Fear.

So when I decided I needed to write a blog about fear, all I had were two things: the title; and what feels like a lot of fear. I expect that even reading this opening paragraph, if you are honest with yourself, you will not find it too difficult to think of at least one thing in your life that you struggle to do because of fear. 

The Glass Wall.

I have pretty much been thinking about fear for along time and thinking about the restrictions it puts on our lives on a daily basis. I could tell you in an instant all of the things that I cannot do because of fear in my life. Whether its from past events I can remember or past events that have shaped me without my knowing, at some point along my life journey so far, fear has got in. I am referring to fear as a thing because that's what I believe it is. I see it as a giant glass wall in my life that tries to restrict me from doing what I deep down want to do. On the surface I am very good at coming across as this sorted individual who knows where she's at - and that is true to some extent. But believe it or not, I too have a glass wall in my life called 'fear' which gets in the way of me. I refer to it as a 'glass wall' because although I can see through it, it's something I believe stands in the way of where I want to be.

Ladders.

The good thing about walls is that someone invented ladders - not just short little step ladders, but massive slot and slide ladders that can go sky high. I think we all have a metaphorical ladder (God) who can help us start defeating our fear walls and bring us a step closer to the place on the other side. I also like the idea that as when using an actual ladder, it helps to have someone on the ground (who you trust) holding the base and making sure it doesn't slip away. I think that when it comes to our fears, these people at the base of our God made ladder are those people who we do life with and trust to encourage us and support us through life's journey. They are also the people who we should listen to if our ladder slips out of place (if we decide we can do it our way and not God's way) and should give us a firm but loving push to turn us back to God ***(As a bit of a side note, if you are reading this and have no idea about God and who he is and you are currently doing life without him, please just read on a little bit further and get to the end of this blog).

Where Should We Look?

A lesson I have learnt the hard way is if we continually stare at our fear and dwell on the restrictions it places on us then God can never properly help us even start to climb that ladder and get over the glass wall of fear. If we focus our minds on all that stops us, then this will be our world. Equally, if we do what God has asked us to do, then our worlds will look very different:

"So here's what I want you to do, God helping you: Take your everyday, ordinary life—your sleeping, eating, going-to-work, and walking-around life—and place it before God as an offering. Embracing what God does for you is the best thing you can do for him. Don't become so well-adjusted to your culture that you fit into it without even thinking. Instead, fix your attention on God. You'll be changed from the inside out. Readily recognize what he wants from you, and quickly respond to it. Unlike the culture around you, always dragging you down to its level of immaturity, God brings the best out of you, develops well-formed maturity in you." (Romans 12:1, 2 MSG)

I love this verse taken from The Message Bible. It explains pretty much exactly where I want to be. It tells us very clearly that we have to think about what we do from a God perspective NOT from our worldly perspective. The world is full of negativity, telling us all the things we don't have and can't yet do. It glorifies failure, plasters peoples faults all over magazines and sells anyone who dares to be different as a 'weirdo'. The world gives us massive spoonfuls of daily fear to worry about what people think - it is not good and it does NOT come from God. Instead, we need to focus our minds on Him:

"Whatever may be your task, work at it heartily (from the soul), as [something done] for the Lord and not for men,  Knowing [with all certainty] that it is from the Lord [and not from men] that you will receive the inheritance which is your [real] reward. [The One Whom] you are actually serving [is] the Lord Christ." (Colossians 3:23, 24 AMP)

How much less fear will be in our lives when we live every moment for a GOOD God who loves us and created us to work with him!

If you live a life without God at the moment, then you really are missing out. Imagine not having to worry about what that person at work thinks about you.

Or not caring that people laugh at you for being yourself.

Imagine not having to cover up or hide that side of you that is scared of rejection.

Or worrying about what you look like and if you fit in with what the world tells you you should look like.

Or having that niggle behind actions that you might get rejected. 

Might seem hard to imagine...

Might seem like a stupid idea...

But actually, there is a man who can change all of this. A man who walked the earth among men who hated him. A man who didn't care what people thought, or said, or did. He didn't get out of bed each day and worry. He didn't 'fit in' with what the world though he should be or worry about impressing the multitudes. His name is Jesus and he only listened to what his dad thought about him and guided him to do - and out of this came only GOOD. Not just a little bit cool good, but an almighty fat big totally excellent good. A good that HEALS, RESTORES and BRINGS JUSTICE. How cool is that? How much greater is that to aspire to than the world's idea of 'having a good job and lots of money and a nice house somewhere in...'.  The even GREATER thing about this is that WE can know that man. WE can have that fearless life. WE can stand confident in who WE are and who WE were made to be. 

And do you want to know how? Really?

Just ask the author and giver of life. The One who created you because He didn't have one of you. The God of the Heavens and the Earth. The One true LIVING God who is here, ready and waiting, just to be asked to be the CENTRE of your world. 

I leave you with this:

"Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is honorable, whatever is just, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is commendable, if there is any excellence, if there is anything worthy of praise, think about these things. What you have learned and received and heard and seen in me—practice these things, and the God of peace will be with you." Philippians 4:8-9 (ESV)

****Disclaimer: I do not have this totally sorted. In fact I don't know many people who do. But I have started climbing my ladder and I know that with God, you can too.....