Skip to main content

Fear

 I've been reading Psalms lately and it's been interesting seeing how many verses are devoted to enemies and fear. Honestly, the author seems kind of paranoid! (I mean, David did have King Saul out to get him, but still.)

It made me think of the many different fears almost everyone has had this past year. Some things I read would make me think, "Why on earth are you scared about that???" Then there are things that I worried about and wondered, "Why are other people being so dismissive of this?" Some of them came to pass, but most didn't. Meanwhile, some people's fears that I dismissed have come to pass. Turns out it's hard to predict the future. (I have been wrong plenty of times this year.)

Anyway, what I have realized with all of these fears is that we sometimes get into arguments about which fear is more plausible when really all we need sometimes is a good dose of validation. Ideally, when you validate someone's fear they'll be able to stop being on the defensive and think more critically about the situation. But even if that doesn't happen, at least you have sustained the relationship and will be trusted in future conversations.

In many ways, I think this is how the Lord works too. I have learned that when I bring my concerns to the Lord and feel His peace, the peace doesn't mean that I was necessarily justified in my fears. But it does mean that the Lord cares about me. And He is willing to take on the burden of my fears so that I can live with more compassion and curiosity.

As it says in Psalms 34:4,

"I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears."

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Good News Limericks in a Year of Bad News

Every cloud has a silver lining 73. April 22, 2024 During pilgrimage down to yon church,  My young kin all stopped with a lurch. "This tree in our gaze Has no sweet-smelling bouquets!" "Nay, tis the Bradford pear smirch." 72. February 10, 2024 When she saw the young back-country boarder, The cougar thought his flesh might reward her. He returned her attacks With his snowboard (new wax!) Now he's glad that his life is not shorter. https://ksltv.com/620892/cache-valley-man-fends-off-cougar-attack-with-his-snowboard/ (I've heard this might be a hoax, so maybe it didn't deserve a limerick. oh well.) 71. June 24, 2023 Like the floor near a food-dropping tot, The freeway was paved French fry hot. This megasized mess Was grating, yet we're blessed The mashed boxes held no missile plot. https://ksltv.com/560796/french-fries-scattered-across-i-15-after-semi-trailer-crash/?fbclid=IwAR3iA8jgYdXWZKRf5xsDG901_bC6r3B2KWRkX3EIxhhpE61TxxeBBdD-NWA 70. March 23, 2023 ...
Post a Comment
Read more

Corn Maze

 She took a deep breath, inhaling the scents of smoke and corn and ink. No one had found them yet. Then the footsteps started. "We know where you are!" a man yelled. Her heart began to pound, and her throat constricted with fear. "Do we run?" her sister asked. "I think we've got to hide," she replied. "But where?" her sister asked, tears forming in her eyes. "Surely they know this corn better than we do." She looked around desperately, wondering where she and her sister could hide. Then she saw it -- a gap in the corn stalks that would fit them both. "In there!" Clutching the papers to their chests, they wedged themselves in the sheaves as far as they could. "Please don't let there be any earwigs," she prayed silently. Footsteps pounded in sync with her heart. "Once we find you, we're going to burn up that Book of Commandments of yours," they said with a sneer. They then cackled and revved their...
Post a Comment
Read more

Ski Day

Everyone knows that sisters argue about wearing each other's clothes, but I hadn't realized I would have similar arguments with my preteen son. We were trying to get out the door to go skiing today, but first we had to make sure we had ski gear that fit. Last year, I had cobbled together an assortment of boots, skis, and poles from DI for cheap, but this year, since he had supposedly outgrown them, I had shelled out the big bucks at the local ski swap to acquire used boots, skis, and poles of similar quality to the DI ones (the boots had duct tape on them). Since we didn't have any gear that fit me, I asked my sister if I could borrow hers for the day. She gladly obliged, and I drove the 5 minutes to her house to get them. Unfortunately, the boots seemed a little small for me. She reassured me that she could get them on, and as I warbled "Sing, Sweet Nightingale," she tried with all her might to squeeze my foot in.  Unfortunately, I was the ugly stepsister who nee...
Post a Comment
Read more