Fear of Change

Are you afraid? 

“One reason we are so harried and hurried is that we make yesterday and tomorrow our business, when all that legitimately concerns us is today. If we really have too much to do, there are some items on the agenda which God did not put there. Let us submit the list to Him and ask Him to indicate which items we must delete. There is always time to do the will of God. If we are too busy to do that, we are too busy.” ― Elisabeth Elliot, missionary and writer

Overwhelmed…too many commitments…can’t say no…worry…sleepless nights…Do any of these describe you? They describe many Americans in today’s society. 

Yet, the irony is surveys have shown, despite the overwhelming circumstances many deal with, most people wouldn’t trade their own trials for someone else’s. 

Something to ponder.

This week my life finally settled back into routine after the Christmas holiday. With my son back in school, my daughter in North Carolina, and my husband at work, the house is quiet. I can hear the birds singing through the sunroom windows and the jingle of my Australian Shepherd’s dogtags as she tosses a ball around in the back yard on this crisp, sunny morning. 

With my Bible in hand, I settled into a comfy chair to pray over my goals for 2013. I’ve learned without God’s blessing, my goals are seldom achievable through my own strength. Mostly, this is because my goals involve Him and the ministry He has given me. 

I’ve said before I don’t do New Year’s resolutions. Instead, I ask God to show me a character trait or habit that, if improved upon, would help me achieve my goals. Last year it was better time management. I won’t say I mastered it, but I definitely improved, and it did make my work flow better. 

As I’ve prayed this week, one thing became apparent—most of what I want (or feel led) to do is impeded by fear. Maybe you have this problem, also. Fear of failure, fear of danger, fear of the unknown…and the list goes on and on. 

And maybe this sheds some light on what we were pondering above. Despite our circumstances, we won’t trade for someone else’s hardships, but apparently we’re often unwilling to take the necessary steps to change our own. We’ll continue in our own harried, overcommitted way.

Why?

Could it be fear in both scenarios?

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power, love, and self-discipline.” 2 Timothy 1:7 (NLT)

Through God’s grace and with His strength, we can overcome and be empowered to conquer anything to bring positive changes to our life and work.

If you have a prayer need or something you’re struggling with, I’d love to hear from you today. Share in the comments below or email me confidentially. Take a moment to pray for others on the list above. 

New prayer requests this week:

• Sarah asks for prayer for her niece Lori who has recently been diagnosed with a rare and aggressive form of breast cancer.
• Jeremy, Elizabeth, and Ashley. These three young adults have turned their back on Christ and have chosen a self-destructive, sinful path instead. Pray for them to realize their sin and turn back to the hope only found in Christ.

I hope you are as blessed by this song as I was when I first heard it a couple of months ago.  

God bless,

Laura

© Laura Hodges Poole

Photo courtesy of Microsoft.com free clip art