Originally published Monday, 23 November 2015.
I think many of us can relate to these words about fear from my friend Kelly Balarie.
So often, and I hate to say this, I stand face-to-face with irrational fears.
It doesn’t really matter what the fear is.
It could be my kids getting sick from the coughing kid sitting next to us. My house burning down when I am away. My toilet overflowing from a toddler mishap. My car spinning out in the snow. My house being robbed while we are away. My kids getting hurt.
Fear arrives on a moment’s notice, but stays for what seems like eternity.
In fact, it always overstays its welcome.
No one wants to invite a tyrant over, so I am not even sure why I welcome this iron-fisted ruler into my heart in the first place. But, I do and I often bow down to it. I cower under the pressure.
Like a balloon, this fear tyrant fills my heart with an air of anxiety; I feel like I may pop at any moment.
Normally, it takes just the tiniest prick to set me off:
- The prick of an argument. POP!
- The prick of getting lost. POP!
- The prick of an annoyance. POP!
Or, at least this has been the case in my life.
In the past, I would pop on the inside, only to explode with irritation, frustration and irrational fear on the outside.
Nowadays, I stand guard. As you can see, there is too much at risk – and frankly, I am tired of being over-tired, over-stressed and over-worried.
“Put on the full armor of God, so that you can take your stand against the devil’s schemes” (Ephesians 6:11).
Today, I arm up in truth as I repeat God’s word back to myself.
I arm up with prayer for whatever my worry is.
I arm up with the power of Christ’s never ending grace – for myself and the situation.
I arm up with the knowledge that Christ is always with me, no matter what comes against.
I arm up righteous thoughts so a hypothesis does not turn into a neurosis.
I arm up with faith that God knows better than me – and that his plans are for good.
I arm up with the gospel that always secures me in the love of Jesus.
I arm up with readiness that keeps an eye out for the mean tyrant’s arrival.
“Submit yourselves, then, to God. Resist the devil, and he will flee from you” (James 4:7).
Let’s stop submitting to mean tyrants. Because we can’t be submitting to both. We are either submitting to God or we are submitting to the devil and when Jesus is on our side, he always has a better option for us. He always has a way of escape.
Jesus could have feared the worst when he went on the cross, but he knew who was boss. He knew who was fighting for him. He knew who ruled and he knew the best way of escape was pure submission to the will of his Father.
Look how Jesus has blessed us today through his surrender.
You see, dear friends, what God has shown me is one of the greatest joys of my life. It flips the fear tyrant right over on his head. This is: Nothing we do – or that comes against – can ever separate us from the love of Christ Jesus.
In this, what do we really have to fear?
We are entirely loved, entirely adored, entirely provided for and entirely taken care of.
Jesus breaks down all fears so we may see them for what they are – unreasonable and unlikely doomsday scenarios.
But, the choice still remains ours:
- Will we walk by faith? Or, will we walk with fear?
- Will we arm up? Or, will we back down?
- Will we resist and submit? Or will we cower to the fist?
I don’t know about you but I am ready to stand up and fight. Will you join me? Will you put up your guard and lift your shield – only to lay down in complete submission to your Savior?
He will protect you.
Standing Strong in Him,
Kelly
This post was first published on katiemreid.com as part of the Unraveling Grace series.
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