A few minutes ago, I wrote a whole bit about this post and FEAR, but when I hit publish, it disappeared. Completely.
It was good, too.
But life goes on. 🙂 Sometimes things happen that we can’t control. The state our country is in at the moment is one of those things.
But we can control the state of our being. Our fear.
The post below was originally written 9/16/2016, one week before I had brain surgery. I came out fine, but I didn’t know that at the time. I could have lost my sight–a pituitary tumor rested against my optic nerve–or my life.
While the real-life details of the post are outdated, the need to overcome our fears is real and relevant, not just today but on a daily basis. At least they are for me. So, I’m going to listen to the two songs I listed. Trust my God to work everything out for my good, knowing that perfect love (GOD) casts out fear.
“If God is for us, who can ever be against us?” (Rom. 8:31, NLT)
I’m human.
I’m NOT perfect.
I have to fight my fear.
And God is faithful to help me.
I’ve been thinking about this post for days.
I wasn’t sure how I’d express what’s been going on with me. Or more precisely, within me.
As my surgery approaches, fear fights to take hold of my thoughts. Lots of what ifs run through my mind.
I didn’t even want to go to church this morning. The questions about my eye blurriness and when my surgery is can be a bit much for my introverted self. I really don’t want the attention. I just want the prayer, which is why I’m being so open about this.
But I went. And I’m glad.
God used the worship team to speak to me this morning. Here’s one song:
Some of the words of the chorus:
“I hide, covered by Your wings,
it’s there You fight for me,
and ev’ry battle
Ev’ry battle is Yours.”
And then later in the song:
“No gods or idols, no princes or powered will have my worship
No threat of darkness, no fear of failing will steal my purpose
You’re my surrender, protector, defender and ev’ry battle
Ev’ry battle is Yours.” [emphasis mine]
And then we sang this one…
The chorus:
“I’m no longer a slave to fear
I am a child of God.”
And later:
“You split the sea
So I could walk right through it
You drowned my fears in perfect love
You rescued me
And I will stand and sing
I am a child of God.” [emphasis mine]
Then our pastor stood up and read Psalm 27:1-5:
“The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The LORD is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the LORD, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in his temple. For he will hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock.” [ESV, emphasis mine]
So you see, even when I am tempted to let the fear overtake me, God is faithful to show me the way to overcome.
I doubt I’ll get a blog up for next Monday, but maybe the one after that. We’ll see. If I do, it will probably be a quick update.
Thanks ever so much for your prayers. The headaches have been minimal for the last week or so, and I’m sure that’s because of your prayers on my behalf.
I pray blessings on you and yours as you go through this week. May God’s light shine in your heart, and may your cup overflow with His goodness.
Blessings,
