How often do you want to do something but don’t because of fear? Yet, when we take our eyes off the circumstances that instill fear and look to the Lord, He reminds us that we can trust Him to help us. These five truths will help defeat fear in our lives. We just have to believe them and receive them.
~~~
“I can’t swim!” were the words offered in a barely audible whisper.
My son’s closest friends had gathered for his birthday party at the lake, and the excitement built as they each donned a life jacket.
It soon became a contest to determine who was going to jump in the water first. As I watched from afar, with camera in hand to catch the action, I noticed one young gal hanging back.
She whispered repeatedly, “I can’t swim. I don’t know how!”
I came alongside and gently assured her, “It’s okay. You’re wearing a life jacket—it’ll keep you above the water. You don’t have to know how to swim.”
“Really?” she asked with surprise in her voice.
“Yes! It’s perfectly safe. You can jump in with the rest of them without a worry. Just let the life jacket do the work.”
She looked at her friends in the water already having fun, then looked at me, then glanced back at the water. I knew she wanted to join them but wasn’t sure.
Still hesitant with fear, I gently coached her. “You can trust it!”
Before long, her desire to be part of the group overtook her fear and she jumped in. As she bobbed to the surface, I yelled, “You did it!! See, it did it’s job!”
I watched the young crowd all afternoon, snapping pictures and laughing at their escapades. As the day began to draw to a close, I counted heads and realized we were missing one. Just then I heard from the water, “I’m swimming! I’m actually swimming!”
Still clad in a life jacket, she was performing the same strokes in the water she had seen her friends do. Sure enough, she was “swimming” and loving every second of it! Her fear had transformed into water-loving confidence!
At the end of the day, as we said goodbye to each of my son’s friends, I said to her, “You’ll have to join us again for another day of swimming!”
“Really? I’d love that!” No longer afraid, she was on board with all things water related.
As I reflected on the day, I wondered how many times fear holds me back.
How often do I want to do something but don’t because I’m afraid. And yet, when I take my eyes off the circumstance that instills fear and look to Him, He gently reminds me, He’s like my life jacket. He will never leave me, and no matter what I face, He will help me and guide me.
5 Truths to Defeat Fear
1. God will never leave me.
“No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you.” (Joshua 1:5)
2. God won’t let me go.
“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Isaiah 41:10)
3. God promises to help me.
“For I am the LORD your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13)
4. If I am afraid or uncertain, God promises to give wisdom.
“If any of you lacks wisdom, you should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to you.” (James 1:5)
5. If I trust in Him, He will lead and guide me.
“Trust in the LORD with all your heart and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight. Do not be wise in your own eyes; Fear the LORD and turn away from evil.” (Proverbs 3:5-7)
In every situation, God’s word is our life-jacket of safety. He has already given us everything we need for life and godliness (2 Peter 1:3). Our job is to believe it and receive it.
In what area do you need to trust God to hold you up today? I’d love to hear in the comments below.
Because of Him, #HopePrevails!
Resource to Break Anxiety’s Grip
No question, we have a lot to worry about. Children, jobs, homes, health, finances, and more. The solution isn’t to rid ourselves of the sources of anxiety – as if we could. Instead, we need to recognize that anxiety originates from a spiritual influence and that we can fight back using the God-given weapons of power, love, and a sound mind.
We can discover true peace in an age of anxiety.
In Breaking Anxiety’s Grip, Dr. Michelle Bengtson shares her own story of emerging from the battle with anxiety as well as the stories of others. She reminds you of your identity as a follower of Christ and of the peace he promises you in spite of everything.
She provides tools to cope with the crushing emotional burden of anxiety now and, more importantly, shows you how to reclaim God’s peace as a way of life so that you can break anxiety’s grip.
Breaking Anxiety’s Grip: How to Reclaim the Peace God Promises is now available on Amazon, Barnes & Noble, ChristianBooks.com, Books-A-Million, and other fine book retailers.
Click here to learn more: Breaking Anxiety’s Grip
More resources for fighting anxiety, fear, and worry
6 Tips for Coping with the Fear of Success
How to Cope with Fear of Change
A Resource for Dealing with Worry, Fear, and Anxiety
Fighting the Giants of Worry, Fear, and Anxiety
God and Anxiety: God’s Answer to Moses is the Same for Today
Beating Anxiety: The Thief of Peace
Your Rx: 40 Scriptures that Combat Worry, Fear, Anxiety and Panic
(If you have a question you’d like Dr. B to answer, contact her here now. Your name and identity will be kept confidential.)
Contact
Amen! Exactly what I needed this morning as I begin a new venture! I knew all this but needed a reminder. Thank you for all you do for our Lord?
He is my life jacket. I love that visual! When I trust and take a step out, He has never left me.
That’s such a great story about the little girl and such a great application to our lives! Yes, why do we content ourselves on the shore when He is calling us out into the water? I need Him to show me when I’m doing this so I can trust Him for help to change.
Great post! I have spent most of my life with an anxiety disorder and these are the promises of God that I look to for help. Thanks for the reminder today!
I really love your life jacket analogy Michelle! So many times I have felt like I was “drowning” in worry, doubt, or fear and when it happens I know that I need to turn to Jesus and start focusing on him instead of my problems. I need to put on my “lifejacket” and remember that he’s never going to let me drown. Thanks for the insights.
Stopping by from #DreamTogether.
Overcoming Fear seems to be a common theme today – yours is the 2nd post I’ve read and both provide great truths.
Thanks for sharing.
Those are all excellent promises to lean on.
What a great story – and some of my favorite Bible verses. Apparently I cling to help with my fears a lot! 🙂
Truly enjoyed this! It is amazing how we literally have our life line Jesus with us all of the time and yet we are still afraid to jump! Tying in the swimming story is such a good visual to what we experience in our faith!
I consider Proverbs 3:5-6 to be my favorite verses, my life verses, I guess. However, I definitely still find myself not doing certain things because I’m afraid. God has worked on me a ton over the years, but I still have some growing to do! Thanks for linking up with us at Literacy Musing Mondays!
What a wonderful story about the life jacket! Fear really can hold us back; thanks for tackling that topic. And thanks for always sharing the truth about how to combat the tactics of the Enemy of our souls.
Thanks so much for joining the Grace at Home party at Imparting Grace. I’m featuring you this week!
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking and studying about this subject, too. As I reflect back on my life, I know fear has kept me from doing many things. But it’s so good to know that even when we struggle, God keeps nudging us and reminding us about His “life jacket.” Blessings!
Thank you so much for this!
I have to laugh at myself today… The Lord told me to “stop worrying and being fearful”. I wrote out 16 scriptures about “do not fear”, wrote references for another 17. My husband shared a clip about not worrying and now you have added to my arsonal of verses!
I think God is speaking rather loud and clear! ? Thanks be to God Who is ever faithful! (Another reason to let go of fear and worry!).
Thank you and bless you! ?
God has given us everything we need; our job is to believe it and recieve it. Amen! Praying for the power and willingness to believe, recieve and live it out. Thank you for this encouraging post, Dr. B.
Thank you for sharing. What are the 16 and 17 verses, and what is the clip your husband shared with you?
Only His perfect love helps us defeat fear.
What an awesome message and just for me!! I have dealt with fear all my life and have gained freedom from the control of fear but oh I do need encouraging now and then. This message was my encouragement for today! Thank you for sharing. I love the 5 Truths to Defeat Fear and will keep them handy! Love you Dr. Michelle!! Love all your blogs and posts!!!
Great Truths! Love that He loves us enough to tell us not to fear.
Amen! Such beautiful truths! Thank you for sharing!
Thanks for linking up @LiveLifeWell!
Blessings,
Amy
Such a good analogy!