Struggling With The… “What If’s”

My family went camping this past weekend.

There is nothing like carving out a space in nature, propping up a tent,  lighting a fire, roasting hot dogs, fishing in the river, and sleeping with the sounds of nature ushering in sweet dreams.

But…

I stayed home.

While my description of camping above always sounds good in theory, I realize that my reality is totally different.

I love to be outdoors.

I love the smell of a campfire.

Smores are one of life’s great pleasures.

But that’s where it ends.  To be honest, camping to me is the Holiday Inn Express.

And while my husband and kids love spending the weekend in the woods, they bless the fact that I don’t.  I send them off with yummy food, comfy clothes and the promise of a big hug once they return home.

But this time of separation was a bit harder on me.

Not only was I unsure exactly where they were camping, I found myself struggling with the fear of “what if’s.”

What if one of my kids falls in the river and is swept away?

What if someone gets bit by a snake?

What if there’s a crazy man in the area looking to take out some aggression?

What if they encounter a mountain lion or bear?

What if my husband gets hurt and there are no other adults around to help?

I hate this feeling.

So all weekend long, I found myself pleading the blood of Jesus to surround them.  I prayed scripture over them.  I called down divine protection to encircle their campsite.  I asked the Kingdom of Jesus to rest on each of them.

Ugh.

I realize this isn’t how God wants things to be.

In the Bible, He commands us to not be fearful (or some variation of that word) 366 times.

We know He didn’t give us this Spirit of Fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

And we know that His perfect love will cast out all fear (1 John 4:18).

But to be honest, we are living in a wack-a-doo world filled with evil and hate in epic proportions.

• The intentionality of what happened in Aurora recently makes me sick to my stomach.
• The reality of sex-trafficking young kids simply for the perverted pleasures of others is hard to understand.
• The increase in bullying (and knowing first-hand how it affects kids) breaks my heart.

It can all be so overwhelming.

But this is where we have to be diligent to keep our heart and mind guarded. 

We have to take each fear that threatens our joy and freedom, and place it at the feet of Jesus.  We have to take our thought-life captive by stopping the destructive trails of “what if” thinking.

I’m not suggesting we turn a blind eye to the reality of life.  We need to know what is happening so we know how to pray.

What I am suggesting, however, is that rather than allow fear to render us helpless, paralyzed or ineffective… we talk it out with God.  We take it to the only One who can calm the storms of life.

And this verse reminds us of the posture we should take when fear threatens to knock us down:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.”  (John 14:1)

Trust in God.

Trust in God.

Trust in God.

Rather than spend time worrying about the “what if’s” … trust that He is in all the details and fully-present in every situation.

Rather than release our inner-control freak to manage our families… remember that He is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do.

Rather than allow fear to drain joy from our life… rejoice that He is mighty to save.

Rather than create unhealthy habits of protection… thank Him for loving us deeper than we can comprehend.

“Thank You Lord for being an anchor in the storms of life.  I am grateful that You are ever-present with me, my family and anyone who calls on Your precious name.  Father, I don’t want to be one to entertain the ideas and suggestions from the Enemy.  He is the father of lies and lives to discourage.  Instead God, I ask for You to fill me so richly with a Spirit of Faith that fear can’t find a way in.  I trust You with my life.  I trust You with my family.  I trust You with the details of my life.  Thank You for loving me so much.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.”

†††

© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

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Peace Is A Weapon

The God of peace will soon crush Satan under your feet. The grace of our Lord Jesus be with you.  (Romans 16:20)

One of the strongest weapons in your arsenal is peace.

And the Enemy knows it.

He wants to not only ruin your life, but also to get you in such a tizzy that you’re in a constant state of chaos.  In his estimation, if he can keep you freaked out and fearful you won’t have the energy to fight back.

You’ll be your own worst enemy.

It’s a good plan, actually.  How many times have you been so overwhelmed or angry or scared about a situation that you just gave up?  You waved the white flag of surrender.  You found yourself paralyzed, unable to make a move.

When things come at me in warp speed, I sometimes find myself sucked into a whirlpool of self-pity.  Rather than rising above my circumstances, I am eye-to-eye with them.  And when that happens, I feel anything but peaceful.

Score one for the Enemy.

But when we maintain a sense of peace, trusting God in our circumstances, we punch Satan in the gut.

• When we refuse to freak out when oppression comes our way…
• When we are unshakable in our faith that God will provide…
• When we speak His truths and promises over our situation…

… Satan loses.

Score one for us.

Because of Christ in us, we have authority over the Enemy.  Wait… I didn’t hear an “amen” so maybe you didn’t hear me.  Let me say it again…

WE have AUTHORITY over the Enemy!

And when we show peace in the face of adversity, we prove it.

How do we do that?  How do we show that kind of peace?  It’s simple.  We refuse to see our struggles with human ears and eyes.  Instead, we see them as opportunities for God to rock our world.

We trust that God is who He says He is.  And we believe that God will do what His Word says He’ll do… which is to crush the Enemy under our feet.

Translation?  We win.

Yes, sisters… peace is a mighty weapon, indeed.

Use it.

©2011 careyscotttalks.com

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