unknowns

I’m a scaredy-cat. There, I admitted it. I don’t do roller coasters or haunted houses. I won’t jump off the dock into the lake or get more than ankle deep in the ocean. I don’t do heights or water sports or scary movies. I’m just too scared. I think I’ve always been a little more afraid than my peers about things that most don’t even think of as scary. I think up these horrible scenarios in my head about what could go wrong or how I could get hurt. And I usually can’t get pass that in order to participate, even if, deep down I’d really like too. I’ll admit it. And my friends know it too. Although I am afraid of all these things, there’s a hidden truth to this… I am fear-full of the unknown. The unknown loops and drops of a roller coaster. Not knowing when the jumps and masks are coming towards me in haunted houses or scary movies. Unaware of what’s under my feet in a lake or ocean. The devil knows the areas that you are weak and that’s where he plans to attack. Every time. Unlike the haunted houses, the devil doesn’t sneak up, dressed in black wearing a mask with horns, carrying a pitchfork (although it might be easier to know him if he did). But scary enough, along with fear, there comes a multitude of other troubles we were never intended to carry.

Anxiety

Worry

Words that seems to speak for themselves. Words that flash a hundred thoughts through your mind, with just a few letters. They immediately push the hair on your arm up and put butterfly’s in your stomach. I find myself often wrapped in these words and all of the emotions that are attached to them. And sadly, this is where the devil dressed in pretty things comes in.

I love to plan. Matter of fact, I consider organizing my planners (yes, I use two) as a hobby. I love to sit down and write with a pretty pen all of the things each day/month is going to hold for me. I have to plan things. I’m one of those people who say “ok I’ll get up at 8AM, because I need to leave my house by 8:45, and that gives me enough time to arrive by 8:55, so that I can have a minute before I need to walk in at 9AM”. Kind of ridiculous, right? But, I want everything planned out, even down to the minute some days. I like this about myself, for the most part. It keeps me organized and I rarely arrive late because of it. But this is how the devil is able to quickly push into my life if I am not careful. You see, I like to plan and when my plans get shifted around I get frustrated and out of routine. The devil knows that. He knows our weak points. He knows our strengths too. He knows how he can throw you off course and get into your head. He knows how to use the weak areas of your life to bring out those emotions and fears that we all have tucked away inside of us. Because, here’s the truth, if the enemy can get into your weak points, he will destroy every bit of your strong points too. If you’re not rooted in the Word, with the full armor of God on, the devil will take over areas of your life that you never even thought he could get too.

God never intended for you to be anxious, fearful, or worrisome. It is said that the phrase, “fear not” is used in the Bible more than 80 times. The Lord knows that Satan can attack us if he can make us fearful. If he can stray us from the power and victory of the Lord, through fear, he can attack our lives. It is so easy for us to get caught up worrying. We worry about our future or the people closest to us. We worry about our finances and how we will make ends meet. We worry if we will find a job after graduation. We worry. It’s easier to be caught up in worrying about the “what if’s”, rather than just giving it over to God and trusting that He will work whatever it is out for our good. It can be hard to trust and let go of not knowing what those unknowns look like. You are not required to know everything in order to trust God. Matter of fact, it wouldn’t look trust if the word unknown wasn’t present. For there to be trust, there must be unknowns. There will be unknowns. There are some unknowns in your life right now, but that does not mean that God is not working on your behalf.

Everyday I remind myself of what the Bible says about fear, worry, and anxiety. I know that these things are not from Jesus and that, instead, He calls me to be brave, confident, and to have faith. I don’t want to battle with my flesh and with the emotions that Satan brings into my head. I want to stay rooted in the Word so that when the enemy comes to attack, he can not gain the victory.

At times you may still be afraid, but trust that the God who holds everything in the palms of his hands, also holds you. He will calm your racing heart and give peace to your worried soul.

I don’t have to like roller coasters and I can still be a little scared of jumping off the dock, but I am not called to live my life wrapped in fear of the unknowns.

Below are a few of my favorite verses concerning fear, anxiety, or worry. Read these verses, write them down, print them on a pillowcase, place them on your bathroom mirror or in your car dashboard. Do what you need in order to declare victory over your mind and your life so that you can begin living a life of peace that the Lord has called us all to have.