My 5 year old daughter was determined to master the monkey bars. She spent time every day on the playground trying to accomplish her goal. She would be at the first bar, reach for the second and become paralyzed. She was sure she was going to fall. She would cry for help and say she couldn’t do it, begging for someone to come get her down quickly. She was just sure it wasn’t going to end well. This went on every time we were at the playground. Her fear kept her from doing something I knew she could do.
Fear does that. Fear stops us in our tracks. I’ve learned that fear then often stirs up anxiety. Fear may lead to anxious thoughts about a particular thing, but that anxiety can seep into other areas of our lives. In my life, this may look like a decision regarding one of my children. Fear of making the wrong decision is where it begins. Then the more I think, process and analyze, the more I get sucked into the vortex of anxiety.
I have struggled with mild anxiety sporadically throughout my life. Some seasons are characterized by anxiety more than others. Postpartum life, world pandemic, big decisions, and harder seasons in general are characterized by increased anxiety for me. That anxiety used to be overwhelmingly paralyzinging; I did not know what was going on. Once I finally named anxiety as something I dealt with, I began to recognize the signs of it in my life. Feeling like I had lost all control, so I began to grasp at things…like cleaning, organizing, nit picking at everything my husband did (this isn’t received well, just fyi). My chest tightens and I feel like I am trapped inside a tornado when it gets at its worst in my life. Now when I recognize the signs, I attempt to step back and let those close to me know what’s going on, while I prioritize what is important and what needs to be set aside for the time being. I look up and out; reminding myself of scripture like 1 Peter 5:7 which states “casting all your anxieties on Him, because He cares for you”. Or Philippians 4:6-7, “do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus”. When I feel helpless or become paralyzed by fear or anxiety, I have things in place to point me back to Him. I am so grateful for His ever present grace and mercy! Oh, how I do not deserve it and fail over and over again.
God knows fear is a struggle for His people. So much so, that fear is addressed over three hundred times in the Bible! We see examples of fear with Moses and the Israelites, Jonah and Nineveh, Joseph betrothed to a pregnant Mary, the disciples and the storm at sea, and so many others. But here’s the thing…our God is fearless. In her book Fervent, Priscilla Shirer reminds us that “because He is fearless, we can be fearless too. When His presence is with us and going before us, no Red Sea should faze us or give us pause.” Our biggest weapon against fear (and the enemy) is prayer. Having a fervent prayer life equips us for the moments when fear and anxiety try to gain ground. We know that our God is not only fearless but also victorious!
After months and months of my daughter attempting the monkey bars, she finally did it! She reached for the second bar and just kept going. Now everytime we are at the playground she does the monkey bars with a huge smile on her face. She confronted her fear! Now we talk about how she was fearful, but overcame her fear. I pray that you and I confront our fears head on, knowing that “God gave us a spirit not of fear but of power and love and self-control” (2 Timothy 1:7). Also, I pray that we take the time to reflect back on how we were victorious, because He was and is victorious. He is ever with us and ever for us.
What fears are you dealing with right now? Are you talking to God about them and listening to His response? If not now, what fears have you previously dealt with and how did our God lead you to victory?
If you struggle with anxiety, you might especially appreciate reading a 3 part series on anxiety that CouncilRoadWomen published earlier:
How Allowing God to Use Your Anxiety Can Set You Free
What to Do When Anxiety Weighs You Down
If your anxiety is at a point that it is negatively impacting your health, life, and relationships, please reach out to a trusted mental health professional. If you are in the Oklahoma City area, you may contact our women’s ministry office for recommendations at 405-789-3175, extension 244.
Meet the Author!
Casey Yates is a wife, mom, daughter, sister, friend and speech-language pathologist. She spends most of her time with her four young children but works as a pediatric speech-language pathologist a few hours a week. At CRBC, Casey serves in the Breakfast Club, Worship Team and Women's Ministry Leadership Team. Casey loves all things Christmas, reading a good book, walking with a friend, pie and coffee. Lots of coffee.
