Fear is a Thief

Maybe you’ve heard the expression “Fear is a Liar,” but fear is also a thief. It creeps up on you out of nowhere. It comes when you least expect it. It is sneaky.  Like a thief in the night, it comes to steal, kill, and destroy. It steals your joy, your confidence, and the precious moments in your life.

Just recently I learned about a family who lost their three children – who were similar in ages to my three children – and their home in a house fire. I don’t know them. It was something a friend shared on Facebook. Nonetheless I was wrecked. I was brokenhearted for this family and particularly this sweet mama as I started to put myself in her shoes. Later that day as I drove myself to an appointment I let my mind begin to imagine and then dwell on all the things that could possibly go wrong and all the ways I could possibly lose my children. I became paranoid about using the oven and making sure the smoke detectors were working. I let fear in. I opened the door right up for him and let him walk right in. But as soon as I did, I immediately recognized him for who he was, and I went into fight mode.

I cried out to the Lord to take away my anxious thoughts-to stop fear in its tracks. I began to quote my go-to Scriptures:

“Finally, brethren, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is of good repute, if there is any excellence and if anything worthy of praise, dwell on these things.” Philippians 4:8

and I played my go-to song:

Within literally moments I was washed over with the peace that passes understanding. Thinking about that moment literally brings tears to my eyes as I write this. God answered me and answered me quickly – while I was still praying.

I’ve been a follower of Jesus almost my whole life. I know that God is in control. I know that He is the Creator and Sustainer of the universe and that all life is in His hands. But, I’m also a realist and maybe even a little pessimistic. So even though I know He is in control, I also know that we live in a broken world and that bad and horrible things can and do happen.  I also know that if and when they do it will be sad and heart wrenching and hard. So a lot of times in my life, I’m sorry to admit, knowing He is in control hasn’t always helped me to conquer my fears.

This day was different. This day, as I prayed, I had a new realization. In the past when fears of losing my children have overwhelmed me I would think about the sorrow of dwelling on all the things that could have been-what they could have done and what they could have been. Today I was reminded of the Scripture that our days are numbered before there was even one (Psalm 139:16; see also Job 14:5 and Matthew 6:27). There is no “what could have been.” None of us were ever meant to live one day or one moment longer than we do. Before we were even created God appointed a day and a time for our lives, and at that day and time our purpose is fulfilled.

As I write this now-as someone who has never experienced loss of this magnitude – part of me wants to delete and write something else for “fear” of sounding trite or insensitive because I don’t know the pain of loss. But I do know that God have me peace in a moment of inner turmoil and helped me to conquer that fear in that moment.

Fear is something I’ve experienced many times before. And fear is something I’ll experience again. (I even have a little black book of Scriptures that I’ve compiled over the year that includes a whole section on peace/fear *see photos below.)  I have seen fear be crippling both mentally and physically in my own life. It can overwhelm and overcome you. It can grab hold of you so tightly you can’t catch your breath and you can’t see what’s around you. It can steal your joy, but Oh what a good good Father we have. We are no longer slaves to fear because we are children of God who hears our prayers and answers us in our weakness. Fear is a thief; but our God is good gift giver showering us with hope and joy and peace when we simply ask and surrender our thoughts and minds and hearts to Him.

*Here are some other great songs I’ve found about conquering fear:

The Breakup Song by Francesca Battistelli

Sparrows by Jason Gray