The Elimination of Fear in the Disrupted Plans

Fear is a hurdle we must choose to clear every passing hour.

I would love to tell you I have never experienced fear, but that would be an apparent lie. I have experienced fear of the dark, fear of open water, fear of the unknown, fear of failure, fear of judgement . . . The list goes on and on. Especially as of late when I think about my future, I fear my plans are not the plans God has for me. Ouch.

Fear is the enemy creeping in. He wants to separate us from our faith in God through enhanced fear. It is hard for me to admit that I may have slight hesitation to trust in the plans God has for me. If you know me, I am a planner. I am the planner that organizes the beach day so we can beat traffic, get optimal sun exposure, and pack enough snacks. College may have increased my spontaneity but I will always have a piece of planning brain through everything I do. With that said, as someone who wants to know the path before it is taken, it can be hard to surrender my plans over to God, allowing Him to take control of my day. In the end though, I know that it is not my plans that bring joy and growth to the Kingdom of God but the plans of the Lord.

I recently heard in church that:

"Where faith is, fear cannot be; where fear is, faith will flee."

I don't know about you, but I want my faith and relationship with Jesus to lead my life. I don't want to allow fear to take control. When we flee from fear and place our faith in God, there is nothing that we cannot accomplish as He is right there with you, fighting the battle alongside you.

Joshua 10:8 "The Lord said to Joshua, 'Do not be afraid of them, for I have handed them over to you. Not one of them will be able to stand against you.'"

If you have read the end of Deuteronomy through Joshua, you will notice a theme of "do not fear" or "do not be afraid" often told to Joshua from God. I take this as a constant reminder of our dependence on the Lord. God was there for Joshua; He was there to fight battles alongside Him, and most importantly, remind him to maintain his faith in Him and "do not be afraid."

Deuteronomy 31:6 "Be strong and courageous; don't be terrified or afraid of them. For the Lord your God is the one who will go with you; He will not leave you or abandon you."

Joshua 1:9 "Haven't I commanded you: be strong and courageous? Do not be afraid or discouraged for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go."

I will leave you with a verse that keeps finding me these past few days:

Jeremiah 29:11 "'For I know the plans I have for you' - this is the Lord's declaration - 'plans for your well-being, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope.'"

No matter what your plan may be today, it may not be what God has in store for you. It may not go how you planned it and the great thing is that's okay. God knows what He has for you and He will allow you to get there no matter how many times you try to veer off the path.

When we place our trust and hope in the Lord, it becomes easier to accept when our plans don't go how we expected and be excited that this disruption is actually leading us closer to the ultimate plan and path God has in store.

So, next time your plan falls through, try to look at it with joy.

Don't be afraid as God is with you through every step.

Through faith, find joy as God redirects you onto His calling for your life.

As Thomas Rhett said best:

"You can't stop it, just hop on the train and

You never know what's gonna happen

You make your plans and you hear God laughing

Life changes, and I wouldn't change it for the world . . ."

- "Life Changes" - Thomas Rhett