It’s morning. The sun is shining, the world awaits and the possibilities are endless.
I wake up with a stomach knot of anxiety. A nagging dread that eats at me to start the day.
I have a hard time identifying just what it is, but then I realize I’m gripped with fear.
And in the next heartbeat I realize I want to be fearless.
Where did this come from? How did I get to be so afraid?
What am I really worried about?
I try to hang on to so much –
My kids.
My home.
My job.
My future.
I’m not enjoying these things because I’m afraid of all the loose ends and what’s coming down the pike and what if I mess it up and what if someday I get sick and what if after what if…….
Fearful.
And I want to be fearless.
But how do I get there?
I already know the answer. I can hear God calling me to give it all over to Him, but I’m not so sure I want to.
Giving it all to God will mean a shift of control. It will mean I need to take my hands off and put it all in His hands. I find this difficult to do, even though intellectually I know that the life I think I have control over is actually out of my control. It’s all just an illusion – because in reality, when problems come, I can help but I can’t always fix. I can listen but I can’t always solve. I can patch but I can’t always mend.
Only God can.
I am fearful, but I long to be fearless.
I need to put it in His hands. All of it. My anxiety, my dread, my concerns, my what-if’s.
So with tears and a prayer, I ask Him to take it. All. Every part. I choose to trust. I choose to let go.
And with a heart-touch as gentle as the morning dew, He draws it all off of my shoulders and onto His.
Ah. Fearless.
How glad I am to have chosen His hands instead of mine.
By Beth Coulton, Chocolate for the Heart
ABOUT BETH COULTON
Beth Coulton is a wife, mom, sister, writer and photographer who loves Jesus, laughter and chocolate. Beth blogs about all that and more at Chocolate for the...
{ 29 comments… read them below or add one }
I really enjoyed this post. I keep a tight grasp on those things I love — family, friends, house, job out of fear of the what if’s too. I want to learn to let go and let God. I want to be fearless!
Barbie- I know the feeling! Give it over to God- He will indeed see that you get there!
Amen. There are many mornings I wake up with a sense of dread I don’t understand. Fearless is the goal. Thanks for such a true and challenging post! He holds it all any so why don’t I stop stressing and let Him handle it. :)
Right! He does, doesn’t He? Oh, why do we think we can change our outcomes! Better to rest in Him. I’m still learning that!
Great post, Beth! I believe most of us need this reminder often, not only to let go of the fear but to let God take control of every part of our life! Something not easily done if you are a strong-willed, “self-sufficient” woman or man. As the apostle Paul counseled Timothy, “For God has not given us a spirit of fearfulness, but one of power, love, and sound judgment” (2 Timothy 1:7). That is power, love, and sound judgment in and through Jesus Christ!
Thanks, Julie! You ae so right- it’s not easily done but always worth the doing!
Beth super post! We must remember the truth of Jeremiah 29:11 “for I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, Plans to prosper you and not to harm you, to give you a hope and a future”.
I, too, go to bed and wake up with fear of the future and change. One thing I have learned is to turn it ALL over to GOD and let Him handle it. If we as women would just do that life would be so much easier!
Love that Scripture Beth…thanks. Yes, I wonder if men go to bed and wake up with the fears that we do as women? Somehow I don’t think so but I’m not too sure about that one!
Oh, beautiful. Thank you!
Thanks for your kind words, Kate!
Thank you so much Beth. I needed to hear this today. When I clicked on the link from In Courage, it didn’t work and said the page was broke (FYI). However, I did a search for your website and found it that way.
I am adjusting to a lot lately with an empty nest and my kids having their own lives away from ours. Our son has been involved with drugs and faces possible prison. My husband and I have also worked full time for the last 28 years. I was laid off 5 months ago and my husband had major surgery 3 days after I was laid off. He has been off work for 5 months also. So, it feels like I have lost my kids, almost lost our home but still here, lost both our jobs, and our future ???………all within this year. Yet, I know the Lord is faithful and He is taking care of us. Everyday, I must surrender our lives in to His hands……..and I am slowly learning to be fearless (trying)……..day by day and moment by moment.
Susan – so glad you found me! I believe the links are working now, and thank you for your tenaciousness with that!
I hear you completely on the empty nest. If you read just a few of my recent posts on my blog, you’ll see this is a recurring theme for me, and a season of life that I struggle with greatly. I am so sorry to hear of your trial with your son – we had a loved one in crisis this past year as well so I can relate to the heartache and concern and constant worry….. And then to have had your jobs cease to exist…that is indeed a lot to bear. But you have the proper perspective! You capture it well in your last statement of how to get through these days- “Everyday surrendering it to Him, day by day and moment by moment.” You are a wise woman to approach it that way! Keep watching and waiting to see how God is going to work it out. Praying for you.
Susan – so glad you found me! I believe the links are working now, and thank you for your tenaciousness with that!
I hear you completely on the empty nest. If you read just a few of my recent posts on my blog, you’ll see this is a recurring theme for me, and a season of life that I struggle with greatly. I am so sorry to hear of your trial with your son – we had a loved one in crisis this past year as well so I can relate to the heartache and concern and constant worry….. And then to have had your jobs cease to exist…that is indeed a lot to bear. But you have the proper perspective! You capture it well in your last statement of how to get through these days- “Everyday surrendering it to Him, day by day and moment by moment.” You are a wise woman to approach it that way! Keep watching and waiting to see how God is going to work it out. Praying for you.
Beth – So glad that you submitted a guest post. This blessed my heart. I too can grip so tight to fears … random fears and fears that have been present for my lifetime. Your words have provided extra encouragement.
Thank you Angela – I’m honored that God used me in this way in your life. Blessings to you as you journey with Him!
Oh how I know that push/pull…the longing and the lacking. He’s so good to meet us there in our raw honesty, isn’t He?!
The transparency of your heart brings Him honor, Beth. Rich blessings in your surrender…
Thank you Amy! I appreciate your kind words. Blessings to you, too!
This post comes at the perfect time for things I am going through in my life currently. I am actually in the process of writing a blog post about it but it is not quite finished. Choosing to let go of control and our fears can be one of the hardest things (at least for me) yet also one of the more freeing things when we actually DO it. Jesus is just waiting for us to let go so He can take the reigns. And why would we want anyone but Him directing our path? Thanks for these words this morning!
Brittnie- you are so welcome! I’d love to read your blog post when it’s up and running. I’ll check your site for it to appear! I love your sentence that says, “And why would we want anyone but Him directing our path?” It’s really so simple, isn’t it? But we struggle…..
God bless!
I was wondering if I could use this story for one of our Newsletters at our MOPS meeting?
Kim- yes, that would be terrific! I would just appreciate it if you would list me as the author and if you could, include my blog address which is http://www.authordream.blogspot.com
Thanks a million!
No Problem! Thank you
Love this post….Giving it all to God will mean a shift of control…this part is so well put….shift of control….hardest thing to do for it somehow feels “safe” if I am in control.
Of course it’s a false safety I feel and surely one of the biggest lie the enemy tells me. Thanks for the reminder of where safety lies, in His control not mine.
Betty – thanks for your thoughtful words. It’s a common theme I’m finding- we think we are in control until something veers off the path..and we realize we never were in control at all.
God bless you as you continue to shift the control to Him!
I just found this post and you have just written my life story! I long to be fearless also. It may take me a long long time to get there but I will get there! I’m a long way down that road already and I am constantly giving it to God and trying to take it back over and over again. I am so thankful he gives us ‘do-overs!’ because I certainly need them in this arena!
Lisa- so glad you found it! Thanks for your comment. It is indeed a long-but-worth-it road. And it’s not easily traveled, but as long as we keep heading the right direction….He’ll take us all the way! Blessings to you in your walk with Him.
I’ve been traveling down this “long-but-worth-it road” for awhile. I just wish I didn’t trip and skin my knees so much, or fall flat on my face sometimes. It’s good to hear your encouraging words. Thank you!
Rebecca- you are so welcome! Be encouraged. Becoming fearless is a marathon, not a sprint. Keep traveling!
I am so, so tired of trying to overcome fear and learn to Trust God more. It’s nice to know others are struggling too.