Click on the link above to learn more about Lelia Chealey's study of Micca Campbell's book an untroubled heart - finding a faith that is stronger than all my fears. This Bible study prompted me to rejoin the bloggy world. In many ways, I'm starting over. I'm joining the study with Chapter 2 : Fear Factor.Much of the anxiety I faced through recent challenges stemmed from feeling out of control and consumed with worry.
"We act as if everything depends on us. We wouldn't dare admit that we are in over our heads. We want to appear in control. But God never meant for you and me to be strong in and of ourselves. We were meant to show His strength in our weakness as He provides for our needs."
I admit I am not in control, although I often try to be or wish I were.
"One of the hardest things to do is to give up control and trust someone other than ourselves. Again, we misunderstand the benefit of a surrendered life. It's not about giving up; it's about gaining the power and presence of God living His life through us."
I do not need to be in control. After losing my job this summer, I did not know how we would make it. God knew. During my first week of eligibility for unemployment, I started a new job.
While we were without health insurance, my daughter had a severe asthma episode that required transportation to the emergency room by ambulance. Although employed, I took a significant salary reduction. We struggled to meet everyday expenses. How could we cover medical bills? God made a way for the bills to be covered in full.
In the midst of difficulty, why can it be easier to believe False Evidence Appearing Real than God's truth? Trusting in the sometimes unknown, unseen plan of God can be harder than believing what is visible and seems to be true. In hindsight, God's provision is clear.
While continuing to face uncertainity, I look to the future through the lens of the past, remembering God supplies just what we need, just when we need it. "Faith in God's provision is our anchor that secures a life free from fear."
