Fear was a constant companion of mine last week.
It was as if a predator stalked the edges of my life for days. I was unsettled. Unable to sleep. Unable to focus. My prayers seemed pathetic … disjointed … to no avail.
I went to bed each night determined to be braver when I woke up, only to find myself battling fear again. Circumstances hadn’t changed — some days even held new, unexpected challenges — and my heart struggled to hold on to hope.
What if … What if … What if …
So many questions, so many possibilities, and no answers. Fear seemed to be winning — to be ruling my days, governing my thoughts.
Where was my courage?
Martin Luther King, Jr. spoke of building “dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.” Such an accurate analogy, as fear can flood our minds and hearts, overwhelming us. But how do we build those dikes? What can withstand an onslaught of unrelenting fear?
I found myself turning, time and time again, to the Truth of God’s Word to fortify my courage.
- When I am afraid, I put my trust in You. (Psalm 56:3 NIV)
- I believe that I shall look upon the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living (Psalm 27:13 ESV)
- For I m the Lord your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, “Do not fear; I will help you.” (Isaiah 41:13 NIV)
- The Lord gives strength to his people; the Lord blesses his people with peace. (Psalm 29:11 NIV)
- Trust in him at all times. Pour out your heart to him, for God is our refuge. (Psalm 62:8 NIV)
Reading and centering my heart on these truths didn’t change my circumstances, but they did calm my heart. By focusing on who God was, and his promise to be my help, my refuge, my source of peace, I was able to push back against the fear I faced all week long.
In Your Words: May you be so aware of God’s presence this week. What truth about God enCOURAGES you when you battle fear?
[ctt template=”8″ link=”75olG” via=”yes” ]In Others’ Words: Holding Back the Flood of Fear https://ctt.ec/75olG+ #InOthersWords #courage #quotes @bethvogt[/ctt] [ctt template=”8″ link=”9nqJ5″ via=”yes” ]”We must build dikes of courage to hold back the flood of fear.” https://ctt.ec/9nqJ5+ #MartinLutherKingJr #quotes #courage @bethvogt[/ctt]
Comments 8
Don’t have to be brave. Just have to show up.
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Andrew: Just showing up is an act of bravery.
I love this quote that I had not heard before, and once more your post beautifully hits the nail on the head–vulnerable and so well-said. Sometimes just keeping on seems to be the answer to wait out that particular storm until the tide changes and things stabilize again.
Thanks, Beth.
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Dee: I hadn’t heard this quote before by the esteemed Martin Luther King, Jr., either. But it’s a good one, isn’t it? I forgot to mention something else that shores up my courage: the enCOURAGEment of friends. The prayers of friends.
What a great quote and visual, Beth. I so appreciate the thoughts you shared on it.
The verse that speaks loudly to me is the one that reminds me God will never leave me or forsake me. And also Joshua 1:9—”Have I not commanded you? Do not be terrified. Do not be discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
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Jeanne: That’s another verse that has shown up again and again in the past several weeks. It’s an anchor verse for me, too.
Joshua 1:9 is one of my favorite verses. That and Isaiah 43:1-3.
“Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have summoned you by name; you are mine.
2 When you pass through the waters,
I will be with you;
and when you pass through the rivers,
they will not sweep over you.
When you walk through the fire,
you will not be burned;
the flames will not set you ablaze.
3 For I am the Lord your God…”
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I always stop and re-read these three words in Isaiah 43:1-3: YOU ARE MINE.
There is such promise in those words. Such hope. Such comfort.