Friday Feature #31

Welcome back to “Friday Feature!” Grab a cup of coffee, relax, and enjoy today’s devotion! If you missed the last devotion, you can read it here!

I have truly loved getting different guest authors to share their thoughts on the blog – it has encouraged me more than words can say! However, I’m switching things up a bit for this week, and I will be sharing today’s devotion. I have felt this on my heart, and wanted to share it with you all. I hope you will be encouraged today!

What are you afraid of?

Fear – a distressing emotion aroused by impending danger, evil, pain, etc., whether the threat is real or imagined; the feeling or condition of being afraid.

Anxiety – a feeling of worry, nervousness, or unease, typically about an imminent event or something with an uncertain outcome.

If you ask a child what they are afraid of, you will probably find the answers to be the same among other children…Sleeping in the dark, “monsters” hiding under the bed, spiders, heights, flying, thunderstorms….etc.

An incident occurred at our home a couple of years ago when the boys and I were home alone one night. It was storming really bad that night, and we heard a knock on the door. I assumed it was my husband coming home from visiting someone in the hospital. I went to the door and opened it without even looking to see who it was. (After all, we never have visitors at 10:30 at night…) But it wasn’t him…it was a man that I didn’t know, sloppily dressed, and he was intoxicated. Needless to say, the boys and I felt very afraid of what his intentions might be. I immediately shut the door and locked it. After closing the door, he kept on knocking and ringing the doorbell. The boys and I sincerely prayed for God’s protection, as well as called the police and a family friend to come over until my husband got home. Long story short, the man was arrested and taken into custody later that night.

How thankful we were that God protected us! (You never know what peoples intentions are these days!) For a season, the boys prayed every single night, “God, please don’t let any bad men come back to our house.” Do you know why?? Because they were still afraid. I have quoted this scripture many times to the boys at night because I know that there is power in the scriptures. It has helped them on countless occasions to be able to fall into a peaceful sleep. Psalms 4:8 – I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thou, LORD, only makest me dwell in safety. Since then, God has tremendously helped my boys to overcome that particular fear!

Whether you think any of these are valid reasons to be afraid, the truth of the matter is…fear can be very real for little ones.

Adults, whether we admit it or not, we face fears of our own. Maybe it’s a fear of not having enough money to pay the bills, or losing your job. Maybe it’s being afraid of what people think about you, or perhaps it’s fear of failure and rejection. Maybe it’s a fear of getting a cancer diagnosis or losing a loved one. It could be that you’re afraid of divorce, or your spouse being unfaithful. Lately, I think it’s safe to say that we all have had a fear in the back of our minds regarding the current events of our country. What kind of world will this be for our kids and grandkids to grow up in? What will happen to our religious freedom? The economy? How many more people will we loose to Covid? The list goes on…Whatever it is that makes your anxiety levels rise…let me assure you that fear is also very real in adults. We just don’t like to vocalize our fears, because somehow, we think that makes us seem weak.

I truly believe that it is not God’s will for fear and anxiety to control us. Did you know that the word fear occurs 501 times in the Bible and afraid occurs 189 times? Doesn’t this just show you what a personal God he is?! God knew from the very beginning that we would face anxieties and fears, so He literally filled the Bible with scriptures regarding this…and yet…He also wants us to know that fear is not of God. 2 Timothy 1:7 says, For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a soundmind.

Fear and anxiety are controlling and paralyzing. They control how we act, think, eat, sleep, etc. God wants the exact opposite for us. He wants to fill our lives with peace that passes all understanding, and to give us a sound mind. Philippians 4:7 says, And the peace of God, which passeth all understanding, shall keep your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. This is what God desires that we have in our lives, and we can have that if we keep our minds focused on Him! Isaiah 26:3 says, Thou wilt keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed on thee… There’s power in memorizing the scriptures. When fear and anxiety try to creep in, think about what the Bible says about fear. You will be amazed how the fears will begin to diminish when you fill your minds with the scriptures and good things.

Don’t underestimate fear and anxiety…they are very real!! BUT so is God’s PEACE.

These are just a few of my favorite scriptures I would like to share with you today.

Deuteronomy 31:8 -And the LORD, he it is that doth go before thee; he will be with thee, he will not fail thee, neither forsake thee: fear not, neither be dismayed.

Psalms 34:4 – I sought the LORD, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 56:3 –What time I am afraid, I will trust in thee.

Psalms 27:1 – The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? the LORD is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?

Proverbs 3:24 – When thou liest down, thou shalt not be afraid: yea, thou shalt lie down, and thy sleep shall be sweet.

Isaiah 41:10 – Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee…

John 14:27 – Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you: not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

Praying God will fill you with his calming peace. ~Laura