Not Afraid Anymore

We live in an extremely anxiety filled world. I feel anxious more often that I’d like to admit. Watching the news makes my heart feel heavy and full of worry. I feel lies from the enemy creep into my mind and I want to crawl into a little hole. I get overwhelmed with stress and want to shut down. I am scared to step into the calling placed on my life. I begin to let fear sit on the throne of my heart instead of the Father. I share these very real, very honest thoughts with you to show you that you are not alone. The enemy tries to make us feel isolated in our anxiousness. The Truth reminds us, that we are not meant to carry our burdens on our own.

I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of being ruled by fear. I want to step out of moments of panic and instead run into His presence. The Father’s grace is sufficient for our biggest regrets. His power is sufficient for our deepest fears.

What will worrying add to my life? Absolutely nothing.  Matthew 6:27 says, “Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?” Exactly. Sitting in my anxious thoughts and feeling frozen in fear will change absolutely nothing. But I know someone who changes everything. Jesus. Psalm 32:7 tells us this of Jesus, “You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance.” Our hiding place. Our place of retreat. Our fierce protector. What a soul- comforting statement.

Not only is He our hiding place, He takes action and silences our fear. He is not passive. He creates a way for us to move forward. He will surround us with songs of deliverance. I love how this song proclaims the power Jesus has over anxiety in our lives- “Through trails and troubles Your love will go on. For even my weakness is strong. Not death, nor disaster will keep me from You. No I’m not afraid anymore.” (Mosaic MSC- Not Afraid) Jesus will not be overcome. I can lay my head down on my pillow tonight and not let my mind run wild because I rest secure in the fact that Jesus has overcome EVERY fear, EVERY worry. Hillsong’s song, “Prince of Peace” says, “You love surrounds me when my thoughts wage war.”

I’m not afraid anymore. I’m not saying I never feel anxious anymore. Believe me, I do. But now I know what to do when I feel that way. Run to Him. When we remember whose we are, it changes everything.

We were not meant to be ruled by fear, or tip toe around hard things. We are called to do hard and holy things. We are called to boldly step into our calling and walk in freedom and victory that is promised to us.