Living Without Fear

anxiety (ang-zi-i-te): A state of apprehension and fear resulting from the anticipation of a threatening event or situation.

So here's a little background for you... I come from a family of Germans. True, fully blooded Germans. I've got a splash of Swedish blood mixed in there just to make it interesting and (slightly) restrain my Type A German blood... but not enough to make a big enough difference. Sweds tend to be reserved. Germans tend to be full steam ahead... opinionated, direct, perfectionist, WORRIERS... and I've met my fair share of Type A, worry wart Germans... as a matter of fact, I AM one of those Germans, and I've got a whole extended family of them as well.
If you are German (or are married to one) you know exactly what I'm talking about.
I'm not making this stuff up, folks. Am I stereo-typing? Of course. Are there exceptions? I'm sure. But, hey- it's my blog, and my opinion and... well, seeing that I'm an opinionated German I'm just going to go with it.

So, what does "anxiety" have to do with any of this? Well, I've found through personal experience... A WHOLE LOT! I've known my fair share of Paxil and Prozac taking Germans because of this very reason. I, myself, have not been one- but heaven knows I probably should have at different points of my life. (and for the record, I do not think there is anything wrong with medication!)

But just because I'm "prone" to be a worrier, does that mean I'm destined to live a life of anxiety? Absolutely not. And, as a matter of fact, we are all called (Germans included!) to live a life of peace withOUT fear and anxiety. And, dare I say, it's even a sin to succumb to a life of anxiety because nothing about worrying is part of God. And when we worry and remain in fear without giving it to Him, we are separating ourselves from God.

"Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God." - Phil. 4:6

"For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind." - 2 Tim 1:7

"So, do not worry about tomorrow; for tomorrow will care for itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. " Matthew 6:34

Hey- I didn't write this stuff, I just read it and believed. And, truth be told- experienced the reality of living in anxiety... but also in the freedom of walking in the truth and casting my cares upon Him. Where does my anxiety lie? Oh, friends, you name it. If I let it- I can let anxiety run through my veins and breath my every breath daily. It took me 8 years to finally set aside my fears when my husband flies (which he does often). Every time one of my children has a fever, or a bruise, my mind wanders to the worst. And there are countless other examples- both big and small- that I'll choose not to share. But, trust me, every day it's a challenge for me and every day I must make a choice. Do I choose worry? Or do I choose trust? Or, as God said, "I set before you life and death, the blessing and the curse. Choose life in order that you may live." It's a choice to live in freedom... just as it's a choice to live in bondage.

I often wonder- how do people get through life without a relationship, trust and adherence on Christ? Maybe I'm just weak... no, I take that back- I AM weak... I need Him to get through life. There is some seriously powerful truth in the song, "Jesus Loves Me" that we all learned as young children... "I am weak but He is strong."

All of this doesn't have to be fancy and complicated. Maybe you're asking... "Okay, so what does it actually mean to put your cares on Christ.... How do we do that?"

First, you simply declare it. And out loud if need be! Actually- that's even better. There are so many times in my life when I felt the grip of fear and worry creeping it's slimy fingers around my neck that I would actually declare- out loud- "My TRUST is in the LORD my God." Or I would repeat scriptures, like the ones I noted above.

I'm a very visual person and the best example I ever heard- that has helped me to cast my cares is to take whatever worry, fear or anxiety that I have, and to actually visualize putting it in my hands, stretching my hands up and out above my head and handing it to the Lord. Actually- and literally- giving Him my cares.

Just remember, if you don't truly give him your cares, He doesn't have them... you still do. But you don't need to! "God is our refuge and our strength- an ever present help in time of trouble." There is no reason in the world NOT to claim this promise and put our trust in Him.

Life is certainly a journey... riddled with daily cares both big and small. But it doesn't need to be that way. We can make a choice to cast our cares upon Him and live a life of peace.... true peace that comes only from Him and from the assurance we have that as believers, we can be certain that through any circumstance, He will bring it together for good.