"For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand, and says to you; Do not fear, I will help you".
I have a few fears in my life. They don't hinder living my life, but they don't help it either. Here are my fears.
1. Bridges. Big, long, high bridges. Unless I'm the driver. Then I'm not happy, but I'm OK.
2 Confined spaces, as in claustrophobia. This is probably my worst fear. I once had a turtleneck
sweater on that wouldn't easily pull over my head. I panicked. I was going to cut it off. I finally
got it off, almost ripping my head off with it, but it was worth it.
3.Creepy crawlies of any size. Snakes, mice, rats, you get the picture. If it's a bug and I can step on it
and smash it, I'm OK, but it has to be smashable size.
My big, strong ex-firefighter husband fears almost nothing. However, while night fishing in Florida with his uncle one year, he fell out of the boat. He said he almost walked on water to get back in because he was afraid of the alligators, which he could see all around.
Some fears are in us for a reason, self preservation for one thing. Some are not, and cannot even be explained. When they are lies from the devil, we need to counter those fears with the truth of God's word. It may be in baby steps, as I am doing with my fears, but they are steps forward. I used to fear a whole lot more. I'd needlessly worry about the welfare and safety of my children. Not normal worry, but ridiculous worry. When they became adults, I worried about my grandchildren. Now, every one is an adult! Deliverance, LOL!
I do know this, fear drives out faith. They cannot co-exist. When I've had surgeries, I am rolled into the operating room singing (often out loud!) songs about the Lord that bring comfort, and my fear vanishes.
I'm also going to close with what I believe to be one of Kelly's favorite verses.....and mine.
2 Timothy 1:7
For God has not given us the spirit of fear, but of power and love and a strong mind.
Praise God for his love and His spirit which dwells within us!
11 comments:
dear miss o patty...this was such a great post and quite funny..i read it to bernie and we both chuckled when you said you almost ripped your hear off with that turtle necked sweater!...and your husband "walking on the water?"..well if he had the faith of peter, he surely COULD have, eh?
miss patty i am a claustrophobia too.
i am always so glad when the elevator stops and the door opens.
i don't mind bridges but i am deathly afraid of tunnels...when donna and then rachel drove to your place, both times they never used the tunnel.
don't tell my felisol that i am telling you this but i am afraid of large bodies of water and there she is in norway running right into that ocean!
now miss patty...i used to pick up snakes and chase my brother, teddy with them because he was afraid of them...i think though that i AM afraid of mice and rats...as for bugs and such miss patty, people will tell you that i would never step on them!..the sunday school super picked up a spider one day while he was teaching and said, "no, i won't kill this..mrs. shirkie would not like that too well!"...ha!..usually i will catch them with a kleenex and throw them outside where they belong!
the verse you put in here would surely kill all fear when you read it and believe that the lord jesus never tells a lie! and he keeps his promises
this verse is what comforts me miss patty when i think of my fear of the water
Isaiah 43:2
When thou passest through the waters, I will be with thee; and through the rivers, they shall not overflow thee: when thou walkest through the fire, thou shalt not be burned; neither shall the flame kindle upon thee.
good night miss patty....love terry
Psalm 4:8
I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, Lord, only makest me dwell in safety
I have some fears. They run deep - and perhaps are too lengthy to write in this small space. But I can capsulize and say I fear my daughter will grow up to be just like her mother. ...oh...so much to be said about THAT topic. But not now. :)
I also fear death - not for me, but for those I love...in other words, please don't die and leave me here alone. I have a great fear where that is concerned regarding my husband. Perhaps because I watched my mother walk through the loss of my father, and have witnessed those of you who have experienced such deep pain through the loss of your spouses...and honestly, in my past, that one relationship, even though it was ungodly, the pain I experienced when I walked out of it....I never want to experience that loss ever again.
As for bugs, I catch them and take them outside too.
Fear is definitely one of the enemy's greatest weapons against us. I also love the truth that God has not given us that evil spirit of fear. That lets us know right there who gives it. But we can refuse to accept it! When we resist the enemy he has to flee. Enjoying your tidbits!
childhood, young woman, motherhood, fears are inevitable throughout our lifetime.we battle them and in most cases, claim victory. I wrote a poem about it once...when it consumed me...it being "fear". Enjoying your tidbits Pat.
http://www.byhisgracealonepoetry.blogspot.com
I abhor the idea of a home catching fire and have plenty of smoke alarms in my house...I also hate deep water...watching movies where boats or airplanes sink where they show underwater scenes freaks me out...not sure I could go out on a ship where you couldn't see land....
You're beautiful daughter taught me that scripture 2 Tim 1:7 and I will forever be grateful!
I fear dumb things...
As a child I greatly feared driving in the mountains .. especially on the curves when my side of the car was next to the drop off. That's why I can't ride amusement rides that do a loop-d-loop. I want my feet planted on terra firma (The Rock).
I am so glad our country has no mountains. Because I am anxious in the car when I must drive dephts. But I know: close to Jesus I can be in the mountains :-)
I don't like creepy crawlers either. :)
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