What Are You Afraid Of?

Last fall our small group at church began the book and video series What Are You Afraid Of? by Dr. David Jeremiah. The book focuses on facing down your fears with faith.  God wants the very best for us, He doesn't want us living each day in fear of the what if.... 

• I lose my job
• the financial markets collapse and my retirement is gone
• this visit to the doctor is bad news for my family member

He wants us to live each day with the comfort of knowing He is in control and He will take us through every situation.

Have you ever looked back over your life and remember a time when you allowed your head to run wild with all sorts of negative outcomes of a particular chapter in life?

I can think of many times in my life that I allowed Satan to mess with my mind.

In the fall of 2002 my husband, Brian accepted a job in St. Cloud.  He was commuting over an hour each way to work everyday.  Our home was on the market and the "what if fears" began to make their way into my head.

What if...

• 0ur house doesn't sell before winter and Brian has to commute on icy Minnesota roads all winter.
• We don't find a home that fits our needs and we have to move twice.

Then our house sold and I had three weeks to pack up our family home of ten years with a two and six year old and make all the moving arrangements.

Again, more what if's...

• Our home doesn't pass the buyers inspection.
• The buyers can't sell their home and the sale of our home falls through just before closing.

Looking back I see how my worrying about the "what if" possibilities didn't make a difference.  I lost some sleep that I could have really used at the time, and most of all, my fears took away from the enjoyment and excitement of the opportunity God had given our family.  If I could have just realized at the time that since God had placed this positive change for our family in our path, He would also work out the details.

If we give our fears to God and allow our hearts and minds to surrender to His care over us, we can enjoy a lifetime of peace in every circumstance.