The F word...

 "Don’t fret or worry. Instead of worrying, pray. Let petitions and praises shape your worries into prayers, letting God know your concerns. Before you know it, a sense of God’s wholeness, everything coming together for good, will come and settle you down. It’s wonderful what happens when Christ displaces worry at the center of your life." 

Philippians 4:6-7

'Fret'...or better known to many of us as Freak out Mode!

Have you ever had a freak out moment? If you're human I can only assume you have. Don't worry,  I won't ask you to describe what yours look like.

But you know the ones. The ones that feel like the end of the world as we know it.(It's okay if you sang some R.E.M just then) The ones where we jump head first to the worst case scenario in our minds.

If you're like me than you have gone fast and the furious full throttle into freak out mode more than a couple times ... and probably didn't looked so good doing it.

Especially when I first got sick several years ago I was the freak out champion y'all. At least that's what it feels like looking back. My first brain MRI...freaked out. Each test after...the faith I claimed to have had quickly reared its head as freak out mode. Always thinking that worst case scenario. Where was my faith? Or better question, what was my faith in?

But that's what often happens doesn't it? 

It's easy to say we have faith when everything is going good right? Bills are all paid, everyone's healthy, Job is easy, kids are behaving (it happens right?), nothing in the house is broken.          

But this isn't an episode of Leave it to Beaver is it?(if you don't know what that is, we need to talk)  Life is freaking hard, isn't it?

The truth is we can never really know how strong we are or how much faith we have until things AREN'T going the way we'd like, when they aren't easy.

"The only way your faith is going to grow is when God puts you in a place where you have to use it!"- Joyce Meyer
  
When you face a problem try not to look at it as such but rather see it as an opportunity to exercise your faith. A chance for you to grow and God to be glorified.

Why freak out about something that God can solve for you?

The verse above says EVERYTHING coming together for good. Not just the easy stuff. He is using the moments when the enemy wants you to fear and showing you how to trust him. Because no matter what comes, even if the worst case scenario does pan out He is Still bigger, he is still in control. He already saw it coming, he already had a way out. He sees you, he knows you, He is right beside you. He has you in the palm of his hand. Nothing that comes at you will break you.

Every situation big or small, is an opportunity to learn to trust God when it doesn't make sense. He's working on you. It takes time but he'll turn your freak out mode into faith mode. 

Even if your situation hasn't changed (my health) the way you look at it will. I don't fear anymore. That's all a GOD thing. He grew me. He's still growing me.

He'll start to replace your worry with the truth of his love and limitless power. If we keep our mind focused on him in the hardest moments we will start to trust that he really is in control and nothing catches him off guard. 

"He will keep in perfect peace all those who trust in him, whose thoughts turn often to the Lord" Isaiah 26:3

He is the ultimate problem solver.He has the solution before you even have the problem. While we're over here freaking out, he already has it all figured out for us.

Whatever you're going through or comes your way throughout the day, whatever it looks like, no matter what it feels like, it is not too much for who God is...who he has always been and always will be....The most important F word of all...Faithful.

Plant these truths and promises deep in my heart, water them with Your love and make them come alive in my circumstances. I - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devotion-category/trusting-god/#sthash.WUV9OvgH.dpuf

Prayer: Father God, Help me to hear and believe the truths of who you are. Let them come alive in the moments I need them most, in the middle of the trials. Help me have faith instead of freaking out because even when things catch me off guard I know that nothing is a surprise to you. Nothing is too hard for you. Help me know and feel the Bigness of who you are. Bigger than all things I am or can face. In Jesus name I pray, AMEN

Plant these truths and promises deep in my heart, water them with Your love and make them come alive in my circumstances. I - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devotion-category/trusting-god/#sthash.WUV9OvgH.dpuf

“keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed” on Him (Isaiah 26:3a, ESV). - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/page/2/#sthash.TRRDv8FE.dpuf

Replace worry with the truth of God’s love and power. Then we can trust that God will do as He says: “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed” on Him (Isaiah 26:3a, ESV). - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/page/2/#sthash.TRRDv8FE.dpuf

Replace worry with the truth of God’s love and power. Then we can trust that God will do as He says: “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed” on Him (Isaiah 26:3a, ESV). - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/page/2/#sthash.TRRDv8FE.dpuf

Replace worry with the truth of God’s love and power. Then we can trust that God will do as He says: “keep him in perfect peace, whose mind is stayed” on Him (Isaiah 26:3a, ESV). - See more at: http://proverbs31.org/devotions/devo/page/2/#sthash.TRRDv8FE.dpuf