Fear. I’m not afraid of water, I’m afraid of not being able to touch the bottom. I’m afraid of losing control. The only thing I can attribute this fear to is this one time my twin and I were playing in the kiddie pool on a hot southern summer day and my sister fell on my back making it so I couldn’t get up. I wasn’t in any danger of drowning mom was right there and she was only there for a few seconds. I really never noticed it until this summer when my family went to the lake. We moved to the deeper part so we wouldn’t disturb the younger swimmers in the shallows. Suddenly my foot slipped off the rock and I was distinctly aware that I could no longer touch the bottom.
See I was never really in control, I was kidding myself the same way I was kidding myself that I could have fun watching from where I thought was safe. It wasn’t until I decided I wasn’t going to be afraid, that I was never meant to control it and stepped off that rock and let go, trusting God to handle this out of control chaos called life, trusted that I, in fact, could swim (I have pictures to prove I had lessons) that I was able to have a good time. Sure there were moments that I desperately wanted to thrash back to my rock, and in truth, all I had to do was reach out and grab the buoy and I would be safe. But there was something freeing about letting go, refusing to be afraid and trusting that He has the answers.
I will be your God throughout your lifetime–until your hair is white with age. I made you, and I will care for you. I will carry you along and save you. Isaiah 46:4 NLT
It’s hard not to reach for that buoy- spring back for that unseen rock of my safety, to rip the reigns back out of God’s hand. Instinct tells you to lunge for it, your heart pounds in your chest, step back onto the rock, your fingers burn to grab that buoy to ensure your head doesn’t slip beneath the water- but maybe that’s just where God wants you, maybe letting go and hanging on to him is the lesson your supposed to learn.
In the water you can trust only one thing, your ability to swim, in life, we can only trust one thing Him. In the water our arms may fail us, he will never fail us. He is standing there, ready to take the fear holding you on your man made rock. Keeping you from diving into the water of your destiny, shackled by what others may think, or that you aren’t good enough.
Are you struggling with fear? Maybe you’re like me and it’s the fear of losing control, or maybe it’s something else, check out Kellie Balarie’s book Fear Fighting and let’s start a new chapter of our lives fear free. This is a wonderful book, that will change your life! Kellie shares about how she overcame her fears and encourages you to do the same and rise up and be the woman he wants you to be.
So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you… Isaiah 41:10 NIV
Being afraid takes up way too much time and energy. Time that we could be using to shine His light to a dark world that we could be using to invest in our families and making memories that will last a lifetime. Time we could be reaching out to our community or a hurting friend or fulfilling the mission He has laid on our heart. Let’s kiss fear goodbye together and open a fresh page, are you with me? Then let’s make a splash! Let’s dive off of our rock leaving behind our illusion of control and let’s find peace in Him. Let’s let Him revive our hearts that were once desert wastelands and make them beautiful places once more.
Related Article: Revive Our Hearts In This Desert Place
Even the wilderness and desert will be glad in those days. The wasteland will rejoice and blossom with spring crocuses. Yes, there will be an abundance of flowers and singing and joy! The deserts will become as green as the mountains of Lebanon, as lovely as Mount Carmel or the plain of Sharon. There the Lord will display his glory, the splendor of our God. Isaiah 35: 1-2 NLT
Break the door from your self-made cage, your rock above the waves and embrace His plan. And when fear comes creeping back in again look to Him. Don’t live with regrets, dragging around the extra baggage to hold your chains. Drop them at the cross, let them clank to the ground, nail that fears to the cross and follow Him.
Related Article: Fear Fighting: Are You A People Pleaser?
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Scripture quotations marked (NIV) are taken from the Holy Bible, New International Version®, NIV®. Copyright © 1973, 1978, 1984, 2011 by Biblica, Inc.™ Used by permission of Zondervan. All rights reserved worldwide. www.zondervan.com The “NIV” and “New International Version” are trademarks registered in the United States Patent and Trademark Office by Biblica, Inc.™
Before You Go, Check Out These Other Great Articles
- When The World Says NO
- When The World Says You Are Not Enough
- I See You
- Looking Back
- What Would Happen?
- When Bad Things Happen
- Does God Give Us More Than We Can Handle?
- Follow Your Dreams
- When Blessings Turn Into Curses
- Courage
- Believing The Worst
- I Have Cared For You
- I’m Done Being Afraid
- We Aren’t Worthy
- Revive My Heart In This Desert Place
- My Heart Responds – “Im Coming”
- Faith or Joy?
- Secure Your Own Mask
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