So do not fear, for I am with you;
do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;
I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10
I couldn’t tell you how many times I’ve looked at that verse and only seen “DO NOT FEAR.” I cut out anything after that in an effort to control my fear and completely remove it. I am controlled by the lies that:
I must be strong and independent.. otherwise I am a sinner and a failure
WELL DUH
I am a sinner! I have tried to control my fear so much that I would completely avoid it. I avoid situations that could possibly bring pain in an effort of control. My decisions are only a representation of control rather than trust. However avoiding fear and pain in an effort of control only leads to failure which dominoes into numbness, depression, insensitivity, etc..
The Lord put the rest of that verse there for a reason. I obviously am not able to control or overcome my fears and He knows that. I am with you..I am your God..I will strengthen and help you..I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
Avoiding my fears and controlling them on my own discredits God’s power. It is like I am saying, “Nah, no thanks God. I got this on my own.” But when the God of the universe, creator of everything, know-er of all offers to help me, I need to embrace that.
When we acknowledge our fear instead of avoiding and controlling it, we are:
“Accepting our humble position in the universe, leading us to a position of need for God and others” (Changes that Heal, Henry Cloud)
To be honest, the World Race scares me.. a lot. But I know I can’t do this journey on my own. I can do all things through Christ who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13. Nowhere in that verse or in the one above does it say “Do it all on your own”
I am making an effort to remove control and give my fears over to the Lord. Here are some fears that I’ve been hiding in fear of weakness. But here I am, so weak. So broken. I can’t do this race on my own, and I am SO thankful I don’t have to. Ignoring fears and acting tough won’t fix them, only turning them over to the Lord will.
-Packing. 11 months worth of clothes in one bag. HOW?! This might seem silly, but I am so afraid I will forget something and be uncomfortable (If you can’t tell, I’ve started going through my packing list) Please pray that I find my comfort in the Lord and trust that He will provide.
-Fundraising. $16,000 is a lot of money. It seems impossible and I feel like I am running out of resources. Learning to trust in the Lord’s faithfulness here. PLEASE pray for that.
-Life will be hard on the race. It might not always be safe. Again, please pray that I am able to trust in the Lord here. Pray that I see truth in the hard times and open my heart for growth and trust in the Lord’s protection. Pray that I am able to be present in the moment and embrace the people with love.
-11 months is a long time. A long time to be away from home and a long time to be living and working side by side with the same people 24/7. Please pray for patience, love, understanding, grace, and truth as I interact with my teammates. Pray that I trust in the Lord’s plan for my life at this moment through the World Race.
and the list goes on..
I am so excited to see how the Lord is going to use these fears to shape and make me now, during, and after the World Race. Overall, please pray that I allow the Lord to use me to further His kingdom.
5Trust in the LORD with all your heart,and do not lean on your own understanding.6In all your ways acknowledge him,and he will make straight your paths.
Proverbs 3:5-6
11 For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.
Jeremiah 29:11
25Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? 26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life[a]?
28 And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith? 31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well.
Matthew 6:25-33
