I am tired of living in fear, like my goat afraid of the snow, so I’m giving up fear for Lent.
Because…
We can’t meet our destiny if we never get out of our rut.
This time one year ago I made a plan to give up fear for Lent – a clever twist on the annual holy challenge. Then someone I loved died and Lent dawned over all the empty places where she had always been. More losses and fears of losses came. So how do you give up fear from the doorway of so many unknowns? I didn’t. At least not successfully. But one year later I’m still standing and giving it a go again. Want to join me?
I thought it would look like doing one brave thing after another, facing down procrastination, relinquishing control of uncontrollables, getting over myself and getting on with what needs to be done whether I know how to do it or not. Refusing to be hobbled by fear.
But now I realize that no matter the fear the CURE is always the same:
TRUST GOD.
It’s not a one-time decision but many in a row. A constant meditation. Warfare really. Against fear.
It’s using our IMAGINATION to focus on our Big God instead of mirages painted by fear.
It’s trusting…
He is Good.
He is with us.
He is Able.
He has a Good Plan.
He works all things – even hard things – together for the good.
Whatever the future holds, He is already there too.
As one of my devotionals so perfectly said:
“Sail away! Spread you sail toward the storm
and trust in Him who rules the raging seas.”
~ J. R. Macduff in Streams In The Desert”
“For I, the LORD your God, hold your right hand; it is I who say to you “Fear not. I am the one who helps you.” ~ Isaiah 41:13 ESV
Amen.
QUESTION: What would you do, how would you feel, and what would you dare to dream if you decided to give up fear for Lent and focus on trusting God instead?
Joanna, this is simply the best. Thank you for sharing your heart with us this day. Happy Valentines Day and Blessed Lent.
Thanks so much Terri for being a good friend and part of my ‘Journey to Joy’. Happy and Blessed Valentine’s Day and Lent to you too!
Thank you for the encouragement. I’m going to try to eliminate the “fear mirages” in my life. I love how you put that. I come from a long line of fearful worriers, so it’s a constant struggle. I always try to turn my fears into prayers.
Blessings to you.
@bhc1812
A dear friend shared a devotional with me about how we need to use our imagination to focus on the Lord instead of our fears and it really resonated with me as I was finishing writing that post that I literally wrested with for over a year. I aspire to break the generational habits and pass on a less worrisome legacy of creating a habit of imagining all of the endless glories of God : ) Thanks for joining me on the journey. These efforts are always more enjoyable with friends!