call to you for help. “

I’d be amiss if I failed to mention the latter half of that verse, for it offers huge encouragement in the face of fearful circumstances. It says, “This I know: God is on my side!” These five little words carry the power to transform our minds and perspective. Imagine…God is on our side. That truth means we can always, always rise above whatever we face.

What are you facing today? If fear or uncertainty are stalking you, call these words to mind and reflect on their power: God is on my side. See the difference they make?

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No Need to Fear

Friday, September 2nd, 2011

“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So we will not fear when earthquakes come and the mountains crumble into the sea…The LORD of Heaven’s Armies is here among us; the God is Israel is our fortress.” (Psalm 46:1,2,7)

Photo courtesy: ChristianPhotos.Net – Free High Resolution Photos for Christian Publications

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Addressing Fear in Romania

Monday, July 11th, 2011

Picture approximately 35 people ages 6 to 66 stuffed into a living room. Outside temperatures soar to nearly 100 degrees. The air conditioner struggles to make a difference, and sweat trickles.

One fellow plays guitar; another plays keyboard. One worship song rolls into another. Our North American team cannot understand the Romanian lyrics, but occasionally we recognize the tune and sing along in English. This must be a tiny taste of what heaven will be like.

I look around the room and see young people facing incredible challenges. And yet, despite those challenges, several close their eyes and raise their hands as they sing. They’re lost in worship. They shut out pain for the evening and focus on Jesus, their hope.

When the time comes for me to share a message, one of our career staff stands beside me and translates.
The words that I believe God wants me to speak deal with overcoming fear (surprise, surprise). This time I tell the story about David and Goliath as the basis. We read the Scriptures and discover the giant’s size and character. We learn about the negative voices that questioned David’s ability to fight the enemy. And we see David’s courageous response, rooted in his knowledge of God’s character and faithfulness.

The North American team members take turns being honest about fears they struggle with, and the kids listen intently. Then it’s their turn to talk. My heart breaks when one young man speaks up. “I’m afraid to die,” he blurts. This fellow, age 25, obviously “gets” this message.

I send an arrow prayer to heaven: God, give me the right words. I told him that I fear death, too. Actually, I don’t fear death itself because I know I’ll spend eternity in heaven thanks to what Jesus has done. No, death itself isn’t a scary thing for me, but I fear the process. The young man stares intently at me as I speak. I desperately want him to understand, so I tell a couple of personal stories related to death and dying.

My father passed away three years ago. Shortly before he died, he made comments about seeing Jesus waiting for him. No doubt, God’s presence was real to my dad as his life on earth came to an end.

My best childhood girlfriend moved to heaven three weeks ago. When I visited her a week before she passed away, she said, “I have peace.” On her wall hung a plaque with song lyrics burned into it: “He lives, He lives, Christ Jesus lives today. He walks with me and talks with me along life’s narrow way…” I tell the kids how God’s presence was real to my friend in her last days on earth, too. And I assure them that when death comes knocking, God will be with them, too, if they know Jesus.

The lesson time draws to a close and discussion ends. I leave the room feeling overwhelmed with gratitude at the opportunity to share God’s Word and hope with these precious young people. How many more are there just like them in this country? I’m not sure anyone really knows. Someone estimates 30,000 in western Romania alone.

Thirty thousand children, teens, and young adults who need to hear the Gospel of Jesus Christ and find hope in the midst of their desperate situation. “The harvest is plentiful but the laborers are few” has taken on new meaning.

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When Speaking the Truth Makes Us Unpopular

Monday, June 20th, 2011

This weekend was a good one. I spent it in Guelph, Ontario, teaching at Write! Canada. I so enjoyed meeting others who share my desire to communicate life-changing words through writing and speaking. I trust that my classes and keynote presentation will equip and encourage them to pursue their dreams with passion and excellence.

The theme for the conference was “Changing the World with Words.” One of the things I mentioned in my keynote was that Jesus, our role model, spoke only the words that the Father gave Him. Unfortunately, those words sometimes made Him unpopular with the crowd. The same thing happened with an Old Testament prophet, Micaiah, who was forced to stand alone.

"God, grant me the courage to stand alone if necessary."

Let’s backtrack for a moment. The king of Israel had asked his 400 prophets for guidance re: whether or not he should go to war against Ramoth-gilead. He received a unanimous, ‘Yes, go right ahead! The Lord will give the king victory” (1 Kings 22:6). But then Jehoshaphat said, “Ah…wait a minute. Let’s ask a prophet of the LORD the same question and see what he says.” And so a messenger summoned the prophet Micaiah.

Get a load of this. The messenger said to Micaiah, “Look, all the prophets are promising victory for the king. Be sure that you agree with them and promise success” (v.13). Those words forced Micaiah to make a choice: he’d either follow the messenger’s advice and take the easy route, or he’d stand up for truth and risk the consequences.

Micaiah chose to stand up for the truth. “As surely as the LORD lives, I will say only what the LORD tells me to say.” And that’s what he did. He warned the king that going to battle would result in his death, and he ended up being slapped across the face, literally (v. 24).

This theme of saying only what God tells us to say keeps returning to me as a writer and speaker. It forces me to examine my message and my motive behind it. Am I writing or speaking words to please the crowd? To tickle their ears? To give them what they want to hear? Or am I pressing in to know God better, to understand His heart for individuals and for the world at large, and then delivering His message and words of truth even though they might make me unpopular and force me to take a lonely position at times?

The same question applies to all believers, no matter their walk in life. Do we speak words of truth when we see our friends making lousy choices? When we see Christian couples split up due to irreconcilable differences? When we see others bury themselves in anger and unforgiveness? Or do we speak up and (lovingly) challenge them with the truth of God’s word even though doing so might strike us from their “Most Popular” friends list?

I hope we’re faithful to do the latter for others. And I hope others will do the same for me if they see me heading down the wrong path.

Here’s a question to ponder: How does fear play into our natural bent towards desiring popularity?

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3 Truths to Help Us Overcome Fear

Friday, May 27th, 2011

On Wednesday’s blog, I wrote about the simple but life-changing truth found in Psalm 118:5,6: “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me, he will help me.” (italics mine)

The Lord is for me! I am free!

For the past two days, I’ve been meditating on these words and drawing huge encouragement from them. Last night, while speaking at South Delta Baptist Church’s annual Strawberry Tea, I told about their impact on my outlook when facing frightening situations.  Then I walked the women through a simple exercise that I hope will help them remember and apply Truth when they feel afraid.

First, I asked them to say the words, “the Lord is for me.” Then together and aloud, we put the emphasis on Lord.

“Who is the Lord?” I asked my audience. “He’s the creator of heaven and earth! The one who spoke the universe into being! This amazing God—the one for whom nothing is impossible—He’s the one who is for you! Why, then, should we fear?”

Next, I asked them to repeat the phrase while placing emphasis on for. “God is cheering for us,” I said. “He doesn’t sit in heaven and wait for us to fail so He can clobber us. He wants us to do well in life, so He’s given us His word to show us how to live. He loves us with an unfailing love. We can trust Him and His ways even when we don’t understand them because He’s for us, not against us.”

Last, I asked the audience to repeat the phrase while stressing me. “Sometimes I feel as though God loves other people more than He loves me,” I said. “Sometimes I doubt His love for me because I feel unlovable or ‘way too insignificant to matter to Him. Yet this Scripture says He loves me. He knows me through and through, and He still loves me like crazy. The same is true for you. Why then, if God loves us so much, are we plagued by fear?”

Good question, eh? How would you answer that one?

I pray that this simple exercise will stick with these women for the rest of their lives. Why don’t you give a whirl?

  • The Lord is for me.
  • The Lord is for me.
  • The Lord is for me.

How do these three truths impact you today?

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A Single, Life-Altering Thought

Wednesday, May 25th, 2011

Canada celebrated the late Queen Victoria’s birthday last weekend. I celebrated, too, by turning off my computer and escaping for two days alone with my husband. It was so restful that I’d be tempted to do it again this weekend if I wasn’t speaking in Edmonton!

This bald eagle perched on a tree, overlooking the park where we re-created for a day.

While on this mini-retreat, I played Scrabble, reflected, and read. The book I’d picked up was titled Communicating for a Change by Andy Stanley and Lane Jones. The content didn’t capture my imagination and whisk me away to another place and time, but it did challenge me to think about how I prepare my messages. Over and over, it reminded me to focus on one single thought rather than dispel too much information. Good stuff. I recommend this book to anyone who does public speaking.

Anyway, I returned home on Monday evening. Early the next morning, I settled into my black leather loveseat, coffee and Bible in hand. “What do You have for me today?” I asked the Lord as I opened my journal and wrote the day’s date.

These are the verses I read: “In my distress I prayed to the Lord, and the Lord answered and set me free. The Lord is for me, so I will have no fear. What can mere people do to me? Yes, the Lord is for me, he will help me” (Psalm 118:5,6).

I read these Scriptures with a question in mind: What single thought grabs me? The answer came back: “The Lord is for me.” The statement is simple but life-altering! Imagine!

God – the One who spoke the universe into being – is for us!

God – the One for whom nothing is impossible – is for us!

God – who conquered death once for all – is for us!

Sometimes we think of God as the big guy who sits in the heavens and hovers over us with a baseball bat, watching for our failures and waiting to clobber us for doing wrong. But these Scriptures paint a much different picture.

God is for us. He loves us. He died for us. He cheers for us, like a parent in the grandstand cheers for her child who runs the bases after swinging the bat and hitting the ball. He wants us to succeed, to shed the gunk that weighs us down—fear, unforgiveness, anger, shame, and the like—and run with endurance and success the race that is before us.

Tonight I’ll be speaking to a group of nearly 400 women. Tomorrow evening I’ll speak to another group the same size. I’ll be honest—I feel nervous. What if I mess up during my presentation? What if I forget my train of thought? The possibility makes my heart ker-thump and sets butterflies loose in my tummy.

But then I remember this single, life-altering thought: The Lord is for me. I’ll meditate on it as I drive to the venue, and throughout the evening as the clock ticks toward my time on stage. The Lord is for me. He will help me. The Lord is for me. I will not fear.

Take this single thought and make it your focus for the day, my friend. Then take a moment and tell us how it applies to you.

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