Posted on December 28th, 2024

There have been countless moments in my life when I yearned to embark on a vacation or explore new destinations, only to find that my friends or family were tied up with their own schedules. At other times, I had aspirations of achieving certain tasks, but the thought of doing it alone dulled my enthusiasm.

It took a deep introspection to uncover the real barrier standing in my way: fear. This emotion presents itself in various forms, manifesting as a fear of failure, fear of the unknown, fear of solitude, and fear of leaving loved ones behind. Acknowledging that fear was the root of my hesitations opened a path to spiritual reflection through prayer.

It illuminated my focus, revealing that fear constituted only a small percentage—20%—of my struggles, while faith made up the remaining 80%. Fear can paralyze your spirit if you allow it to take the reins, transforming into a visceral emotion that sparks anxiety. It generates a cacophony of excuses that lack logical support, often leading me astray from my goals and God’s word.

In my journey for solace, I discovered the power of scripture concerning fear. I started to seek out these biblical passages, reading them regularly and reciting them aloud to reinforce my faith. The Bible frequently reassures us not to be anxious about anything and to fear not. It offers the comforting promise that God is always by our side and will never abandon us.

I immersed myself in these words, and their meaning blossomed with every reading. I was reminded that the word of God is alive, slicing through doubt like a double-edged sword. This realization helped me grasp that true love casts out fear, as fear is linked to punishment.

God is love, and Jesus' love for me is unwavering. I am fully convinced that His love endures, regardless of my actions. While He may not condone behaviors that stray from His teachings, He sees beyond the surface, looking directly into my heart.

In these moments of reflection, I found solace in prayer. I approach the Lord with humility, expressing my need for help in understanding and believing His word, asking Him to remove the grip of fear and the paralysis of anxiety from my life. With the knowledge that He is my Lord and Savior, I remind myself that I am never truly alone.

With God by my side, I have no reason to live in fear. His omniscience and omnipotence give me comfort, knowing that He understands all things and can accomplish anything. I am grateful for His healing touch on my emotions and for the peace that transcends all understanding.

I invite the Holy Spirit to empower me, guiding me to transcend my fears and step boldly into a life of faith.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭6‬ ‭NIV‬‬
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“And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”
‭‭Philippians‬ ‭4‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
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“For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.”
‭‭2 Timothy‬ ‭1‬:‭7‬ ‭NIV‬‬
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“There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”
‭‭1 John‬ ‭4‬:‭18‬ ‭NIV‬‬
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Catherine D. Marshall
MSN, FNP, APRN-BC, CDRMS 🌞