Struggling With The… “What If’s”

My family went camping this past weekend.

There is nothing like carving out a space in nature, propping up a tent,  lighting a fire, roasting hot dogs, fishing in the river, and sleeping with the sounds of nature ushering in sweet dreams.

But…

I stayed home.

While my description of camping above always sounds good in theory, I realize that my reality is totally different.

I love to be outdoors.

I love the smell of a campfire.

Smores are one of life’s great pleasures.

But that’s where it ends.  To be honest, camping to me is the Holiday Inn Express.

And while my husband and kids love spending the weekend in the woods, they bless the fact that I don’t.  I send them off with yummy food, comfy clothes and the promise of a big hug once they return home.

But this time of separation was a bit harder on me.

Not only was I unsure exactly where they were camping, I found myself struggling with the fear of “what if’s.”

What if one of my kids falls in the river and is swept away?

What if someone gets bit by a snake?

What if there’s a crazy man in the area looking to take out some aggression?

What if they encounter a mountain lion or bear?

What if my husband gets hurt and there are no other adults around to help?

I hate this feeling.

So all weekend long, I found myself pleading the blood of Jesus to surround them.  I prayed scripture over them.  I called down divine protection to encircle their campsite.  I asked the Kingdom of Jesus to rest on each of them.

Ugh.

I realize this isn’t how God wants things to be.

In the Bible, He commands us to not be fearful (or some variation of that word) 366 times.

We know He didn’t give us this Spirit of Fear (2 Timothy 1:7).

And we know that His perfect love will cast out all fear (1 John 4:18).

But to be honest, we are living in a wack-a-doo world filled with evil and hate in epic proportions.

• The intentionality of what happened in Aurora recently makes me sick to my stomach.
• The reality of sex-trafficking young kids simply for the perverted pleasures of others is hard to understand.
• The increase in bullying (and knowing first-hand how it affects kids) breaks my heart.

It can all be so overwhelming.

But this is where we have to be diligent to keep our heart and mind guarded. 

We have to take each fear that threatens our joy and freedom, and place it at the feet of Jesus.  We have to take our thought-life captive by stopping the destructive trails of “what if” thinking.

I’m not suggesting we turn a blind eye to the reality of life.  We need to know what is happening so we know how to pray.

What I am suggesting, however, is that rather than allow fear to render us helpless, paralyzed or ineffective… we talk it out with God.  We take it to the only One who can calm the storms of life.

And this verse reminds us of the posture we should take when fear threatens to knock us down:

“Do not let your hearts be troubled. Trust in God.”  (John 14:1)

Trust in God.

Trust in God.

Trust in God.

Rather than spend time worrying about the “what if’s” … trust that He is in all the details and fully-present in every situation.

Rather than release our inner-control freak to manage our families… remember that He is who He says He is, and will do what He says He will do.

Rather than allow fear to drain joy from our life… rejoice that He is mighty to save.

Rather than create unhealthy habits of protection… thank Him for loving us deeper than we can comprehend.

“Thank You Lord for being an anchor in the storms of life.  I am grateful that You are ever-present with me, my family and anyone who calls on Your precious name.  Father, I don’t want to be one to entertain the ideas and suggestions from the Enemy.  He is the father of lies and lives to discourage.  Instead God, I ask for You to fill me so richly with a Spirit of Faith that fear can’t find a way in.  I trust You with my life.  I trust You with my family.  I trust You with the details of my life.  Thank You for loving me so much.  In Jesus’ Name.  Amen.”

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© 2012 careyscotttalks.com

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