When Your Fear Reignites
CINDY BULTEMA
Lee en español
“I keep my eyes always on the LORD. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken.” Psalm 16:8 (NIV)
Seven suspicious garage fires within a span of weeks ignited fear in our quiet neighborhood. We practiced fire drills with our children, put safety ladders in position and triple checked our smoke alarms. We were mentally and physically exhausted. Sleep doesn’t come easy when your bedroom is above a garage!
Just when we started to relax — with no fire for 17 days — fire trucks, police cars and soul-splitting sirens filled our street. It was 2:30 a.m. when new flames, only five doors down, reignited old fears.
Has anything ever shaken or reignited fears you thought were in your past? Maybe it’s another affair or an addiction relapse. Or perhaps you received a devastating report from a child’s teacher or your doctor after you hoped a permanent corner had been turned. Maybe what has you shaking with fear isn’t what’s within your home but in today’s headlines. The pandemic and political tension re-escalated your anxiety and wound you tight to new levels of worry.
Fear can breathe down our necks, bind to our looping worrisome thoughts and boss us around. The main thing that will break us free from fear is truth! And the truth is …
We need not fear when God is near.
That was King David’s story. In the books of 1 and 2 Samuel, we see what shook David. He knew the fear of facing lions, bears and a giant named Goliath who wanted to feed David to the wild animals for lunch. David knew what it was to run for his life from the people who should have been for him — including his father-in-law and his very own son. In the shakes and quakes, David discovered truth.
You see, sometimes God shakes us to wake us.
David was shaken wide awake to God’s presence. In Psalm 16:8, David wrote, “I keep my eyes always on the Lord. With him at my right hand, I will not be shaken” (NIV).
David’s focus became his unshakeable foundation. His perspective became his peace. He lost his fear when his focal point shifted from those who were against him to the One who was with him. He saw that God was near!
After the eighth fire in our neighborhood, I struggled to see through my tears and fears. A mentor lovingly said, “Cindy, you have a choice. You can choose to stay stuck or choose to see God’s hand.”
It wasn’t easy, but slowly, this reminder changed everything. Instead of concentrating on my fear-filled circumstances, I looked for God’s hand. I saw God’s presence in those who prioritized nightly prayer walks. I saw God’s kindness and love as people encouraged and looked out for one another, and though property was destroyed, every life was spared. Wow.
To this day, I clasp a bracelet on my right wrist as a reminder of God’s unbreakable promise: The world may shake, but I will not. God is with me, He is for me, and I am loved.
Friend, so are you! Our world will always quake, and fear will always be a liar. But you can stand certain in all the uncertainties and unshakeable in our shaking world as you remember truth. You need not fear when you choose to see that God is near. With Him at your right hand, you will not be shaken!
Lord God, help us to sense Your nearness even in the midst of our most painful days. Thank You that because Your promises are unbreakable, we can stand unshakeable. In Jesus’ Name, Amen.
TRUTH FOR TODAY:
Isaiah 41:10a, "So do not fear, for I am with you …” (NIV)
Psalm 118:6a, "The LORD is with me; I will not be afraid.” (NIV)
Hebrews 12:28, “Therefore, since we are receiving a kingdom that cannot be shaken, let us be thankful, and so worship God acceptably with reverence and awe.” (NIV)
RELATED RESOURCES:
Make sure you and the girls in your life know that God is with them and that they are loved. The “Unshakeable” line is a tangible reminder of truth. Remind yourself. Remind a girl! Check it out here.
Get your free “Unshakeable” Scripture verse cards available for download on the GEMS website, here.
CONNECT:
GEMS is the go-to ministry for girls’ spiritual growth. GEMS guides thousands of girls’ faith development through mentoring relationships and Truth-filled resources. Learn more about GEMS, here.
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REFLECT AND RESPOND:
Is there a fear that has left you stuck instead of standing on truth? Wear a watch, bracelet, or hair tie on your right wrist, then look for God’s hand in your life. Where do you see Him? Share your thoughts in the comments!
© 2021 by Cindy Bultema. All rights reserved.
Proverbs 31 Ministries thanks GEMS Girls’ Clubs for their sponsorship of today’s devotion.
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Proverbs 31 Ministries
P.O. Box 3189
Matthews, NC 28106
www.Proverbs31.org
