No More Fear!
A couple of weeks ago, we spent some time in Colorado. This visit was a huge milestone and a monumental feat in my life. For the first time, I drove an ATV on the windy trails of a 12,000 foot mountain in the rain and hail in perfect peace. Let me repeat...I have never been able to do this without crippling fear in my 45 years of life. This may not sound like a big deal to you but let me give you a little backstory.
I grew up in West Texas where everything is flat for miles. I never really encountered mountains for the first part of my life. The closest thing to a mountain was a huge hill in Weatherford, TX. We had to go up this what seemed like huge hill to go see my great aunt and uncle. I remember experiencing tremendous fear for no reason every time we went there.
Fast forward to high school, my church had their summer camp in Ruidoso, NM. I went for the first time and had no idea what I was getting myself into on the drive up in the church van. I had to sit in the front seat at the first sight of mountains because of the fear and anxiety I experienced. There was one point in the drive that had a sharp turn that dropped straight down and I about lost it every single year. The fear of mountains continued into my adult life where my future husband got to experience this gripping fear on a college trip with friends. This was just one of the fears that held me captive. I also was afraid of rejection, failure, criticism, losing control and people’s opinions of me. This lifestyle of fear and anxiety ended up affecting me physically. I developed unexplained health issues and chronic migraines that went on for several years until God supernaturally healed me through a series of people and events.
I tell you all of this because so many others out there struggle with these same things. You may not have a fear of mountains, but you may experience fear of not being a good parent, fear God isn’t pleased with you, fear of being alone, fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of intimacy, etc. I have GREAT NEWS….you do not have to live in the shackles of fear and anxiety. The enemy wants you to believe this is just the way it is and will always be. The devil is a liar and God did not intend for His children to live this way. Fear is the enemy’s number one tactic. The only way he has power in your life is when you partner with his lies. When you fear, you give him access to bring upon you what you feared. Feelings, thoughts and circumstances will constantly change so stand on the truth of God’s word.
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. 2 Timothy 1:7
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 with my righteous right hand. Isaiah 41:10
You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation]. Isaiah 26:3
Over the next few blog posts, I will be sharing some of the things that the Lord taught me regarding fear and anxiety and my journey to freedom.