Trading Fear for Peace

This summer has been flying by with so many ups and downs, and I have been so stressed that I have not been able to blog. Recently, a song came on my pandora station, and it inspired me to write again. The lyrics to the chorus were simple, but it provoked so much thought and introspection in me. “I’m no longer a slave to fear, I am a child of God.” 

What is fear? In my opinion, fear is linked closely to three things: uncertainty, trust, and lack of control. When you are afraid of something, it is because there is something about it that you are uncertain of or do not completely trust about it. For example, the fear of flying. When someone is afraid to fly in a plane, it is because they are comfortable with being on land, but the newness and uncertainty of being miles off of the ground terrifies them. Also, they have no control over the plane and, whether they realize it or not, they do not completely trust the pilot and engineers of the plane to fly them safely to their destination.

Growing up, I had a lot of fears. I was afraid of the dark, heights, spiders (they still freak me out), and meeting new people. As I became older, I had the clarity to realize that most of my fears were irrational. The room is just as safe when the lights turn off, spiders cannot really hurt me, and meeting new people can actually be pretty fun. The fears stemmed from the uncertainty of what would happen, and the lack of control over the outcome. 

As I said before, this summer has been pretty stressful for me. Reflecting on all of this, I realize that most of my stresses are due to the fear and uncertainty of what the future holds for me. As adults, we trade our childish, irrational fears for “grown up fears” – the fear of financial collapse, the fear of losing the ones we love, the fear of rejection. We do not call them fears. We label them collectively as “anxiety.” But, regardless of the title, all of these fears stem from the uncertainty of what tomorrow will bring, the inability to change it, and ultimately the lack of trust in the one who controls it all – God.

“Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God,which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.”  Philippians 4:6-7

Our “grown up fears” must seem as irrational to God as a child being afraid of the dark. To Him, there is no uncertainty, and He has complete control over what happens next. And He has given us every reason to trust him. The only thing we have to do is give him our anxiety, our fears, and our doubts and He will give us peace. And not just a temporary peace, but the peace that transcends all our physical understanding. Each day, we can close our eyes, take a deep breath, and let out all of our anxiety. God will take that anxiety and, in exchange, give us the peace to be able to breath easier and live in the moment. Worrying will not change the outcome of tomorrow, but choosing peace over fear will make all the difference in how we enjoy today.