Fear is insidious, pervasive and greedy. It takes ground both subtly and violently. And, is usually given without battle. Our minds are weak and untrained.
February 2020 God made me a promise.
A promise to protect me and my family. He said he viewed us like precious jewels in his possession and no harm would come to us (1 Peter 1:5, 2:9 "Continual Watch").
I didn’t understand - it seemed strange, out of context, surprising. I wrote it down in my journal and let it marinate in my head. Less than two months later I more fully understood what he intimated. It wasn’t about the broken hot water pipe under our hardwood floor or allergies it was COVID.
His promise has been tested; not once, not twice but over four times in the last year: 1. My mom in a COVID regulated ER (picture 70+ without cell phone, scared and alone) with stroke/heart attack symptoms, 2. Me being very ill over Labor Day (not COVID), 3. Mom’s elective surgery where the anesthesia hung on a bit too long making her loopier then loopy for several days, and 4. Me, just a bit ago, experiencing stroke-like symptoms.
I wish I could say I “stood on the Promises of God” - I didn’t. I was fully immersed in my circumstances; riding the emotional wave after wave after wave of pain, disorientation and turmoil. Not fun. I would come up for air, recall, remember, review, then another wave would crash and I would get pulled back into the melee of the moment. The “what if’s” really leveled me.
Fear crept in.
During worship, God told me fear is insidious, pervasive and greedy. It takes ground both subtly and violently. And, is usually given without battle. Our minds are weak and untrained.
I asked how to fight fear effectively - “Press into the promises I have given you. Press into my Presence. Present faith and be rewarded.”
He recalled to my mind the adage about being faithful with little and being rewarded with much…but, he put a twist on it. He asked me not only to steward “things” but my attitude, my outlook and demeanor.
Did I get very ill? Yes. Did I have a very scary episode a few weeks ago? Yes. Was my mom experiencing life altering symptoms? Yes. Was my mom incredibly confused for longer than normal? Yes.
Did any of it last? No. Did any of it cause perpetual harm? No. Did any of it have lasting negative ramifications? No.
Did God protect us? Yes.
My mind, my brain, my thoughts, are the biggest battleground I have right now. I need to marshal them, tame them, take them captive AND align them with Gods thoughts and promises.
If he said it, he will do it.
The problem lies with me… Do I believe it?