Are you Living in Fear?
“Teach me your way O Lord, and I will walk in your truth.” Psalm 86:1
Have you ever been so afraid, that you couldn’t move? If you haven’t experienced that kind of fear, then it’s probably hard for you to relate when someone you know does. You most likely think they are either overreacting or simply ‘acting’ so that they can get out of something, right? I have experienced a moment like that, otherwise I probably wouldn’t believe it, either.
When I was younger, maybe in middle school, I was invited by a childhood friend to go with her and her family to their cabin in southern Indiana. This was my first time to go anywhere for any length of time without my family. I remember that exciting anticipation that I had something good to look forward to. We would be going to a beach, boating, and best of all – enjoying her mom’s delicious home cooked food for a whole week!
Well, although I did enjoy the beach and boating, and loved her mom’s food – just as I thought I would, I experienced something I wasn’t expecting – fear. My two girlfriends and I were walking back to the cabin one evening when we noticed that the sun was setting quickly – so we began to walk faster. There were no street lights, only the moon and the lights that were (thankfully) turned on outside of the cabins.
Out of the blue, we heard a man’s voice from the side of the road. He was sitting on something, perhaps a big rock. He spoke to us, and that’s when I froze. I was walking in between my two friends, and suddenly I couldn’t move. We all stood there for a moment, and I remember feeling my friends lock arms with mine, pretty much forcing me to move on quickly with them. I have never been so frightened in my life! Here we were, on a dirt road in the woods, and no one would know where we were if something terrible happened. That’s all I could think of – no one would know where to find us.
Thankfully, we made it back to the cabin safely. Nothing horrible happened, and I remember feeling so relieved and exhausted. I wasn’t a believer back then. I didn’t know what having faith in God meant, nor about the power in prayer, or anything about prayer for that matter. I often wonder if I would’ve reacted differently if I had known then what I know now.
Are you allowing your fears to control you, and to keep you from moving forward? Isn’t it worth the time to take a reality check and ask yourself if you’re locking arms with people who not only lift you up – but are guiding you in the right direction? Last, but not least, how’s your faith? If you’re not really sure what your answers are to the above questions, then pray. Talk to the one that knows.
“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. 7 And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.” ~ Philippians 4:-7
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