Fear.  It is our worst enemy.  It is the uninvited guest that has over-stayed their welcome.  If you read my blogs very often you will see that I talk about fear alot.  That’s because from first hand experience I have found that it is one of our biggest problems.  Every hurting parent I know agrees with me.  We are so terribly afraid of what will happen next when our child is caught in the web of addicitons, suffers from mental illness, is involved in self harming behaviors (cutting, burning, picking their skin, eating disorders), is living a gay lifestyle, keeps getting in trouble with the law, is promiscuous, or has made suicide attempts and/or threats.  Total misery!  Pure agony.  We hate what this kind of fear does to us!

We waste so much time and energy fretting over all the “what-ifs”.  It can make you crazy. It can make you sick.

What can we do about it?  We can work on improving our memory.  Remember who God is; remember He is in control; remember you are NOT alone; remember Truth. When fear grips me everything I know seems to vanish.  It flies right out the window and out of my brain!  It’s like I develop a sudden case of amnesia!  Ugh!

So, here is my idea for you today.  I have done this and it helped me.  It helped me a lot.  Make a list of everything you know is absolutely true – all that you know, that you know, that you know you can stand on as firm ground under your feet when everything around you is crashing down . . .  when you are shaking so badly inside you tremble all over . . . when you don’t think you can bear to face the next moment.  Keep it nearby so you can read it over and over again every time fear comes knocking at your door!

A Bible verse that reminds me of several truths on my list is:

“God is our refuge and strength, an ever present help in trouble.  Therefore, we will NOT FEAR, though the earth give way and the mountains fall into the heart of the sea . . . ”  (Psalms 46:1-5)