As a twenty-one year old college senior who is on her way to graduating in May of 2015, thoughts of the future are very reoccurring nowadays.
When I write, I love to paint visuals with my words.
However, when the only words I have regarding my future are questions, they
can't exactly paint a picture. I have no visual. What I do have, though, is
confidence. And I have placed my confidence into the hands of an almighty God
who has laid down my path before my very feet.
A God who loves because
He is love.
A God who calls us by
name.
A God who knew exactly
what He was doing when He molded us in His very hands.
A God who places His
calling upon the hearts of His children.
A God who provides
deliverance and restoration out of His true, abundant love for His creation.
A God who provides
hope in the hearts of the hopeless.
A God who provides
direction to the hearts of those who are seeking.
A God who may not give
answers when preferred, but whose guidance is, and always will be unfailing.
A God who longs for
us to trust Him with a steady heart.
Having a steady heart does not cross out fear, but it does
overpower it. Having a steady heart recognizes that although looking ahead may
be a very large blur in our eyes, it's a very clear picture in the eyes of God because
He is in control.
The only type of fear that belongs to the Lord is one out of
deep love and respect for Him. The fear that makes you run belongs to Satan.
Don't run. Don't
leave everything behind to start something new just because you cannot see what
lies ahead. This could range anywhere from a dream you've always had to taking the next step forward in a relationship. Maybe you are
afraid of chasing your dreams, or maybe you are afraid of commitment. Whatever
it is that you are slowly stepping back from, stop.
Stop allowing the fear that you have to grow inside you.
This will only spark negative emotions. Know that you are equipped to face your
fears, but only when you feed them with your faith.
Listen to the steady
beating of your heart.
Remind yourself of the
love of God that keeps you holding on to Him.
Think of the grace He
shows you with each new day.
Feel the faith
flooding through your very veins that holds your belief in the God who created
you.
Allow these things to
steady you.
Whatever fear you may have, approach it
steadily. Walk toward it and confront it. God does not forsake His children
when they stray from Him, so why should we run from fear initiated by the
enemy? Well, that's just it...we
shouldn't.
Allow the fear you have for the Lord to plant courage in
your heart. God will give it to you.
Maybe it's the courage to end a relationship, to confront
someone, to accept the hard truth of the matter, or just the courage to trust.
Whatever you need, allow the Lord to supply it. Don't run and allow walls of
fear to be built within you. Take it to the Lord, obtain a steady heart in doing so, and
face your fears with your faith in Him.
“Faith doesn't come in
a bushel basket, Missy. It comes one step at a time. Decide to trust Him for
one little thing today, and before you know it, you find out He's so
trustworthy that you'll be putting your whole life in His hands.”
―Lynn Austin
“Fear is the glue that
keeps you stuck. Faith is the solvent that sets you free.” -Shannon L. Alder
“When you can't see
God's hand, trust His heart.” -Emily Freeman
“The staunch belief on an invisible Almighty is the sole relief for a soul at the time of despair.” ―Anuj Somany
You are not the only one who
fears, dear sister. Fear versus faith is, and always will be an ongoing battle.
However, what can change with the battle you may be facing, as well as the
battles that are yet to come, is your battle strategy. When you armor yourself
with and fight out of your fear, you lose. However, when you fight your battle
with faith, you overcome. This is because your strength to fight also comes
from the Source of the faith that you are fighting with. God will always lead
you to victory.
For the
word of the Lord holds
true,
and we can trust everything he does.
He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
and we can trust everything he does.
He loves whatever is just and good;
the unfailing love of the Lord fills the earth.
The Lord merely spoke,
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
and the heavens were created.
He breathed the word,
and all the stars were born.
(Psalm
33:4-6 NLT)