Do you know anxiety? Fear? Worry?
I sure do! For a long time, I’ve have had a habit of looking ahead to the future, scanning for potential problems and disasters, long before they have ever happened. Can you relate?
But as I read more of God’s Word and get to know more of the Father, I’m realising more and more that, for those who know Christ (and you can too- you can find out more here), anxiety is based on lies. As those lies lose their power and are replaced by truth, fear begins to lose its grip.
Focusing more and more on how much I am loved by my heavenly Father could make my world feel much less frightening.
I am held in the arms of the One Who holds the future.
I am held in the arms of the One Who has already planned the solutions for the problems I haven’t even encountered yet.
Promises surround me, with solutions, answers and purpose on a dimension I haven’t even thought of, because they are so much bigger than me.
I’m learning that anxiety is based on a worldview that believes it’s all on us. It’s all up to us to provide for ourselves. But I believe that, for those who belong to Jesus, fear begins to lose its power in the face of a Father’s faithful, loving care.
As a child of the Father in Christ (you can find out more here), I am surrounded by protection. By provision. By promises. No, that doesn’t mean that there won’t ever be problems. But it does mean there will be provision. It doesn’t mean there won’t ever be pain. But it does mean there will always be purpose. Restoration. Hope.
I’m slowly beginning to learn that anxiety is lying to me. For children of the King through Christ, I know that it really is going to be all right.
And that rock solid assurance can bring freedom to do things, and try things, that I never would have thought I could. I was in the recording studio the other day, working on my new album, which will be available soon! One of the songs is called “Butterfly”, and it’s about finding freedom from fear, and freedom to be ourselves, as the love of the Father brings healing and freedom.
Some of the words are, “I don’t need to be afraid. You change my fear to faith. You have cut away the chains. I’m new. I’m saved. So faith steps forward, and I fly like a butterfly, ‘cos I’m Your child, and You’re right by my side… It’s gonna be all right. I’m held by love, secure in Christ, so I can fly.”
It makes me think about my journey with driving anxiety, which you can read about here. As God’s love breaks through, slowly, over time, I’m driving on roads I never thought I would be able to! And it feels a whole lot like flying! His love is bringing new confidence and freedom, as the grip of anxiety weakens, and the love of the Father brings more layers of peace.
Sure, for me, it’s a long, slow, thorough journey. Anxiety is pretty deep-rooted and it’s taking some shifting! But it’s weakening, step by step. And the foundation is rock solid: God’s perfect love dispelling fear.
‘There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. But he who fears has not been made perfect in love.’ 1 John 4:18
Anxiety begins to leave as it meets the love in my Father’s eyes.
I hope those thoughts encourage you in your battles today, too! 🙂
Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.
Caroline Abblitt 