He’s Never Failed – He Won’t Start Now

Fear.

It’s something we all deal with. In some way, shape, or form, we all are – or have been – afraid, in one or more ways, to greater or lesser degree. It comes as mild as nervousness, as extreme as sheer terror, or anywhere in between. It can be about anything and everything. And no one is immune.

The thing is… We don’t have to be afraid.

As a Christian, I know the solution to fear. The antidote, if you will. And that is God. For God is love, and there is no fear in love (1 John 4:18). When we truly put our trust in Him, truly love Him and let Him love us, our fears melt away, replaced with confidence in our Lord and a strength that can come only from Him. I have experienced this many times, and it is absolutely amazing.

Yet we forget. I forget. No matter how many times God proves to me that I don’t have to be afraid, I, as an imperfect human, will continue to let fear creep in. Sometimes I don’t realize it’s fear at first, for fear is at the root of many other emotions. Lately it’s been showing up on the milder end of the fear scale, manifesting as sometimes feeling nervous or overwhelmed at the prospect of giving birth and adding another member to our family, with all that entails. When I’m not in super excited mode, many questions and worries can start to whirl through my head.

But God is faithful, and He always reminds me to look to Him, to trust in Him. Today He used the song “Oceans,” by Hillsong United, to grab my attention as we sang it in church. The song has always been one I’ve liked, but there’s one line in particular that goes straight to my heart as the singer addresses God:

“Where feet may fail and fear surrounds me

You’ve never failed and You won’t start now.”

Yes. Yes, Lord. Thank You for reminding me. You are trustworthy. In all my life, in all my past trials and fears, You have NEVER failed me. And this time will be no different. Nor will any other time in the future. I don’t need to be afraid. I will look to You, and You will fill me with peace and love and whatever else I need to live well and to honour You. I pray that all those reading this will do the same. ❤

 

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Thanksgiving Every Day

Somehow the other day Jared and I got talking about Thanksgiving. I think I’d mentioned that some relatives would be coming to visit around Thanksgiving, and he asked me what Thanksgiving was. I was about to tell him it was a day that we are thankful to God for what He has given us, but then I thought, “Aren’t we supposed to do that EVERY day?” So instead, I told Jared it was a day we spend time with family and friends are ESPECIALLY thankful for what God has given us. Because really – it should be an every day thing!

Thankfulness has been on my heart a lot lately. For most of my life, I’ve always been a very optimistic person, always able to see the bright side of a situation and spread joy to those around me. However, for the past few months, what with being pregnant and all that comes with that, going through a lot of change and uncertainty in terms of our renovations and housing situation, and recently just this crazy HEAT, sometimes I find myself with a more pessimistic, or even just… complaining… attitude than I’m used to encountering in myself. And I don’t like it! It’s not enjoyable, and it’s just not ‘me.’ But what is the ‘cure’ that I have found works every time? Thankfulness.

Being thankful is not about focusing on the good things and ignoring the bad. Rather, when we remind ourselves of the things we have to be truly thankful for, it helps us bear the more difficult realities we may be facing. Because we do all have something to be thankful for, and usually more than we realize. I often find that when I start thanking God for a few things, sometimes having to force myself into a mindset of gratitude, I become able to think of more and more to be thankful for. And, inevitably, my heart is directed to the Giver of all good things. As I fix my eyes on Him and the many good things in my life, the hard things don’t seem as bad. I come away with renewed joy and peace in my heart, and a surety that I can get through whatever challenge may be before me.

So if you want to have more peace in your life, I suggest starting with, as the saying goes, an ongoing ‘attitude of gratitude.’ It may be difficult, but search your heart – if you are sincere about discovering something to be thankful for, you will find it. Sometimes it’s big things, and sometimes it’s the little things. But they are always there. And God is always good. So let’s have Thanksgiving every day.