RaVae EricksonWith G&L having left it only feels right to address the topic of fear.
Fear at its best is an annoyance. Plaguing the mind with worry and the heart with constant anxiety. At its worst, fear is crippling. It grips the very soul, steals joy, and sucks life right out of you. Fear can become a phobia or remain simply an irritation. But is it possible to do away with fear completely?
In Max Lucado’s book “Fearless” he talks about getting rid of fear by talking about it:
“You must fight hard to express it. You must fight hard to shine the light of words upon it. Because if you don’t, if your fear becomes a wordless darkness that you avoid, perhaps even manage to forget, you open yourself to further attacks of fear because you never truly fought the opponent who defeated you.” Pi from “Fearless” by Max Lucado.
The world may describe “fearless” as jumping out of an airplane with a parachute when you are deathly afraid of heights, or standing up for yourself at work instead of allowing your boss to walk all over you yet again, or going back into a burning building to save the three-year-old screaming from her second-story bedroom. But how should Christians define “fearless?” Should we have the same definition? Or should we define “fearless” as “complete trust in God?” Although the former sounds easier (at every step in the road) the latter is the correct answer…Complete trust in God, although the most difficult thing to accomplish on this earth is well worth it. Complete trust in God knows no bounds, has no fear, and is full of joy. Complete trust in God has no need to control any part of their lives because they know the Maker is in complete control.
Putting your fears to words, voicing that which haunts you is a scary thing. But this is what MUST be done to rid yourself of whatever fear holds you down. Speak your fear and watch its powerful hold over you melt away.
In watching G&L leave I have had my faith stretched just a little bit more. I have had to make that choice to TRUST God with one more thing (well two things if you’re technical, lol). To Trust that G&L heard Him tell them to go. To Trust that they will be fine when they are down there. To Trust that they will come back better people because of this experience. To Trust that God will make clear to them if they are to go back for a longer period of time after they return. To Trust that nothing will happen here that we cannot handle without them. To Trust that we can support them in this and still feel a little bit of sorrow at them leaving. To TRUST that HE is in CONTROL of not only their lives, but ours as well.
In watching Mom struggle through the last year my faith has been stretched. In walking through life with friends who abandoned us my faith has been stretched. In watching Mom and Dad struggle to make their relationship work during this time my faith has been stretched. Faith, Trust, grows during the tough times. Faith, Trust soars during the best times. Without valleys we never come to mountaintops. No matter where you are on this journey allow God to stretch for faith and grow your trust in Him. SPEAK YOUR FEARS AND WATCH THEM MELT AWAY!