There have been three times where fear decidedly marked my life.

1. At the five month mark during my pregnancy with Jonathan and we thought I was losing him.

2. When we were in the court battle for Carrie and thought we would lose her.

3. When it became clear that God’s plan was not for earthly healing for Bob and I was losing him.

 

Loss.

 

That one word is at the center of each stand-out fearful moment. Loss of the things I was so tightly holding onto.

 

During those times, one Scripture repeatedly came to mind.

 

Isaiah 26:3

“You will keep in perfect peace those whose minds are steadfast, because they trust in You.”

During those times, I remember mentally repeating those words over and over again… praying “Lord, keep my mind so focused on You that the circumstances around me will not shake me.”

 

The Scripture Writing the girls and I are doing this month is on the Promises of God and I Timothy 1:7 was the verse for the day.

 

When Bob was in the hospital for those eight days, I had that Scripture written on the sign board in his room. Bob loved that Scripture and while Isaiah 26:3 was my “go to” verse during times of stress, I Timothy 1:7 was his. That verse says:

 

“For God has not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and a sound mind.”

 

Perfect peace.

A steadfast mind.

A sound mind.

 

The Greek word for peace is “eirene” and I love the Strong’s definition: quietness, rest, oneness, wholeness and then this beautiful description… “when ALL essential parts are joined together.”

 

Matthew 22:7 instructs us to “love the Lord your God with ALL your heart and with ALL your soul and with ALL your mind.”

 

God doesn’t “need” anything from us. Instructing us to love Him with ALL is for our benefit – not His. When we are obedient in that, our mind will be settled and we will be at peace because our love for Him – and His love for us – gives us the assurance that He will be in control and will work out a plan that is for our good and His glory.

 

I loved my husband and I knew he loved me. Because of that love, I felt protected and cared for… I TRUSTED him because I knew he loved me. Love and trust go hand in hand.

 

Peter asked Jesus if he could walk to him and he stepped out of the boat and began to walk on water. Then, he looked at the wind swirling around him and began to sink.

 

When I look at the circumstances swirling around me – or I try to tightly white-knuckle hold onto what I might “lose” – I will be frantic, fearful, worried and stressed. Just like Peter, if I keep my eyes on Jesus, I’m able to stand with a sound mind – a steadfast mind – in peace.

 

It’s a hard lesson to learn… especially if you have my mindset…

Make the list.

Have a plan.

Figure things out.

 

Then you find that some of what you are trying to figure out are un-figure-out-able! (Yes! I made up a new word!) My sweet peeps… THIS season of my life is so full of un-figure-out-able and if I take my eyes off Jesus, I’ll sink in a nanosecond! The struggle is real and I keep reminding myself that I can’t swim!

 

God has the plan and if I just let Him have it and I don’t keep trying to be a control freak, then it takes a lot of the worry and stress off of me!

 

Let’s make it a practice to love and TRUST God with ALL of us… then let’s rest in the beauty of ALL essential parts joining together… heart, soul and mind… ALL focused on the One who loves us most and who can be trusted.

 

Does life have some really REALLY hard parts?

YES!

 

Keep a mind and heart that is focused on Him!

Keep walking in step with the Savior!

Keep reminding yourself to loosen the grip on the “plans” you have and trust an all-knowing God to handle it!

 

He can and here’s the news flash…

He does a better job than we ever could!