I just returned from speaking in Alabama and on the flight home I caught up on one of my favorite pleasures–travel-time reading. As I read, one line seemed to leap off the page.
Recently I’ve had several conversations with women who feel stuck in some area of their life due to fear.
I’m afraid I’ll make the wrong decision.
I’m afraid I’ll mess up my kids.
I’m afraid things will never change.
I’m afraid I’ll be single forever.
I’m afraid to speak up.
I’m afraid things won’t work out.
I’m afraid of what people will think.
I’m afraid of the future.
I’m afraid I’ll look stupid.
I’m afraid I’ll fail.
And the list could go on…..
Fear. It’s the biggest issue women face. No matter what our age or stage of life, we all battle fear.
I know I do.
Fear prevents us from making wise decisions. Fear stifles our emotional, relational and spiritual health. Fear robs us of joy. Of our destiny. Of our contentment.
So why do we let fear rule us?
Fear is an emotional response to real or perceived threat. Like a frightened puppy, fear causes us to cower in the corner or frantically yelp. Either way, fear leaves us all bark and no bite.
Often we’re keenly aware of our fears. Sometimes, though, we’re not.
We just know we feel STUCK and we’re not sure why.
Recently I wrote a new lesson in the Get Healthy Bible Study series, called “Healing the Sickness of Discontent”. As I studied, I had an “ah-ha” moment: fear, confidence and discontent are linked.
Hebrews 13:5-6 says,
…be content with what you have, because God has said,
“Never will I leave you;
never will I forsake you.”
So we say with confidence,
“The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid.
What can mere mortals do to me?”
Look at the scriptures closely. Do you see the emotions? Contentment. Confidence. Fear.
Fear affects my confidence, which keeps me stuck. Being stuck makes me discontent with my circumstances, my options, my choices, my life.
If you’re scratching your head, trying to figure out how your fear and your discontent go hand in hand, try this exercise:
Fill in the blanks. “I’m discontent with _______________________ because I’m afraid that ____________________________.”
For example, “I’m discontent with being single because I’m afraid I’ll never meet someone” or “I’m discontent in my role as a stay-at-home mom because I’m afraid I’ll never get back to the career I had before kids” or “I’m discontent with aging because I’m afraid I’ll become irrelevant”. See what I mean?
Even if you have to think a few minutes, I’m betting you’ll be able to pinpoint the fear driving your discontent.
Realistically, this world is a pretty scary place. Things can go wrong in about 10 zillion different ways. So it makes sense to live in fear, right?
It makes sense if you’re trying to face this life alone.
But the believer never faces life alone. Never.
No matter what, God has whispered a life-altering truth into your ear: “I will never leave you. I will never forsake you.”
God will be my helper.
God will be my helper.
God will be my helper.
God will be my helper.
The truth can free us, if we let it.
When we remember God’s continual presence, we’re emboldened with confidence and calmed with contentment.
We can be content with what we have because what we have is nothing less than God Himself. Never leaving us. Never abandoning us. Always helping us.
It’s time we say with confidence “The Lord is my helper.” Then live like we believe it.
Our fears won’t fade until we take the step we think we can’t.
