Letting Go and Letting God
Letting Go and Letting God
I’ll admit it. It really bothers me. I can’t understand why bad things happen to good people. And, just as confusing, how good things happen to bad people. It just irks me. It doesn’t make sense to my logical mind.
Scanning through a magazine one day, I read story after story of starving children, natural disasters, diseases and plagues, and it really hit me hard. “Why, Lord? I just want to know why!” I would read these articles in tears, weeping for what seemed to be the unjustness of it all. “Why Lord?” I continued to question.
I began to look back at a time when the children of Israel had just left Egypt. God’s miraculous hand had delivered them from Pharaoh’s grip. Their prayers were answered. They were free people–free from the bondage of slavery.
And now, God established new rules and regulations–a new way of living. The boundaries were clear. The system of justice was straightforward and fair. You didn’t break the law. Period. If you did, you were punished. And, to further my acceptance of this system, the punishment was based on severity of the offense.
A minor trespass–a fine.
A major trespass–death.
It was fair.
It was just.
It made sense.
Not to mention, God was there in their camp with his people. By day, he was a cloud that descended upon the Tabernacle. By night, a pillar of fire. You could see and hear God. If you had a question, you’d just ask Moses and he would inquire of God for you. “Should I start this job? Is this my spouse for life? Can I carry my Bible to school?” Questions were answered clearly. The objectiveness of it all made sense to my logical mind.
But to my amazement, these people still grumbled (Exodus 16:2). They complained (Numbers 11:1). They doubted (Numbers 14:3). And, even more shocking, they rebelled against God (Deut. 9:24). God was just. He was fair. He did not hide himself. He spoke to the people. But still, they turned from him.
I guess I liked this system of law, because it created a sense of control. You were the one in control of your destiny. If you messed up, you had to deal with the consequences. There was no need for an intimate relationship with God. In fact, the people told Moses, “You speak to God for us” (Exodus 20:19).
Being in control gives us this vain sense of peace. “If I can just maintain control, everything will be all right.” When things are beyond our control, anxiety and fear wells up within our heart. I believe that’s why the fear of death is so common with people with panic attacks. It is something beyond our control.
Looking back across the ages, through the Old and New Covenants, God declared that the age of Grace–the age of Jesus Christ–is a better covenant with better promises (Hebrews 8:6). Why is this a better time to live in? I believe it’s because we are called to have an intimate relationship with our Father, not a life full of rules and regulations. We are called a blessed people, because we live in an age where sin is forgiven through Jesus (Romans 4:8).
Today, I encourage you to surrender your control to God. Live your life in Christ, for a surrendered life is a life full of peace. When you relinquish your control to God, he will wrap his arms of love around you, and the fearful vulnerability will melt away.
“I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body, I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave himself for me” (Galatians 2:20).
Prayer: Lord, I have tried for so long to control everything in my life. You have not called us to be in control. You have called us to surrender our lives to you. Lord, I put my trust in you. I put my hope in you. Thank you for allowing me to let go of those I can’t control, and giving me the courage to let of the things I can control.
Trusting your Father
“Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and don’t lean on your own understanding”(Proverbs 3:5).
For me, this was the key scripture that catapulted me down the road to recovery. When we trust God with our lives and don’t try to figure things out on our own, then fear–no matter what it may be–does not have foothold in our lives.
It all comes down to trust. Can you trust God with your life? With your death? With your family? When your heart is racing and your mind is filled with fear? Can you not fight those uninvited thoughts? Can you stand still and see the salvation of the Lord?
My first victory over panic attacks came when I was sitting in a recliner holding my son. The panic hit. My mind was racing. Then, I thought, “Lord, I don’t care what happens. I will trust you. If I die, then I die. Whatever happens, I will trust you.”
Do you know what happened? The fear came and went. It didn’t stay around long enough to do anything. No panic attack. No overwhelming fear. It just came to pass.
That was my first victory. Since then, I’ve been able to rest during an attack. Occasionally, an attack will get the best of me. But, I press into God and spend time alone with him. I pray and worship until I can hear that still, small voice encourage me, “Don’t fear, my child. You can trust me.”
I pray that each one of you will experience the overcoming power of trusting our Father. Our salvation was paid for with a very high price–the death of God’s Son. Do you think God would pay such a high price for our lives and not watch over us?
This weekend, let me encourage you to do two things: First, don’t lean on your own understanding–don’t try to figure it all out. Secondly, trust God. Trust your Father in heaven. When the fear hits, pray, “Father, I will trust you no matter what happens. With all that I am, I will trust you.” Then, just rest in his arms of love, and he will carry you. He will not let you fall.
Prayer: Father, I trust you. I put all of my trust in you, for you are my King, my Protector, my Lord. My hope is in you.
Finding Purpose in a Cold, Dark World
There was a season when my wife enjoyed baking cakes. And, she was quite good at it. I would watch as she meticulously started the baking process–mixing ingredients, adjusting the taste, getting everything just right. Then, after it was cooked, she moved to the hard part–the decorating. This is where patience and a steady hand were essential. Hours later, a beautiful cake is born.
The task was complete. The job was done. There was nothing left except for us to enjoy the beautiful, flavorful creation. But, rarely did we eat the cake right after it was finished. The preparation process usually took place a day or so before it was needed. After it was baked and prepared, it was then placed into a hard plastic container and put in the refrigerator. There, the beautiful creation sat until the time was right for it to be revealed.
Now, if cakes could talk, you might here something like: “So, this must be my home. It’s kind of lonely, cold and dark, but it’s a nice home. I guess this is what I was prepared for. It seems like there’s more out there, but I’m just not sure. I guess I’ll make the best of it here.”
Like that cake, many of us are convinced that this world is our home. It’s dark, cold and very lonely. It seems like there’s more out there, but we’re just not sure. So, we strive to make the best of it here. We can’t see beyond the door, so we’re convinced that we were prepared for this world.
For most of my life, I lived for this world striving for purpose and meaning. I searched long and hard for something more than what this life has to offer. But, I’ve come to the conclusion that I was not created for this world, but for the world to come. As I strived in vain to find something in this world to hold on to, the fear of death would consume me, triggering waves of panic and fear. I wanted to stay in my cold, dark, hard container of life.
One morning, as I was journaling my thoughts and prayers, I felt like God was telling me, “Russell, I didn’t create you for that world–I created you for eternity.”
I was amazed. I knew at that moment God had created me for something bigger than this cold, dark refrigerator. My purpose was not for this world, but for the next. The fear of death started melting away. Months later, I was reading through the Bible and came across this confirming passage of scripture:
“We know that when this earthly tent we live in is taken down–when we die and leave these bodies–we will have a home in heaven, an eternal body made for us by God himself and not by human hands. God himself has prepared us for this, and as a guarantee he has given us his Holy Spirit” (2 Corinthians 5:1, 5).
You were not created for this world. You were created to spend eternity with God. That’s your purpose. That’s why you were created. We can’t see all of this here in the dark, cold world we live in. It takes faith. “That is why we live by believing and not by seeing” (verse 7).
Prayer: “Father, help me know that I was created for your world, not this one. Release in my heart the ability to live by faith and not by sight. Let the warmth and light of your love wash away the cold, dark fear of death that is working in my life. Help me find my purpose in you. I receive all that Jesus did for me. I choose today to turn away from the wrong things I have done in my life. Cleanse and purify me for your work, Father. Open the eyes of my heart. I ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Your Refuge from Panic Attacks and Fear
“God is our refuge and strength, a very present help in trouble” (Psalms 46:1).
What is a “refuge”? One dictionary defines it like this: “a place, or sometimes a person, offering protection or safe shelter from something.” A refuge is a place of safety, a place where you run to when you’re threatened or afraid.
When fear and panic strikes, where do you run? What is your refuge? Who is your refuge? I want you to be really honest with yourself. Is God truly your refuge? When things come crashing in, is he really the very first place you turn? Or, is he the last resort when nothing else seems to be working?
Is your spouse a refuge? Is beer a refuge? Is medication a refuge? Is food a refuge? Are Twinkies a very present help in times of trouble?
I’ll be the first to admit it. For most of my life, God was not my refuge and strength during the storms of fear. I turned to many other things when faced with crippling anxiety. I relied on people to help calm me down. I would typically call someone, because that would force me to “get things under control”. Or, I would turn to alcohol at night to numb the confusing thoughts. In fact, I had many refuges–medication, television, intellect, money–all have been refuges in times of trouble.
What is the very first thing you do when fear strikes? That is your refuge and strength. And, if it’s not God, then it will surely fail you. Yes, it may provide temporary peace, but it will not provide that deep, soul peace that we really need.
God, on the other hand, is a “very present help in times of trouble”. How close is God? He’s in you. He is closer to you than you are. He’s not just present–he is VERY present. When fear strikes, we don’t have to run to God, because he is already in you through Christ.
“Russell,” you may say, “I’ve tried that, and I don’t have any peace. I don’t know how to turn to God when the fear strikes.”
This battle of fear takes place internally, not externally. It’s a war of the mind. So, battling this internal war with external things will never be successful. Rather, we must fight internally, within our soul.
When fear comes crashing in, the first thing you must do is turn to God. Call out to him in prayer. Pray for strength, courage and wisdom in how you should respond. Let God be your refuge and strength, your very present help in times of trouble.
The next thing you should do is nothing. That’s sounds strange, but let me explain. Fear, at this point, is telling you to do something. It’s telling you to get off the road, get out of the store, call someone, get help, run for your life. This irrational fear is barking its commands at you, and your mind is being bombarded with this onslaught of demands. Terry Wardle, in his book “Whispers of Love in Seasons of Fear”, sums it up best when he says, “Resist the urge to manage your pain.”
Let God be your refuge and strength. Let him be your very present help in times of trouble. Let him be your first choice, not your last resort.
Prayer: “Father, I’ve relied on many other refuges in the past. I’ve trusted in the things of this world to bring me peace, but today, I choose you. Be my refuge and strength in times of trouble. Give me the strength to do nothing. Give me the strength to wage this war in my mind. Together, we shall be victorious. Apart from you, Lord, I can do nothing. I ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
How to choose between peace and panic
Last week, I shared a message entitled “Choosing who you will serve”, describing how you must choose which master you will serve. If you obey the commands of fear, then fear will be your master, but if you choose to obey God, then he will be your Master.
This week, I want to share how you can choose to obey God rather than fear.
Let me start with one of the Ten Commandments: “You must never worship or bow down to [other gods], for I, the LORD your God, am a jealous God who will not share your affection with any other god!” (Exodus 20:5).
For years, you may have bowed down the god of fear. Has irrational fear ever commanded you, “Don’t go there”, and you obey willingly? Has fear every whispered into your ear, This must be a very serious disease. Surely you will die from this. Or how about this one:You’ve done some really bad things. You can’t go to God now. He’s mad at you.
So, where do you start? You start with repentance. Repentance is confessing your obedience to fear as wrong and then choosing to do the right thing. Repentance is action. You must choose to do the right thing and then follow through with action.
“But, I don’t feel very strong,” you may say. “If God will just give me the strength and courage, then I can overcome this fear.” Here’s where the problem lies. Courage is not the absence of fear. Courage is how you respond while experiencing fear.
More than likely, you will never “feel” strong when it comes to fear. If you did feel strong, then there would be nothing to fear, and this wouldn’t be an issue.
Here’s the key: no matter how you feel, choose to follow God and not the fear. God promises you that if you will make the choice to follow him and trust him with all of your heart, even in the midst of fear, then he will strengthen you.
“The LORD who created you says: ‘Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine. When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you. For I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior’” (Isaiah 43:1b-3c).
“God is our refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble” (Psalm 46:1).
If you would like to make this choice to follow God instead of fear, pray this prayer:“Father, I have obeyed the voice of fear and it has controlled my life for too long. I want to follow you. I want to obey your voice. Today, I repent for my idolatry–for bowing down to the god of fear. I confess it to you as wrong, and I ask you in Jesus’ name to forgive me for these wrong choices. Lord Jesus, come into my life and give me strength. Today, I choose to obey your voice. I won’t obey my feelings, if they are contrary to what you want. I will step forth in faith, trusting you to take care of me, trusting you to give me strength. No matter what happens, I will trust you, because I know you love me. Father, I ask these things in the name of your Son, Jesus Christ. Amen.”
Choosing Panic or Peace
It has been years since I’ve experienced a full-blown panic attack. Having lived most of my life in fear and panic, this new season in my life is wonderful and peaceful. What used to consume my thoughts minute-upon-minute now occasionally crosses my mind every once and awhile. I no longer live my life in the world of “what ifs”.
So, what did I do? How did I overcome a life-long battle of fear? What steps did I take?
All of my years of fear and panic came to pivotal point one night at 3 in the morning. I had drifted off to sleep like any other night, but I awoke with my heart racing and my mind spinning. These were the classical symptoms of a nighttime panic attack, or night terror. Typically, the medication I was taken would have kept my asleep, but I had tapered off all medication with the help of my doctor a couple of months earlier. I didn’t have anything to numb the pain.
As I lie there, bracing myself for the worst, a scripture came to mind: “For you are a slave to whatever controls you” (2 Peter 2:19b). In the past, as the panic would hit with all its force, I would jump out of bed and get out of the room as fast as I can. That was my typical response. But as the waves of panic began cresting in my mind that night, I made a choice–I will not obey the fear. I will not respond to the fearful thoughts consuming my mind.
Was it an easy choice? No. It was the hardest choice I’ve ever had to make. My body began quivering and shaking with fear. I wondered at one point if I would wake my wife with the terrible trembling I was experiencing. I lay there experiencing the full grunt of the fear. Everything in me wanted to run. Everything in me wanted to fight. But I chose that night not give in to the fear.
“Don’t you realize that whatever you choose to obey becomes your master? You can choose sin, which leads to death, or you can choose to obey God and receive his approval” (Romans 6:16).
Most attacks for me lasted less than a minute. The episode that night went on for an hour–my body trembling, my mind racing. It seemed like it was never going to end, but it did. I was able to go back to sleep and wake to a new morning filled with hope and courage.
That night, something happened in me. I came to the realization that I did not have to obey the fear, no matter how terrifying and scary it may seem. I was not going to be a slave to fear, for you are a slave to whatever controls you. Did the fear continue to plague my mind? Yes, occasionally. Did I give in to fear? No, I would not. I could not, because if I gave in to it, then it would become my master again, and I did not want fear to be my master.
Slowly over time, the attacks of fear have lessened. Occasionally, I experience “zaps of adrenaline”, as I call them, but I don’t respond to them. I don’t listen to the threats of fear anymore.
How can you do this? How can you choose not to obey fear? It starts by choosing something bigger than fear to obey. That night, as I lay there trembling and shaking with fear, I prayed, “Father, I choose tonight not to obey to the fear. Rather, I choose to obey you. Give me your strength. Fill me with your mercy and grace. It is only through your strength that I can overcome this fear. Apart from Jesus, I can do nothing.”
I really believe with all of my heart that many people reading this message can find freedom and peace from fear by choosing to obey God rather than fear. I don’t say this because I think it’s a good idea. I say this because I have experienced freedom firsthand. It works. It‚s real. With God, all things are possible.
“Choose for yourselves this day whom you will serve” (Joshua 24:15b).
Prayer: Father, today, I choose to obey you and not the fear. I will not obey the commands of fear anymore. I can do this in Christ, who gives me strength.
Out of the Wilderness – Working through Panic
Anyone who has experienced anxiety, stress or panic knows what it’s like to walk in the wilderness. I think about the children of Israel. They had just seen a miraculous deliverance out of Egypt. God revealed himself in a powerful way, and lead his children out of this bondage of slavery. They were free. It was only eleven days to the Promised Land. It was a short path through the wilderness.
But something went wrong. What should have taken eleven days took forty years. What happened? What caused the children of Israel to wander around in this place of bareness for forty, painful years?
Did God abandon them? No. He provided food and water for them everyday. Did God stop talking to Moses? No. Each day, God spoke to Moses at the tabernacle. Were they lost? No. God was a cloud by day and a fire by night leading them from place to place. So, why did they not make it through the wilderness in eleven days? Hebrews 3:19 explains: “they were not allowed to enter his rest because of their unbelief.”
Unbelief. They could not enter into the Promised Land of peace and rest because they did not believe God or trust in his promises. Let me ask you a hard question: are you in this wilderness of fear because you do not believe God?
- Are you concerned about your finances?
- God says he will never leave you nor forsake you.
- Are you worried that cancer or some disease will kill you?
- Jesus holds the keys to death and life.
- Are you afraid of what people might think?
- God says to fear no man, but rather, fear him.
- Are you afraid of making a bad decision?
- God says to ask for wisdom and he will give it.
Listen carefully to these instructions in Hebrews 3: “be careful then, dear brothers and sisters. Make sure that your own hearts are not evil and unbelieving, turning you away from the living God. You must warn each other every day, as long as it is called ‘today,’ so that none of you will be deceived by sin and hardened against God. For if we are faithful to the end, trusting God just as firmly as when we first believed, we will share in all that belongs to Christ. But never forget the warning: ‘Today you must listen to his voice. Don’t harden your hearts against him as Israel did when they rebelled‘” (vs. 12-15).
God can be trusted. Give him your heart. Give him control. Jesus is willing, able and ready to take the reins of your life and give you rest. Surrender your life to him. If you listen carefully with your heart, you will “hear” his voice calling you to trust him. Open your arms to him. Open your heart to him.
Prayer: Father, I’m so tried of being in control. I’ve tried running my life for too long, and the weariness is pulling me down. This wilderness is too lonely, too painful, too dark. Shine your light into my heart. Jesus, forgive me of my sins. I confess them to you now. Holy Spirit, help me to turn from them this day forward. I ask these things in your precious name. Amen.
Pressing through the panic attacks, fear and anxiety
If I had just one message to share with every person struggling with fear, depression or crippling anxiety, it would be this: God does not take away our problems–rather, he gives us the strength and resources we need to overcome them. When I was battling fear and panic, my greatest victory came with this revelation.
When I was struggling, I waited and waited and waited for God to zap this fear out of me. But, it never came. The longer I waited, the more frustrated I became. The more I prayed, the more I questioned God’s silence. “Where are you, God? Why won’t you help me?”
As I read through the Bible desperately searching for some answers, I noticed a pattern: Noah wasn’t saved from the flood–he was saved through it (Genesis 6-8). The three Hebrew boys were not saved from the fire–they were saved through it (Daniel 3). Jesus wasn’t exempt from temptation–he persevered through it (Matthew 4).
Then, I found this scripture in Isaiah where God is telling his children about the difficulties they’ll face: “When you go through deep waters and great trouble, I will be with you. When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown! When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up; the flames will not consume you” (43:2).
Notice what is said in this verse:
- when you go through…
- when you go through…
- when you walk through…
Yet, God promised them:
- “I will be with you.”
- “You will not drown.”
- “You will not be burned up.
- “The flames will not consume you.”
What are you deep waters? Loneliness, despair, depression? God will be with you. What are your rivers of difficulty? Driving alone, fearful nights, the grocery store? You will not drown.
Reading through the first part of that chapter, I could hear my Father’s gentle, caring voice. You can hear it too. Listen.
- “Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine” (verse 1).
- “I am the LORD, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior” (verse 3).
- “You are precious to me. You are honored, and I love you” (verse 4).
- “Do not be afraid, for I am with you” (verse 5).
This week, spend some time with your Father. If you listen carefully with your heart, you will hear his words of love over you. Let his love carry you through the deep waters of depression and through the fiery flames of fear. In Christ, God is with you.
Prayer: Father, help me understand that you did not come into my life to take away my problems. Rather, you have come into my life to give me the strength and resources to rise above them. You have called me not to be an escape artist, but rather an overcomer. Lord, in Christ, I will overcome.
Exposure Therapy, the Solution for Panic Attacks
Having walked in the grip of fear for years, I’ve learned some truths about the freedom process. I’ve learned through experience that God sometimes takes us into the midst of our fear to teach us how to overcome it.
This is probably not what you want to hear, but it’s the truth. And according to the Bible, you shall know the truth and the truth shall set you free (John 8:32). Let me give you some scriptural examples.
The first story that comes to mind is the story of Moses and the children of Israel. They had just left Egypt and God was leading them. Yet, he guided them right to the edge of the Red Sea. There were cliffs on both sides, the Red Sea in front and the Egyptians closing in from behind. They were trapped. God lead them to a place of fear.
Why? To cripple them and make them suffer? No. He lead them there to reveal himself in a powerful way. “Do not be afraid. Stand still, and see the salvation of the LORD, which He will accomplish for you today” (Exodus 14:13). He lead them to a place where they could not rely on their own strength.
Then there was Gideon (Judges 6, 7). He was a terribly fearful man. God came to him and told him to fight against the cruel and brutal Midianites. This huge, powerful army outnumbered the Israelites.
After Gideon gathered together the warriors of Israel, God said, “You have too many soldiers” (Judges 7:2). And, his massive army was stripped down to 300 soldiers. And when they attacked, they didn’t use swords and spears. Rather, they attacked with clay pots and torches. It doesn’t make sense, does it? Yet, God revealed himself to Gideon and showed him that victory does not come in man’s strength, but in God’s strength.
When facing fear, you can respond one of two ways: you can cope with it or you can overcome it. For most of my life, I just coped with those terrifying thoughts. I numbed the fear with a variety of anesthesia–things like distraction, perfectionism, medication, alcohol, food and work.
Yet, there was a season in my life when God lead me into the midst of my fear. It wasn’t easy. It was very difficult. But, it was healing. God taught me how to overcome fear by trusting in him. Today, fear no longer controls my life. Panic has no place in me anymore. Let me share what happened one night that was a turning point for me in this battle with panic:
It was a Thursday night, three days after a major panic attack. I woke up at 2 in the morning with my heart racing. My body was numb with adrenaline. I was ready to pounce out of bed and cope with the fear as best I knew how. But, I didn’t. I wouldn’t. I started praying, “God, I cannot give into this fear. If I do, then it has won. Therefore, I will not run. I will trust you. I will fear you alone.”
For an hour, my body trembled uncontrollably. Waves of shivers would sweep through my body. Everything in me wanted to run. Everything in me wanted to cope. But, I would not let myself give in to the fear.
Was it terrifying? Yes.
Was it scary? Yes.
Did I feel God’s presence? No.
Was he there? I’m sure of it.
That night was a major victory for me. I believe God allowed me to experience this intense fear to teach me how to rely on him alone. I know now that nothing in this world can give me peace. Only God can. When God revealed himself to Gideon in Judges 6:24, Gideon named the place “Yawheh Shalom” which literally means “I AM Peace”.
I know that God wants you to overcome your fears. I also know that unless you face your fears, you will never overcome them. Let me share a verse of scripture that I’ve held onto during the darkest of nights: “Do not fear anything except the LORD Almighty. He alone is the Holy One. If you fear him, you need fear nothing else” (Isaiah 8:13).
In Christ, you can be victorious!
Prayer: Lord, I have avoided the place of fear for quite some time. Lord, today, I choose to trust you and put all of my hope in you. In that place of fear, you are can make me strong. You can give me the victory I need by trusting in you.
True Life comes from surrender
Reading through the Bible, there appears to be a lot of paradoxes–things like:
- To win, you must surrender.
- To be strong, you must be weak.
- To be first, you must be last.
Doesn’t it seem backwards?
Tell a weightlifter, “Now to be strong, you must be weak.” Or tell a soldier in the military, “If we you want to win this battle, you first have to surrender.” It just doesn’t make sense.
In fact, we are taught from childhood to “be strong”. After all, only the strongest will survive in this world. Weak people will not make it. I remember people telling me, “Russell, you are just stressed. Get over it. Just fight it!”
What are your thoughts regarding this battle against fear? “The only way I can beat this thing is to fight as hard as I can. I can’t give in. I can’t let my guard down. I must fight. No one must know what I am going through. If my mind was just strong enough, I could beat this thing.”
From what I have learned, fighting fear is like blowing on the fire. Naturally, you would think that the fire would go out. But it doesn’t. In fact, by blowing on it, you feed it more oxygen and it burns hotter. It has the opposite effect. The same is true when fighting anxiety and fear. When you resist it and fight it, your body releases more adrenaline causing more fear and more panic. It’s a terrible cycle that usually ends with frayed nerves and trip to the ER.
Let me give you an example: for the next few seconds, as you read this paragraph, I want you to clear your mind. Whatever you do, don’t think about a yellow toothbrush. Think about anything except a yellow toothbrush. No yellow toothbrushes in your mind. Block out those yellow toothbrushes. Don’t think about the shape and length of that toothbrush. Or those white bristles, the curved handle. Don’t think about it. Resist those toothbrush thoughts. Fight them.
Okay, how’d it go? Nothing but yellow toothbrushes, right? Why? Because what I fight and resist becomes the object of my focus. The same is true with panic and fear.
So, how do you break that cycle? I believe the key is relinquishment, learning to give up and surrender–not to the fear, but to God. Remember those words: “to win, you must surrender; to be strong, you must be weak.” It’s true! Not only is it Biblical, it’s what counselors and doctors are now teaching about how to break this panic cycle. Don’t fight it.
I close with this scripture from Matthew 16. This is a verse that I have held onto with dear life when the fear rears its ugly head. Listen carefully to these words of Jesus: “If you try to keep your life for yourself, you will lose it. But if you give up your life for me, you will find true life” (Matthew 16:25).
Prayer: Father, I’m tired of fighting this fear. My mind and my soul are weary and exhausted. Lord, I choose today to rest in you. I choose not to put any more energy into fighting the fear. I will put my energy into seeking you, knowing you, loving you.