But the Lord is faithful; He will strengthen and guard you from the evil one.  2 Thessalonians 3:3 HCSB

Even when I go through the darkest valley, I fear no danger for you are with me; Your rod and your staff- they comfort me. Psalm 23:4 HCSB

Has your fear ever gotten stronger than your reasoning? Have the what-ifs ever creeped in and stolen your peace and your joy? Have you ever laid awake worrying about something that may or may not happen? Now this describes me as a baby Christian, you see I thought I had outgrown all that.

Yesterday I went for an MRI, no big deal I get one every couple years. But yesterday, I had a bout of panic when I walked in and looked at the machine. I am claustrophobic and have been for years, but I have always managed to block all this out and get in there and get the job done. But yesterday was different, I had this nervous anxiety and almost cancelled the whole thing. Fortunately, the radiologist was able to calm my fears and I began to pray. With God’s help, I was able to get it done.

Then yesterday evening, more fear. What’s up with this? This is baby Christian stuff. I know better. I have watched God part the Red Sea so that I could walk through on dry ground. I have spent time in the lion’s den and come out unharmed. I have walked through oh so many fires unsinged. So, what’s up with the fear and the panic? I went to bed last night with a migraine. Normally I take my medication, pain goes away, and I have a good restful night. But not last night. I went to bed around 9 and was wide awake at 1am. I was in such a panic that I became nauseated. Now every now and then a migraine leaves me nauseated, but I think my anxiety contributed to the nausea. The devil was having a field day with me.  So, I prayed, took some nausea meds and was able to get some sleep.

As I read my devotional today which came from the book of Daniel, I realized that I had allowed my fear to overcome my reasoning. You see if I use my good sense, then I know that no harm can come of me. I know that God protects me because I have chosen to reside in his shelter (Psalm 91:1). I know that as long as I praise Him and trust in Him, He’s got this.  I know that I have no reason to be afraid or to be discouraged because He goes before me (Deuteronomy 31:6).

What’s so disappointing is that I don’t remember feeling this way in several years. And even then it was very brief. Since that time, I have felt like David standing before Goliath, Daniel in the lion’s den, and good old Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego in the fiery furnace, no worries, God’s got this.

But for some reason, yesterday, the what-ifs began to surround me and I felt fearful and a bit of panic. But when I read about Daniel today, I was convicted, really convicted. I know that my faith has to be greater than my fear. When my faith is not greater than my fear then my fear can overcome my rational thinking. My fear can gain control. When my fear gains control, the devil can step in and really do a number on me.

There is a beautiful young woman that attends our church who regularly says, “Not today, Satan!”. So I will take a page out of her playbook. I will say, “Not today, Satan!” I will not allow my fear to overcome my reasoning. My reasoning tells me that I serve a God who is bigger than any problem I face. I love my God and He loves me and He will not let any harm come to me. He will cover me with his pinions and in His wings, I will find refuge; His faithfulness is a shield and a buckler (Psalm 91:4).

So today, I choose not to cower in fear. I choose not to have a panic attack. Instead, I will warn Satan and any of his minions that if you come against me, you will be sorry. I live under the protection of the Almighty God. Hebrews 11:6 tells me that without faith it is impossible to please God. So today I choose faith over fear. I choose victory over cowering under the covers. I will approach His throne with boldness and find mercy, and grace and be able to ask Him for what I need (Hebrews 4:16). Through faith, I will approach Him with freedom and confidence (Ephesians 3:12).

I have decided to choose fear over faith, because my reasonable, rational thinking knows that the devil can blow a lot of smoke, but He can’t win against my God. I will be reasonable and focus on God and trust Him to take care of everything else (Matthew 6:33). If you are surrounded by a bunch of what-ifs or dealing with fear and panic, then why don’t you join me and do the same?

2 Corinthians 10:4-5 tells us that the weapons of our warfare are not worldly, but are powerful through God for the demolition of strongholds. We demolish arguments. We demolish every high-minded thought that is raised up against the knowledge of God. We can take every thought captive to obey Christ. Christ tells us not to fear. When you feel a bout of fear and panic creeping in, pray, trust in Him, obey Him and take that thought captive. He’s got this!

Have a great day!