No more fear. This year, faith is taking center stage.
I have finally learned, internalized really, that the two are exclusive opposites of each other and that I cannot feed my fears while claiming to have faith.
I certainly cannot enjoy the blessings and fruits of a faith tree well tended while chopping at its base with the blunt edge of worry.
I cannot wring my hands and squeeze my eyebrows together in pursuit of those terrible “what ifs” while smiling wildly and raising my arms in praise of the answers and celebration of grace already given.
This flip side relationships between the two is so obvious to me now, it’s a wonder that all these years previous have yielded me any answers or any peace at all. Because fear and worrying have come so naturally to me. But they can be trained out.
Were you here at the digital W when I had that slightly mystical Worry Door experience? It was August 2012. And it was intense.
http://lazywmarie.com/closing-the-door-to-worry/ This was the original post. A vivid sight and powerful message for me.
Well, that door has crept opened and been slammed shut too many times since then, and it all has been a beautiful learning curve for me, one for which I am so grateful. The times over these past seventeen months or so that I have succumbed to that weird temptation to peek behind the Worry Door and examine the shadows, pet the darkness and soak in the ick, have yielded me confusion, bitterness, a sense of defeat and exhaustion, and plain inactivity. I have been easily paralyzed in my beautiful life just by gazing at what I thought I should be worrying about. Big things by the way, important things. Things of the heart and building blocks to life and well-being. Still, I knew better. Worry is not the answer.
On the other hand, miraculously, those times over these past seventeen months or so that I have consciously turned away from the Worry Door and rejected fear, have yielded incredible peace and joy. More than emotions, though, my life has seen very real changes when I have acted on faith instead of acting on fear. God responds to our faith expressed, and He wants us to trust Him with everything. Have no fear. He invites us to enjoy confidence, deep in our bellies and bones, that He hears every whispered prayer and every groaning, and He loves us and is able to help.
How will my days be different without fear?
- More reaching out to loved ones, especially my girls, without fear of rejection or confrontation.
- Interesting, life affirming new experiences without fear of looking silly or failing. (I went for several city runs this past week, a brand new experience for me, and it was amazing! That first one was fearful, but I am SO GLAD I got past that! LOL)
- Deeper involvement with our church without fear of not fitting in or disagreeing.
- A renewed effort with beekeeping and horse training without fear, once again, of failure.
- A calmer, more relaxed marriage without fear of Handsome finding someone else more… everything.
- Finishing a written work, like a novel, without fear of criticism or forgettability.
- Running a marathon without fear of running a marathon.
And so many other things are possible, too. Maybe this sounds like a broken record to those of you who have been reading along with me these past couple of years; but clearly it’s a lesson aimed straight at my heart:
Do Not Be Afraid
Marinate in Love so deeply that you ooze it. Receive your promises and act on faith. Be confident and steady, not fearful. When you recognize that you are torn between the two, choose wisely and start celebrating the answers ahead of time!
What might be different in your life if you abandoned fear? What possibilities would be unlocked?
You block your dream when you allow your fear to grow bigger than your faith.
~Mary Manin Morrissey
XOXOXOXO
I am linking up this week with some of my favorite bloggers
to share our “un-words” of 2014.
My un-word is fear.
Check out the other pieces written by Edie, Darlene, and more!
http://www.lifeingraceblog.com/