Fear has a way of grabbing hold of us. It has a way of twisting its nasty tail around us and squeezing tighter and tighter until we don’t feel like we will ever be able to breathe again. It sneaks its way into our lives so unexpectedly and all at once we realize it has taken over. Taken over our every thought, dream, action. It halts us; takes away our freedom. Holds us in place; a dark place. My family and I were in a bad car accident two years ago that nearly took my 4 years old sons’ life. After that accident, fear began grabbing hold. We left the hospital and I was happy, but not free from the fear. The devil had tried to take my little boy and didn’t succeed. So, I began to think when will his next attack be? I worried all the time. Wondered when satan would attack again. When he would try once more to do what he had failed to do the first time. This went on for some time after the car accident. Then, through prayer and time passing I began to realize that satan was not in charge. He didn’t get to choose whether it was Cohen’s time to go or not. He must gain permission from God in order to even try to scheme his way back into our lives. I reminded myself that God had brought us through that car accident for a reason and that reason wasn’t so that satan could have his way again. God was in control.
It is so hard when we are going through a trial, a hardship, even a life-changing one, to focus on where God is. It is so hard even after we get through the worst parts to feel like “is this really over?” It’s hard to not look over our shoulders waiting for the next attack. That’s exactly what I found myself doing in those days after coming home from the hospital, I was just waiting for the next terrible something to come along and flip us off course again. But God has us in the palm of his mighty hands all the time. There isn’t one place we can go that he is not there with us. Fear will try its very best to grab ahold and a keep squeezing tight, but we must understand that fear has no place in our lives, our minds, or our hearts. God is not a God of confusion, fear, or doubt. He tells us in 2 Timothy 1:7, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.” We may find ourselves in a place where we feel like just giving up and accepting a life where fear is the main focus. We may feel like we are not strong enough to change things on our own and that’s why God is here. He is here for us when we are at the end of our ropes. It is up to us to choose to fight rather than lay down and allow fear to envelope us. It takes willpower, strength, faith, prayer, friends, the word and most importantly God in order to choose to stand and take that step forward. But we all have it in us to do it. We all can do it. We just need to take that first step.
I look back now on that terrible time in my family’s life and I thank God for getting us through it. I cannot imagine where I would be if I allowed the fear to continue to take over my life. I wouldn’t be the mom, wife, daughter, sister, or friend that I am today. When fear enters our lives, our answer to it doesn’t only affect us, it affects everyone around us. Look at Job in the bible, he had everything in his life taken from him. His family (except his wife), his workers, his health, his livestock, his food. He was down to nothing. He could have chosen to give in and allow fear to tell him “what’s the point?” “Why go on when you have nothing left?” But there was one thing fear and the enemy couldn’t take away from Job, and that is God. God was there. He lived inside of Job and Job decided to keep believing that God would make a way, even when there seemed to be no way. What a powerful story of faith. Job should inspire all of us to keep fighting, keep believing, no matter what.
If you are at a place today that is dark. If you are scared. If you are running out of breath from the squeezing fear is doing to you. Choose to look up, choose to see that god is there. Grab hold of him and don’t look back. Dive into his word, let them stay in your heart and mind. Connect with a godly friend, one who will keep you going and hold you up. Just keep moving forward. One step at a time. Soon enough you will see that your fears are far behind you. You will be free.
He gives us Roots so we can Fly. Roots and Wings.
