FEAR NOT!

Ho do you view fear?

Fear can be irrational for me at times. This is when I have to try and put the fear into its proper perspective. Even these past few days with my new goal of "just being" is scary in itself because of the uncertainty! I have to talk to myself, remember who I am in Christ!

Having a very fearful and CONTROLLING mother who would anticipate the worst and share with me her concerns was not very encouraging growing up. On top of that, having a mother who would not let me do the simplest things and say "I could not do it right" did not help any either! I would just stand there feeling incompetent, stupid and useless. Still, I viewed this as normal. "Don't do this. Don't do that. Oh, no this could happen." I remember her fears would paralyze me in to thinking not to even go out after dark as a teenager. I literally could not stand up for myself. My mother would be my voice among people. Sick as it was, when I first went into the work force around 18, my mother would go with me on job interviews and talk for me. No wonder I never got the job. I was so freaking embarrassed!!

My dad was completely the opposite. A very critical man who would get on my case as to "why I could not do this, why I could not do that." I developed my own fear of trying to please him, but I really could not, because at the time I did not know how. Not because I did not want to, but I did not have the resources, as I was not allowed by my mother!

To this day, my mother still has tremendous fear. She fears the economy. She fears the government. She fears this and that. She fears for me, etc. The list could go on and on. But, thank God, I am more aware of her irrationalities and I can process them better and quicker. I even chuckle at some of the things that make her afraid now-a-days. As they can be so ridiculous. Unfortunately she gets offended if I make light of the situation.

Now, coming face-to-face with my past through counseling, my fears tend to immobilize me. Even though irrational at times, I am accepting these fears as NOT being my fault! They were ingrained upon me growing up! Being sexually abused was NOT my fault either!! Being abused has its own category and tends to be a different kind of fear all on its own and has to be dealt with different, I think?

The short article below shares and asks "what role does fear play in your life?" I do hope you can benefit from the words!

“Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.”(Isaiah 43:1-2)

Fear can be your foe or your friend. When you find yourself in the path of a frightening storm - whether figurative or literal - fear can be a paralyzing force spiraling you down into the depths of darkness ... or a propelling motivator moving you to higher ground. As the storm approaches, fear can be like a deadbolt lock keeping your mind confined ... or like a loud alarm warning you to move to safety. What role does fear have in your life? Immobilizer or energizer ... foe or friend? What you do in the face of fear identifies its role in your life. Instead of being paralyzed by fear, allow your fear to move you to entrust your life to the Lord. Come to see the Lord as your only place of safety. He promises that He will not only be with you, but that He will also lead you through your fear. (Hope for the Heart)