10 things you need to know about fear

10 Things to Know about Fear from Ann Voscamp. My comments are italicized.

1. Don’t fear failing. Fear not obeying the Lord.
But why? Because God intended for us to pass through this and paid the price for our failures. Because no matter how much we fail, if we turn to Him, He will heal us now and make it possible for us to live later. Disobeying the Lord brings sorrow. Always. But even that failure can be made right.

2. Fear is a fraud.

Nowhere on earth is beyond the reach of God.

3. All fear is but the notion that God’s love ends.

4. Your fears don’t decide your fate — your fears destroy your faith.

5. We must try do that which we know we cannot — to prove that it’s our God who cannot fail.


5. Everything your Father has for you — is over the fence of fear.

6. Travel in the direction of your fears — to let God direct your life.

7. Fear doesn’t stop the really bad things in your life, it stops you from really living.

8. It’s impossible to simultaneously feel fear — and give thanks.

9. Fear is always the flee ahead. God is I AM and His presence fills the present moment.

Just. Rest. in. Him. in. This. Moment.

10. Do not feed the ducks, or the bears, or the fears. Feed your soul — on the Word that is the Bread of Life.

I realize that to those who haven't felt the healing balm of the Lord, this could all sound very fairy tale-ish. In fact, it is. Good will triumph? God's love knows no reach? Don't you read the news? Is your life really that charmed? All I can say is that because my life is not charmed, I know the power that relying on the Lord's love has. Because of the grace of the atonement, I am happy. Without it, I would sincerely be miserable.

Fear. I can’t help as I read these how much we all feel fear, yet as we walk we often do not see it in others, only ourselves. I have always known about Christ, but it wasn’t until tragedy entered my life that I had to choose. Choose to believe that he really does love me, really can comfort me, really did intend for me to pass through this valley of the shadow of death. Or choose to give up that hope and…..and what? Lay my spirit down and seek the wildly disappointing comforts the world offers? I stopped looking to God for a time, and all I could find was a barren, hot desert. There is no comparison. I have been astounded as I turned to Him. His love has and is currently pulling me through that valley. Pulling me, sustaining me. We need Him. We all need Him. I need Him, oh and how.

And by the way, I wouldn't know Him as I do, without that valley.