I found out yesterday that the thought from my post yesterday about expressing fear honestly to God, completely revolutionized my prayer life last night.
To understand that, I probably need to backtrack slightly. I had a pastor awhile back who insisted uncategorically that ALL fear was sin. Although I’ve come to believe that isn’t quite accurate (I’ll probably expand on that idea in an upcoming blog post), I had evidently internalized some of that teaching. Consequently, I found myself either fighting fear, denying it completely, or just hiding it from others (and hopefully from God, although I knew that He knew about it … which was always a bit unnerving).
Anyway, last night I just completely and totally admitted all my fears about the future, my fears about my husband’s illness, my fears about my kids, my fears about life in general … and rather than becoming burdened with fear and overwhelmed by admitting it, I found much of my burden lifted almost immediately.
Just knowing that Jesus wasn’t exactly looking forward to being nailed to a cross, and that He actually asked for the cup to be taken from Him, if possible, was a huge healing thing for me. Essentially my prayer became, “If possible, take this cup from me. But, nevertheless, not my will but Thy will be done.”
Such a surrender. Such faith to be willing to entrust those fears — each and every one of them – to God. Admitting my fears to Him wasn’t weakness, it was actually the step I needed to take toward greater faith.
Who’d have thought? 
That’s awesome! I read a book awhile back, that had this this line in it:” The Christian does not live without fear, or against fear, the Christian lives beyond fear.”
His blessings this day.
I really enjoyed your post. I watch Joyce Meyer alot and she taught a sermon about fear. And she said something similar to what you posted. I think the quote went something like this, “Do it afraid.” She also, said fear was a “landmine” of the devil. He uses our fears to make us turn away from God.
Have a good day.
isnt it a relief to able to be real with God, instead of religious?
real courage and real faith are in the face of fear, not always in the stead.
as long as you dont let fear be your govenor, or the designer of your confessions, your faith will overcome. faith is, after all, agreeing with God, not feeling no fears.
good post!
kïrstin♫
That is exactly it! Fear is an emotion - what we do with it is where the sin comes in…just like anger - anger is an emotion but what we do with it determines whether it is sinful or not.
Rather than being controlled by your fears - consumed by the worries - to the point that you did not trust the Lord, you gave them to Him and that is EXACTLY the healthiest way to deal with it!! That is so neat!!!
This is very VERY cool!!!
\o/ \o/ \o/
Sorry I had to come back for one more thing….
I read the first comment and thought that sounded familiar - not the words themselves but the way it was said but I didn’t noticed until I’d already entered my comment - THAT’S MY HUSBAND!! LOL
Debi, I have commented in the past of how I admire your strength, your courage and your faith.
I agree with all of the comments above. Faith does not remove fear from our being. Faith gives us the strength to carry on inspite of that fear. If we were able to easily skip through every day where would our opportunities to grow come from.
Courage is not having no fear, it is having the faith and the strength to carry on, even while carrying or dealing with the fear.
Keep up the good work
Bill
Debi, Thanks for stopping by my blog. I’ve been reading yours now and Wow! What you have to go through right now. This is a great post though. I had some hard growing up years, with 4 handicapped brothers and sisters (who have all since passed away), then my mom was diagnosed with MS when I was in high school, and people always say Wow! to us.
I really believe it’s our faith that pulls us through, and I truly believe that God will not give us more than we can handle, and our trials truly can be a refiner’s fire if you will. I know I wouldn’t be the strong person I am today, without those experiences in my family. I believe you too will be strengthened through the Lord if you have faith in Him and give up some of your burden to Him. My best wishes to you.
Thank you so much for your blog. My heart resonates with so much of what you say, although our situations are different.
I understand how much of a relief it is to say that your situation is bad, or even impossible, rather than trying to show how it isn’t all that bad with God in the picture. Actually, it’s terrible. And only in acknowledging that to its full depth can I find comfort in the reality, “But God….”
I understand the fear and joy thing. At one point I announced to a few people, “That’s it. I’m picking my anxieties back up.” I was so tired of fighting them because they were unspiritual. They just were, and like you with fear, God is meeting me and growing me as a package deal, with the anxieties and sadness. If they go, it will have to be the result of His making me more like Him. But also, sometimes I think He really can be glorified in this imperfect world by our daily choice to trust (as you spoke about in another place) EVEN THOUGH we are anxious, afraid, depressed, overwhelmed.
Anyway, I’m not trying to minimize your situation at all by saying I understand. Mainly I’m saying how good it is to feel the comfort of hearing someone else who is experiencing spiritual growth in dark, deep, heavy times. Outwardly, to some people, it looks like we are less spiritual because of outward expressions of sorrow, pain and uncertainty. But, inwardly, when you are going through it, you know that God is doing something inside of you that is very real.