I was listening to the song Wide Open by North Point InsideOut this morning and the lyric “on the other side of everything I’m afraid of, your standing with your arms wide open” really weighed heavy on my heart. I’ve been thinking about that lyric and what it means in my life. When I think about Jesus I can’t help but think about him in this light. Standing there with his arms wide open ready to give the biggest hug ever, to provide comfort and love. Someone who knows everything about you, someone who has shared all your pain with you and someone who has been part of all the joy you’ve ever felt. A person who has loved you your whole life completely unconditionally. He has been sitting there cheering you on in some of your proudest moments and he has been right by your side, hugging you while you cried. He was holding your hand when you found out that good news, and he was also holding your hand when you suffered an unimaginable loss. Knowing that Jesus is forever present, always encouraging me to bring everything to him and always loving me, brings me so much comfort.

So going back to the lyric from above, what is “everything I’m afraid of” and what does it really mean that Jesus is waiting behind all that with his arms wide open? Everything I’m afraid of… well, that’s a lot. In the season of life i’m in right now, i’m afraid of leaving my family and friends for nine months, i’m afraid of not going to college directly after high school, i’m afraid of getting sick while over seas, i’s afraid that i’m not strong enough to go and so much more, but hearing this song and really taking in what it meant brought me so much comfort and i hope it brings some sort of comfort to you to. That no mater what it is your afraid of, it’s ok. Jesus is standing right there on the other side but we must have faith and confidence in him and his promise for plans only to prosper us. He is on the other side of our fears, assuring us that he has been and always will be walking with us and is bringing prosperity and growth where we never thought possible. He is always asking us to give him our pain and he takes it off our shoulders and put’s it on his. God is such a personal God and he wants a personal relationship with you. He wants to be the first person you talk to when you find out that good news. He wants to be the first person you cry to when you feel broken, he wants you to be honest and real with him. Jesus is love, he is authenticity, rawness, realness, everything good and everything pure. Knowing that through my shortcomings and through my brokenness Jesus never left and he’s standing here with his arms wide open, embracing me in all my fear.. it’s a crazy thing. He wants to be there for all of us so I think it’s important to realize this and understand that it’s ok to be afraid, but its important to have faith and trust in Jesus because whatever happens, Jesus will be standing right in the middle of it. I read Philippians 4:6 this morning and it goes as follows, “Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts an your minds in Jesus Christ.” Jesus tells us that instead of being anxious and afraid we need to come to him in prayer and he will guard our hearts and minds with his supernatural peace. I’m forever praising Jesus for the fact that he is such a personal savior. He assures us that we can trust in him, so keep strong faith and believe that on the other side of any fears or challenges Jesus is right there waiting, comforting, bringing peace, bringing growth and bringing all things new and better. What a wonderful savior. 

Thanks for taking your time to read what i have to say!! So much love from me to you, praying that in the midst of your fear you choose faith and that you trust that Jesus is working something bigger and better and beautiful out of it.