“Face your fears.” Every step I took, God was right there, telling me this in His most teachable and sometimes humorous ways.” He simply got right up in my face and my “mess.” Telling me to let go of fears I had picked up from childhood, letting me know that I had to get rid of the fear that was spiritually debilitating me.

The problem didn’t lie with my parents; They weren’t abusive. They really were wonderful parents. They shielded and protected me.

Life has a way of bringing things your way that you never asked for. Sometimes innocent things, that plant a seed of fear.

Like watching scary movies, or someone trying to teach you to swim and your nearly drowning in the process, getting lost in a public place, constantly being bullied at school, called names, telling you that you could never do anything right, and the list goes on and on…For some of you it may have gone much much deeper than that.

God began to deal with me about the little things that I had buried deep inside me, things I had thought I had forgotten. He began to show me the things that had hurt me and made me fearful.

So it was no surprise while I was at a Ladies Retreat worshipping, that God showed me that He had been right there all along.

He let me see things from His point of view. I saw myself at a creek sitting on the bank near the water. Jesus was sitting behind me like a parent does, with His arms wrapped around me, while I was crying out, scared of the water. He whispered, “I’ve got you, and I’m not letting you go.”

A dam of tears flowed down my face, as I worshipped. Then I saw myself lying in bed at night, as a little child crying out afraid of monsters in the dark. (That’s why I can’t watch scary movies) Jesus came into my room and knelt beside my bed, prayed with me and calmed my fears.

He gave me dreams that dealt with my fear of heights, fear of water, and even a lot of the monsters I had seen in those movies. And that is why I never allowed my girls to watch scary movies while they were growing up. (I have found out since that they snuck off to friends’ houses to watch them, but at least I tried to protect them just like my parents did me) The enemy of our soul will plant any seed of fear that can keep us from our full potential with God.

At times, while watching a movie or reading a book, God would use words from a scene to speak to my heart.

I chuckle now at some of the funny words He used. Not out of disrespect, but because God has such a funny sense of humor, along with a serious side! He has shown me that! I always thought God was so serious, but if you look at some of His creation, animals, insects, it lets us know that we will never understand all the wonderful and mysterious aspects of our Heavenly Father!

Today, I embrace all those sides of God that teach me that He is a loving God. And He is willing to get right up in my “messy” life for a teachable moment! He walked on water to come to His disciples who were crying out in fear on a boat, in stormy waters. So, my friend, His Ways are higher than our ways. He can meet us right where our mess is!

So, ask God to help you face those fears today! We all have them! Give them to Him and watch Him work!

“Because the foolishness of God is wiser than men; and the weakness of God is stronger than men. For ye see your calling, brethren, how that not many wise men after the flesh, not many mighty, not many noble, are called: But God hath chosen the foolish things of the world to confound the wise; and God hath chosen the weak things of the world to confound the things which are mighty; And base things of the world, and things which are despised, hath God chosen, yea, and things which are not, to bring to nought things that are: That no flesh should glory in his presence.”

‭‭1 Corinthians‬ ‭1:25-29‬ ‭KJV‬‬