When we were first married, Hal traveled internationally and I put myself into all out panic attacks on more than one occasion. My bouts with fear can come from anything to the health of my children to fear over being accepted. My mind can run with fear and I can imagine the worst possible scenarios. If I allow it, fear can overtake me in an instant and I can be in an all out panic about the smallest thing. I have found that as the LORD matures me in my faith, it is easier to control fear. I can fight it with scripture and I can fight it with knowing and repeating to myself the character of God. This passage in “The Excellent Wife” by Martha Peace has also be comforting and challenging at the same time. I love that it gives practical help from scripture on how to fight fear.
“There are two ways you can respond to a legitimate concern. One is to focus on the present day and what considers your responsibility regarding the concern. The other is to focus on the future, jump to a rash conclusion, (usually the worst possible conclusion) and panic.
When you focus on the future, God may not give you grace to respond biblically (see Matthew 6:34.) in fact, God never gives grace for rash conclusions that are not really happening. If it is not really happening, then it is not real and God always wants us to live in the light of reality, not in the grip of sinful imaginations. For example, a wife is concerned about her husband’s bout with the flu. It seems to her that he is not recovering as quickly as he should. She begins to think about what else might be wrong with him. Before long, she has him terminally ill, dead, his funeral planned, and him buried. Instead of “thinking on things that are true.” (Philippians 4:8), she has jumped to a rash conclusion based on very little data. God will neither comfort nor give her grace to cope with something that is not happening. He will, however, give her the grace to correct her thinking and to recover from her fear and panic.
On the other hand, suppose that the same wife has a legitimate concern about her husband who is not recovering quickly from the flu. Instead of jumping to rash conclusions, she focuses on what God wants her to do today. Today she can pray very specifically for her husband. Today she can call his doctor and consider taking him in for an office visit. Today she can be a servant to her husband and care for his physical needs. Today she can notify the prayer chain at her church and ask them to pray. Today she can comfort herself with the fact that if he does die tomorrow, God will take care of her. God will give her grace to focus on today. Her love for God and for her husband will overcome any fear she may experience.” The Excellent Wife, p 223
What can you do TODAY to battle the fear you are facing?
Thank you for sharing! Yes, I agree that we can just use about anything to fear. When I start to feel anxious about future things (like moving to a new place), I try to focus on the fact that God has a plan for me, and I don't need to think about those things yet. I love that "God will give [me] grace to focus on today."
ReplyDeleteThat was helpful for me as well ... you will do wonderful moving to a new place! Have a little one will make it easier as well. You will meet other moms at the park, etc.
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