Hesitant, Anxious and Afraid?

Do you find yourself anxious to do things? Fearful of stepping out? Holding back from saying what you really think?

The more I grow in the Lord and receiving more of His love for me, the more I realise that fears like that can fall away. Not that I’ve got there yet, because I haven’t! But I’m slowly coming to see that living in fear like that is unnecessary, because I am His (you can find out about how that can be true of you too, here).

When I think about these things, I realise that there are a lot of implications, if only I could take them in!

That I can stand in who I am in Him. That I don’t need to be afraid to step forward. That I can be humbly confident in Him.

That I don’t need to fear the potential problems I’m anticipating, because His promises are certain.

That I can walk forward in confidence. I can stand up against the fears and insecurity. I can stand in who I am in Him.

Because I am in Christ. Because I am forgiven. I belong to Him (and you can too- you can find out more here).

I heard a really good sermon about meekness recently. It joined some dots for me.

I’m learning that being humble and gentle doesn’t mean that never say that we think, or never stand our ground. But it also doesn’t mean that we are pushy, arrogant or defensive. It’s more of a calm, settled knowledge of who are in Him, which causes us to act and speak in beautiful love towards others. Because we know we are loved and secure in Him, we don’t need to fight for our rights. We can do what is best for the other person, without needing to fight for what we want. We can humble ourselves. We can die to what we want. We can let ourselves be wronged or misunderstood. But we can have the confidence to kindly tell the truth, too, when it’s what other people need to hear. Even when they react badly. Even when they don’t want to know.

Not rudely or arrogantly, but humbly and gently… and calmly and confidently, too.

Because I know who I am in Him, I don’t need to live in fear.

Because He is with me. Because He has promised to help me. Because He is for me. Because He has promised never to leave me or forsake me.

So, as I lean on Him, I can grow in having confidence to do things I’m afraid of doing. For me, that might be a motorway journey I’m afraid of trying, or going somewhere I’m nervous about visiting, or saying what I think when I’m afraid the other person will reject me. Or even considering the possibility of something bad happening. Because of His promises. Because He is with me.

‘”‘Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.’”‘ Isaiah 41:10

“Then I said to you, ‘Do not be terrified, or afraid of them. The Lord your God, who goes before you, He will fight for you, according to all He did for you in Egypt before your eyes, and in the wilderness where you saw how the Lord your God carried you, as a man carries his son, in all the way that you went until you came to this place.'” Deuteronomy 1:29-31

And no, it’s not easy. Last night, I wanted to go to a worship evening, but I also really didn’t want to, because I really don’t like driving, or parking, or walking in the dark, anywhere near the centre of Manchester. It wasn’t easy, and I struggled to park and got pretty stressed. But He helped me, and I learned from doing it. And I got to pray when I was there, and I think God used me.

I think it’s a gradual process of growing in this, and I have a long way to go, but I know He’s with me, and He wants to lead me into more and more freedom.

How about you?

Are there things you hold back from because of fear? Are there Scriptures you could meditate on to help? Feel free to share prayer requests with me!

You can read more about growing in confidence and facing fear and insecurity in ‘Your Love Says Come’, a free ebook devotional for women and girls, which you can get for free by following this link.

(You can find out more about how you can get to know Him, here).

_{Scripture taken from the New King James Version®. Copyright © 1982 by Thomas Nelson. Used by permission. All rights reserved.}