I don’t know if you’ve been here … it could be you’re here now … maybe not. Either way here’s the story, it’s a short story, please hear me out.
At the time I was afraid. I was worried. It’d been happening day after day, usually in the morning. The what ifs ganged up on me and bullied my thoughts.
I lived in a state of panic. A series of thought questions played over and over in my imagination like in the movie, “Groundhog Day,”
- What if I’m beaten, will I survive?
Is there any hope for me?
Can I get out of this place alive?
Like the weather man, Phil Connors, in Groundhog Day I began to work on a strategy to break loose from my fear and worry time-loop.
- What if I just turn around and walk away?
What if I just pretend this isn’t happening?
What if I fight?
What are my chances of winning?
My mind whirled, occupied with the business of freedom. Yet I was cursed to relive what I wished to flee.
- I felt panic.
It attacked me.
I couldn’t focus.
My heart pounded.
I gasped for air.
I prayed in desperation, My God help me!
That’s when something happened.
I’ll try to explain it, although I find it inexplainable. I didn’t notice that my circumstances changed much immediately. Still I felt a peace, a calm, unlike yesterday’s terror.
No sense of fear haunted me.
But I did sense a training in dealing with my fear and worry had begun. I learned to relax and focus.
On what did I focus?
Jesus.
My spiritual eyes focused on Jesus. I’d read about doing this in Hebrews 12 but until then, I’d never followed through with what I’d read.
But as I practiced this my fear and worry were replaced by the freedom I longed for.
I realize my story sounds too simple. I would say so too, except I know I was afraid and then I wasn’t afraid. I know I was worried and then I wasn’t worried.
Confidence replaced fear and worry.
It’s like the man saying to the Pharisees, “I don’t know how it happened. All I know is once I was blind, but now I can see.”
That’s all the evidence I need.
As I focus on Jesus, I can seize today with no fear or worry.
If this is a day where you are caught up in fear listen to this song:
Veronica Petrucci No Fear
This song is based on 2 Timothy 1:7 For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.
Bless your day.
