My Dear Child, I know your fears, I know your uncertainties, and I see how you try to be what I want you to be. Just love Me. Laugh at life. Find security in My character of love and grace. Give me the hurt that you feel. Your heart is dear to Me, for I shaped your heart. I fill it with My love. Live this love out. Give Me all the distress that enters your mind and lean into Me. I will provide, and I will heal. For I am good, loving and full of compassion. Rest, fall into Me.

Love,

Your Heavenly Father

We run from fear. Fear of rejection, fear of failure, fear of facing reality, and fear of the future...we run, we hide, we deny. But fear attaches to our collar and whispers fear into our hearts. In college, I ran from the fear of being known. I literally ran marathons, because fear of failure, future decisions, and fear of rejection tormented me and I did not want to face the fears. So I ran. One of my clients describes herself as running on a hamster wheel, as she juggled everything. I ask her what would happen if she stopped and she replied, "I can not stop for fear of failure keeps me running." Where does fear get us? Is fear a safe friend to rely on?

At summer camp, my dad wrote me a letter telling me he loved me and warning me of the FUD factor. (FEAR, UNCERTAINTY, and DOUBT) He said FUD factor would steal life from me and I must not let it steal my laughter, joy, or love. I often think back to the "fud factor" and remind myself not to live it out.

But we do, we live fearful, uncertain, doubting life will work out the way we need it to. What are you afraid of? Lily was afraid of rejection. Her high school crush rejected her over and over again, and when she finally had him, he cheated on her. She swore never to love again or let herself be vulnerable. Kelly is fearful of the nightmares that make her relive her past of abuse and pain. She lives nervous, because she cannot rest. Jeff lives so afraid that he will mess up again and his dad will reject him. He longs for his dad's approval and will do anything to get and keep it. Allie lives in fear of God, because she has "messed up" sexually with guys and she is waiting to be punished. She does not know the God of grace the Bible talks about. She resists change, because then she would have to face all the mistakes she has made.

Most of my life I have feared displeasing people, letting them down, not being liked. So I would work hard to make others happy, yet somehow I lost me in all of that. I realized that being controlled by fear makes a difficult situation 100 times worse! What is your fear? How does it steal life from you?

We can run from fear, but it attaches to our belt loops. We can deny fear, but it is still there. We can repress fear but it comes out in one unhealthy form or another. How do we beat fear? We make peace in our soul. We open our soul to the God of the Universe and ask Him to replace fear with His peace. We must surrender to Jesus, and give Him the fear. He is love. 1 John 4:18 states, "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love." 2 Timothy1:7 "For I did not give you a spirit of fear, but a spirit of power, love and of self discipline." Isaiah 43:1, 2, 5 "Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have summoned you by name; you are mine...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...Do not be afraid for I am with you."Isaiah 26:3-4 You will keep in perfect peace; him whose mind is steadfast because he trusts in You. Trust in the Lord forever...

Each time I have run from fear I cannot find peace or security. All of my friends that I talked about earlier live full of anxiety and fear. As I watched a storm roll in today over the lake, I stood in awe by the powerful wind bending the solid trees. The thick clouds moved with determination, God's breath blew the clouds and controls storms. He that controls the storms of life is much bigger than our fears. Fear's power is crushed by the Power of the Almighty Prince of Peace. I will not tell you that I never get scared anymore. Yet, we have a choice at this moment to live in fear or to cling to the Prince of Peace. Daily we all have that choice! Do you know Jesus as the Prince of Peace?

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

Give God your fear, name them one by one. Listen as He calls you, "Dear Child." Ask Him to rescue you from the clutches of fear, in Jesus name.

Scripture: Psalms 62:1-2

Answer

• 1. Do you know Jesus as the Prince of Peace?
• 2. What is your fear? How does it steal life from you?
• 3. How would your life change if you faced your fear and gave it to God?

Prayer-

Please give me strength to give you my fears. Daily remind me you can fight fear much better than I can. Here is my fear of _________________________________________ _____________________________________________________________________. I do not want to entertain fear anymore. I say to these fears, go in Jesus name, leave me and never return to oppress me. Here is my heart, Lord, fill it with peace that exceeds my imagination. I need the Prince of Peace to rule over my mind and heart today. In Jesus name, Amen.