angelaschmeling

When we went to Georgia a few years ago, my youngest daughter had this saying whenever she went into the ocean and a huge wave came at her she would yell out, “Fear can’t stop me from what I can do!” and then she could jump right into the wave and come up laughing and giggling.

I love this and it’s important for us to remember. We can’t let fear hold us back. Fear is a gripping force that can overcome us, but we need to overcome it!

A few weeks ago, my husband and I were in Minneapolis, MN on a work trip. While we were there, we were told several times by many people that we worked with that we needed to be careful where we go and the times we got out, etc. Don’t go to the Mall of America or other areas in town, you might get shot and definitely don’t go after dark.

Now, I’m not naïve and I’m not saying you shouldn’t use wisdom when you are in big cities, however, that doesn’t mean I need to be fearful. Yet, when those ladies were talking to me about possibly getting shot if I go to the mall, while trying to reassure me at the same time that I “should be okay”, fear tried to grip me and take hold. Thoughts started swirling through my head on what could possibly happen.

And then comes the check in my spirit. God saying, “Hold up, Angie. Why are you afraid? Especially of something that may or may not happen? If that were to happen, rest assured that I’m with you. If it doesn’t happen, you’re wasting your time and energy worrying.”

What a waste to spend some much time and anxiety worrying about something that may not even happen!

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.

1 Timothy 1:7

Did you know that there are 365 verses in the Bible that tell us not to fear? One for each day of the year. Now why do you think that is? Because fear is easy. Succumbing to the fear is often easier than rebuking it. But every day, God has given us His word to overcome that fear, overcome that anxiety and renew our minds to Him and His confidence. His Godfidence!

Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage! Do not be afraid, nor dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go. “

Joshua 1:9

Fear not, for I am with you. Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.

Isaiah 41:10

Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God

Philippians 4:6

Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, I will praise His word. In God, I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?

Psalm 56:3

I sought the Lord and He heard me and delivered me from all my fears.

Psalms 34:4

Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:4

The Lord is on my side. I will not fear. What can man do to me?

Psalm 118:6

Peace I leave with you, My peace I give to you; not as the world gives do I give to you. Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

John 14:27

I love that last verse where Jesus says He will give us peace, not as the world gives. The world doesn’t give us the peace that He can, but the world is very good at giving us fear.

We all have fears. Some are big. Some are little. The point is, what are we going to do when that fear hits us?

A few years ago, I had lasik surgery done. In my opinion, it was so worth it and I’m so grateful that I did it. But after it was done, even though I knew that I no longer needed contacts, that I didn’t need the glasses, I had this insane and completely irrational fear that if I threw them away, my eyes would revert back to the way they were for the past thirty years. Three years later, they were still in a drawer in my bathroom because however crazy the thought was, I couldn’t bring myself to let them go due to that paralyzing fear that my poor vision would return.

Now, that may be a little fear to some, but to me it was big and for far too long, I gave in to it. I focused on what could happen (however unlikely), and wasted time and energy (and space in my drawer). That’s what fear does. It keeps us focused on the issue of what could possibly happen which keeps us from living as God intended and has us living as the enemy intends. The devil knows that if he can keep us in a state of fear, he can control us and keep our focus off the Creator and away from the One that can give us peace in all circumstances.

We have to choose to pull ourselves out of that fear and take on the Godfidence!

I have thrown away the contact boxes now (as of 2 weeks ago) and guess what, my eyesight hasn’t changed! The glasses are tucked away for me to bring to a place that can repurpose them for someone who truly needs them. That weekend in Minneapolis, I had gone to the Mall of America and had a blast with my husband playing mini-golf, shopping, and people watching.

I’m taking on the mantle of Godfidence and listening to my daughter’s wise words. “Fear can’t stop me from what I can do!” Better yet, fear can’t stop me from what GOD has called me to do!