When We Walk Through the Valley

2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but gives us power, love, and self-discipline. 

Do you remember that show called Fear Factor where the contestants would try to prove who was the fearless one? They would be given tasks to eat some sort of disgusting case of bugs or they would have to be strung over a canyon and glide through the air on a zip line. I remember watching it a couple of times and thinking that I could never do those things.

But where does our fear come from? Does it come from being scared of doing crazy things? Does it happen when we are afraid of what others think of ourselves? Do we have concern over the future? Are we afraid of going through something again? Do we fear the world more than we fear God?

My fears come in all shapes and sizes. I fear:

• getting lost and not knowing where I am at when I go somewhere by myself
• conflict
• falling (I don't do well on rides like Tower of Terror)
• the worst when I realize that I am not liked by another person
• being in the spotlight
• loosing a child to anaphylaxis or something else happening to any of my children
• loosing my husband 
• things happening around the world
• what others think of me

Yet, shouldn't I put my trust completely in God instead of the thoughts being spoken into my mind by the enemy?

I think back to times as a teenager when my fear wasn't so strong. I took way more risks and felt less worried. It seems like the further in life I got, the more my fears developed in regards to various areas. Yet at the same time, I think of how much courage I've gained in other areas such as all the times we moved with the military and having to start over in a new community. I gave birth six times and once to multiples. I used to be tremendously scared of bugs and now I can squash anything. I faced fears in all sorts of ways that have given new courage over time.

I love what David says in the book of Psalm 23. When we walk through the darkest valleys, God is still there. I don't need to fear what's to come or the outcome of a situation because my Shepard can lead me to peace. David reminds us that God is with us.

The two verses that follows says, "You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows. Surely goodness and mercy will follow me all the days of my life and I will dwell in the house of my Lord forever." Isn't that a beautiful thought? He's already prepared a place for us and only good will come in our future when we continue to fear God. We get to dwell in HIS house forever. Wow! Won't that be amazing?

What sorts of things do you fear? Are there any fears that you've overcome? Have you developed any new, recent fears?
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I have joined in at www.katemotaung.com and the #FMF community. Each week, we are given a word prompt and then we write for five minutes (in my case, usually longer). Then we link up and share what we've come up with. Do you have a blog? If so, come join the fun!