Fear According to Mark Twain




Lego Image of Mark Twain
Mark Twain House

Courage is the resistance of fear, mastery of fear,

not the absence of fear.

~ Mark Twain

To be courageous doesn’t mean we aren't afraid. Everyone is fearful. We may look at someone who overcomes fear and think they are some sort of bionic human who is fearless. This isn’t the case at all. Courage is feeling the fear and doing it anyway—then seeing the fear dissolve.

I have experienced this with public speaking.

It is said that speaking in front of others is the #1 fear for people.

Ten or fifteen years ago I would have agreed with that in my life. Whenever I had to as much introduce myself to a group, I would be sick to my stomach, dizzy and visiting the bathroom. But, then something changed.

Through some circumstances, my fear to speak in front of a group is gone for the most part. I still get butterflies. I still feel a little nervous beforehand. But, when I stand up the fear isn’t there and I am able to speak the message I’m there to deliver.

So this quote from Mark Twain has shown true in my life. As someone once said, it is learning to get your butterflies to fly in formation. I like that.

How about you? What do Mark Twain’s words mean to you?

 

Jeanne

 

Day 8 - 31 Day Blog Challenge

The Shadow of Fear

Fear is a natural response to protect us from danger. But when fear becomes our dwelling place, it becomes unnatural. The mind is the battleground of our fear, creating the shadows of an unseen enemy. These invisible enemies are elusive to others; family and friends have no idea of the hold fear has over us. The mind is a powerful darkroom for fear’s creations.

 It is said that, Fear is the darkroom where negatives are developed. The darkroom manufactures shadowed beings that seep into our mind and loom over our future. Fear is a plague that can settle over us, bleeding its poisonous thoughts in hopes they will settle and stain.

When we are fearful we find it hard to be positive. Fear breeds negativity. Negativity breeds pessimism. And, fear drowns out hope. What’s needed is a light to shine in the recesses of our mind to shoo out the cobwebs and the images that threaten us.

Never fear shadows. They simply mean there’s a light shining somewhere nearby.   ~ Ruth E. Renkel

 

This is putting a positive spin on a fearful situation. There is truth in it; with God there is always a light in the darkness. It means looking for the silver lining in the cloud or a rainbow in the storm. If we can look for glimmers of God in the midst of our fears, we will be trained to see His hand at work around us and be set free.

I have struggled with fears for as long as I can remember. The unnatural fears began to take over when my children were small and my husband, John frequently traveled away from home. With three children under the age of two, nighttime was the worst.

 Sleep wouldn’t come because I was too overcome with ‘what-ifs’—What if there was a fire? What if someone broke into the house? I was paralyzed in my thinking of what I would do. How would I get all three kids out of the house safely? Where could we hide from an intruder?

Somehow in the midst of my darkroom, the light of God’s voice broke through to the depth of my spirit. It wasn’t an audible voice, yet it was a strong impression in my heart—I heard, ‘Who is your protector, John or Me?’

That glimmer of light in my darkness was the turning point. I know that God saw me and understood my fear. I knew He was with me and would watch over us while John was away. Scripture tells me that Perfect Love casts out fear. His love.  It didn’t happen overnight, but it did happen—I was able to sleep, trusting in His protection. He gave me the peace of His Presence and I encountered another facet of my great God.

So, when fear overwhelms you and you find yourself in the darkroom what do you do?  He promises to bring light to all our dark places. I would love to hear how His light has dispelled your fear.

 

Jeanne

 

Scripture tells us not to be afraid 366 times--one for every day.  I think God knew we needed to hear that message. I certainly do.

 

 

* Day #3 of the 31-Day Blog Challenge

 

Trusting the Pilot

Air travel is as old as the Wright Brothers, yet even after decades of discovery people are still fearful of flying. Biplanes are a novel form of flight that dates back to an early time period. The Red Baron flew a spiffy red version during WW1. Compared to the armored jets we are used to they don’t appear to be the safest with their fluid dual wingspan and wire suspensions. They are something we are more likely to see in a museum than in the sky.

 

Well, I got to see one up close. Actually, my husband, John and I flew in a WACO biplane just recently. Our pilot, Phil, of Lakes Biplane, http://www.lakesbiplane.com/ guided us around like a proud Papa, showing off his first-born. After a pre-flight safety check, He settled us into the double cockpit in front. Safety harnesses and headsets in place, we got ready for take-off. Phil climbed into the rear cockpit and we tested our headsets. He planned to do some fancy moves and wanted to check in with us to see how we (mostly me) handled them.  

As we taxied to the short runway, Phil told us he can’t see what’s in front of him at all when he’s taking off, landing or flying. This is not something a passenger wants to hear. Actually, biplanes are famous for blind spots. Yet, in listening to Phil describe his love of the biplane’s simpler form of flying, I wasn’t afraid. 

I can’t explain it, but I trusted our pilot. 

Phil’s knowledge and experience got us into the air and we enjoyed the most amazing scenery over the lakes region of New Hampshire. I don’t know all the technical terms of how all of it works, but experiencing a wingover maneuver was pretty spectacular. That’s when the plane goes into a turn and then lingers in mid-air, looking like it’s standing on its wing. This showy display actually enables the plane to change its direction without losing much altitude and speed. Phil told me to keep my eyes on the horizon to guard against dizziness—it worked. The incredible thing: I, Miss-Fearful-of-lots-of-things wasn’t afraid. I trusted the pilot’s ability to bring the biplane level again.

 

Phil's photo from the cockpit while doing a wingover

 

 It’s not unlike my trust in God to navigate me through life’s wingovers. When circumstances cause me to tip over and suspend in midair not knowing which way is up, God’s full knowledge and experience is trustworthy. I know He will navigate me through the tight turns and blind spots. The ride may be bumpy at times, but He has everything under control.

 

Phil and his baby

In order take on any adventure you need to step out of your comfort zone; I think hanging midair in a biplane fits that description. If you get a chance, fly low in one of these beautiful machines. Phil is ready to be your pilot over the scenic Laconia, NH area. Thanks, Phil for an awesome flight!

 

And, I hope you know God is the best Pilot ever when it comes to navigating life. Hand Him the controls and get ready for His amazing adventure! 

Trusting the Pilot,

 

Jeanne

Fear: The Battle of the Mind

I’m just a big chicken! 

What am I afraid of? ….depends on the day.

Once fear takes hold, it free falls and mingles with every thought…every word…every situation.

I have discovered fear is a battle of the mind.

Most of my fears never come to pass. But, I build them up in my mind and they become an ogre hiding under the bed.

I do mental gymnastics to avoid anything that conjures up my fear’s reality. I avoid situations. Build walls around me. Make excuses. I pretend. Bring along a friend. I spiritualize.

I do whatever it takes to keep fear hidden.

Even stop living.

Fear is always bigger when we don't face it. Not talking about it causes the fear to grow in size, sprout claws and sharp fangs, enlarging its power over us.

 

Fear holds us captive with invisible chains that encircle and squeeze so our life is crippled. We cannot embrace or enjoy life when fear has tightened its grip.

It is only through the power of Jesus Christ that the chains are loosed.

Remembering that Perfect Love—God—casts out fear, will help us to know who is on our side. He is the one that fights the battle for us. The darkness of fear is exposed in His Light as the Truth sets us free from the powers that hold us captive.

I am not an expert on the subject of fear. I only know I have grappled with it for years. Sometimes it was winning. And others I gained glimpses into what was really going on to understand my reaction.

I do know I have wanted to understand more of what “perfect love casting out fear” means in my everyday life—to my fears—to my battles. Someone once said that fear is the absence of God. Something to think about.

God IS Love. So, He is the One who chases away fear. He is already victorious through the battle on the cross. His presence brings peace, because His name is Peace.

So, if I am fearful, I know I need more of Him. Lloyd John Oglivie says,

“We can’t evict fear on our own. Only Christ can do that. The secret is to focus on Him and not on our fears.”  

~ Facing the Future Without Fear (pg 47)

When we see God as Mighty, All powerful, Able…His power overrules our fear. And, the way we discover who God is, is to delve into His word and see how He met the needs of those who faced fears. He will meet us there and show us more about Himself.

Is fear reigning in your life? Do you need more of Him?

I would love to hear how He is delivering you,

 

Jeanne

 

* Lloyd John Oglivie's book is out of print but can be found on Amazon.com

 

 

Half-Empty or Half-Full

Is the glass half-empty or half-full? So much depends on our point of view. I have always been a half-full sort of person until a few years ago. A number of things contributed—most I can’t even remember anymore. All I can say is that sometimes life takes over and things can start to look grim; between  struggles with relationships, events, unexpected news—my stuff—other’s stuff—it doesn’t take long for half-empty to take over.  

This was true for the twelve spies who were sent to scope out the land that was promised to them by God. Moses sent one man from each of the twelve tribes of Israel with instructions to find out all they could about the place they would soon be entering. Moses instructed them to, “See what the land is like and whether the people who live there are strong or weak, few or many. What kind of land do they live in? Is it good or bad?…How is the soil? Is it fertile or poor? Are there trees…?” And, so the twelve men set out to spy the land and bring back a report. 

Upon their return, the men said, “We went into the land…and it does flow with milk and honey…but the people who live there are powerful, and the cities are fortified and very large. We even saw descendants of Anak there.” 

Caleb said, “We should go up and take possession of the land, for we certainly can do it.” But, the men who had gone with him said, “We can’t attack those people; they are stronger than we are.” And they spread a bad report about the land inciting fear in the people. 

Caleb and Joshua saw half-full. The rest of the spies and the fearful people in Israel saw half-empty. Caleb and Joshua trusted when God said, “Send some men to explore the land of Canaan, which I am giving to the Israelites.” It was already promised. 

There are so many things I can apply from this story. The biggest one for me is not to allow fear to keep me from entering the place where God is leading. He prepares the way and gives me the faith to overcome my fearful thoughts of half-empty glasses. Despite what the land looks like, or how big the obstacles appear, He will be the one to bring me there. 

I can apply this to my writing, speaking, new ministry, changes in my circumstances, moving to a new place, or an unknown future. Because of my tendency toward fear, I know I need to assimilate this on a daily basis because fear cannot coincide with faith.  

How about you? What have you spied out lately and how does it affect your response to God’s direction?

 

Jeanne

 

 

Read more about the adventure of the twelve spies in Numbers 13 & 14

Quotations above taken from the NIV

Me, Adventuresome? NOT!

Roger's Rock Face, Lake George, NY - We climbed the back side of this place

As much as I’d like to say I am adventuresome, there are a couple of examples that speak to the contrary:

I am learning Windows 7 with my new laptop and I am lost—so I am going through the tutorial videos to learn my way around. I like to do things correctly; that is to say I am not one to experiment with lots of different ways of doing things. Show me how to do it right then I can adapt it to my living-style. I can be adventurous within boundaries—safe places where I can be free to roam.

The other example that shows others just how timid I am, happened while on vacation in New York with my family. Our first day we decided to climb Roger’s Rock; we packed water and snacks, put on our hiking shoes and drove to the trail head. I recall someone mentioning something about a little hand over feet climbing as we went through the entrance gate of Roger’s Rock State Park…I wasn’t thinking anything of it at the time but decided since, that I need to update their site brochure to reflect the truth—this trail was not only poorly marked, it was dangerous!!

About 9/10ths of the way, straight up over rocks and crags, dodging loose rocks and hunting for safe footing, I became acutely aware that I would not be able to get back down. My thoughts then rambled to wondering if they had ever had to send in helicopter rescue for people like me that decided, “that’s it; I’m done.” And, then I proceeded to have a meltdown, complete with tears and panic-attack-like-shaking from within.

So, in front of my hike-a-mountain-a-day husband, and my three grown children—I became the child. The decision was made for me, that I would stay behind with my two daughters, standing on a 4x4 piece of level ground where I sat on a rock and hung onto a sapling for dear life. My husband and son continued to the top. All the while I just kept thinking, I have to go back down sometime--I don’t know if I can do it!

After what seemed like an hour, the guys were back and we began our descent, one steep step at a time. Every muscle screamed because of being scared out of my wits as rocks tumbled around us. It was then I decided that I am not very adventurous at all. Give me a nice stroll, a gentle climb, even a heart thumping hike, but I would forever avoid anything in the “challenging” category. I made it down safely with the help of my family and my God who protects me…but I was finished for the week. I’d had enough hiking and decided that sitting on the patio overlooking the water was just the adventure I was looking for.

The smile is because I am near the bottom!

So, as you can imagine, it takes a lot of coaxing to step out of my comfort zone. I can relate to the fear I see in the lives of those who God coaxed to serve Him. Abraham leaving his home to travel to an unknown place; Moses having to return to Pharoah and the land he’d fled from; Esther needing to approach the king; Joseph being sold into slavery by his brothers and finding God’s purpose for him there…I am a wimp when it comes to climbing mountains by faith, but I know that if I am called, He will lead me step-by-step to His purpose for me, because He says, “Fear not, for I am with you” every step of the way.

“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble or be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

The Art of Letting Go

Welcome to my whirlwind--life has been a little nutty the last several weeks. We made it though  Hurricane Irene. I am getting on top of all my editing needed for the print deadline for THE OLIVE PRESS. My house still looks a bit like a battle zone because I haven't gotten caught up from all of the delays...so I have decided that my writer-brain is fighting with my editor-brain; so that means digging into my archive of articles to post here for sanity sake. Still a lesson I am learning...

The Art of Letting Go

Whereas some take art or dance lessons, I have needed repeated lessons in letting go. Letting go of what, you ask? Everything. Kids, details, worries, the future, the past, you name it and I need to relinquish it! Unlike art and dance lessons, these lessons are not such fun! Just when I think I am getting pretty good at it, another test comes along to prove that I need the Lord’s help just one more time. His lesson for me at this moment in life is letting go of my teenage children into his care.

It would be nice to receive a guide with your infant saying, At Age 2, Let Go Here, and At Age 7, Let Go There. You know, The Easy Guide to Letting Go Plan, or 12 Steps to Letting Go. But, I have come to realize there is not easy way to grasp this lesson. It is something that God teaches each of us one step at a time. One thing I have learned is this is a life long lesson.

Why do we try to hold on? What are we afraid of? It took me awhile to address these questions. The answers aren’t simple and they vary from person to person. For me, I think I hold on because it feels safer, like I have more control on outcomes. It is neatly wrapped in a ‘protecting my loved ones’ wrapper, but it is deeper than that. I think it stems from my fear of the unknown. What if I can’t handle what is ahead? What if I face a situation I am unfamiliar with?

What can we learn from scripture about surrendering our control?

* In Philippians 2:5-11, it says that Jesus relinquished his position and power to become a man in order for God’s purpose of redemption to be fulfilled.

* Abraham had to let go of his son Isaac and the promise when God asked him to sacrifice Isaac on the mountain. (Genesis 22:1-18)

* Joseph needed to relinquish the feelings toward his brothers and trust God to use him in spite of all that happened against him. (Genesis 37, 39-45, and 50:17-21)

In each of these examples, surrender brought victory and a clearer understanding of who God is, and his ability to do what he says. We see his power at work in and around us and we will see his faithfulness as he accomplishes far more than we could ever imagine.

So, how can we let go of the things that burden us? Letting go means I am not in charge. I admit that is a tough one. I want to be in charge and my flesh often screams for control. But, God wants to be Lord of my life so that His Spirit flourishes in me. As we talk to Him about what we are facing, a trusting relationship begins to grow. We bring everything of concern to him and look for his perspective. We can ask for his guidance as to what our response should be. The more we trust him for the everyday things we face, the easier it will be to leave things in his care.

We need to know that God has plans for our future and our welfare (Jeremiah 29:11-13). When we recognize that he has our good in mind, we can trust him for what is ahead. He uses every circumstance to reveal himself to us and grow our faith. Surrendering control may seem like jumping off a cliff into the unknown. It is allowing God to catch us in his net of trust, knowing He will not fail us. With that step of faith, he will reveal his power in us and through us to handle whatever comes our way.

May you find His net beneath you,

Jeanne

Enter the Gate

I peer through a secret-garden gate—grasping the wrought iron, my hand tentatively on the latch; do I dare enter?


Fear usually keeps me just peeking through gates. I am not normally a risk taker—I like to play it safe. Yet, I would like to take a step into the unknown. I have begun to overcome a lot of my fearful tendencies—I guess that’s what happens when you reach 50+. I am ready to take some risks and find that God is faithful to provide what is needed on the other side. I’ve discovered a gate can either be what keeps me out or ushers me in, depending on my point of view—an opportunity or a barrier.

Suddenly, I hear a voice.

"Come. Step through. Do not be afraid. I promise to go with you."

But, what if..?

Butterflies fill in my innermost places. But, what if..?

Yet, the voice continues...

Inviting

Wooing

Should I enter?

I strain to listen for clues. What if..?

My heart longs for what lies beyond. But, what if..?

My pulse quickens, catching the beat of Him who calls.

My hand quivers and reaches again for the latch. What if..?

Then, my ears tune in to the One voice and all else fades as I step through the gate.

Jesus calls Himself the door, the gate to the sheepfold. We enter into the Father’s presence through Him. Jesus is either a barrier or an opportunity—depending on your point of view. What lies beyond the gate is abundant life—details unknown but He promises to be with us. Adventure awaits you as you answer the One who calls. He bids you to step through the gate to find all that you long for—

Whether you are stepping through the gate in response to your invitation to salvation through Christ, or taking a next step of faith in obedience, He is there.

Will you enter?

"Do not be afraid....only believe." Mark 5:36

Being afraid is probably the biggest obstacle for me when it comes to believing. I think the enemy loves it when I "what if" everything to death. The what-ifs act like bungey cords around my heart...no way am I going to let go of all the possible pitfalls.

As I read the passage in Mark 5, Jesus is on His way to the home of a synogogue offical named Jairus. Jairus has pleaded with Jesus to heal his daughter who is sick at home. While traveling, the crowd following Jesus gets thicker and they begin to press in on Him and the disciples. Jesus notices that power has been released, and finds that a woman who has been bleeding for twelve years was healed simply by touching the hem of his garment.

I can imagine the crowd being amazed at this unfolding before their eyes. The woman, outcast because of her uncleaness has been not only healed of her issue of blood, but restored to her community as well when Jesus proclaimed her healed.

Jairus was witnessing all of this when a member of his household interupts with news that it is too late; his daughter has died so there is no need for Jesus to concern Himself anymore.

Enter what-if pitfalls for Jairus....
Whatever faith he possessed evaporated when he heard the news that his daughter was dead. Yet, Jesus says:

"DO NOT BE AFRAID ANY LONGER, ONLY BELIEVE." (Mark 5:36)  * The word here means, keep on believing.

This story encourages me that it is never too late for God. I shouldn't get discouraged or lose heart. God is able to heal Jairus's daughter whether he arrives late or not. It also shows me that I can't allow fear to get in the way of believing. Often circumstances can begin to overwhelm belief, but this passage shows me that I need to keep my God in focus--because nothing is impossible with Him (I learned this from the Angel's visit to Mary).

So, I commit to believe and not be fearful about:

1. Medical issues, medications, decisions, next steps
2. My sister's need of full time work, financial needs, housing needs, decisions
3. Taking on writing a Bible study
4. A friend's needs
5. How to use my writing and speaking this year
6. My children's spiritual walk
7. My extended family's HUGE needs

I could continue on....

Are you fearful about things? How can you believe past your fears?

Only believe,

Jeanne

Are You Afraid of the Dark?

I love the simplicity of a single candle in my windows; it reminds me of the Light who came to illuminate a dark world. Before Jesus was born, the voice of God had been silent for over 400 years. Not a prophet spoke. Silence reigned over the earth. Until it was time.

Suddenly angels appeared to Zachariah and then Mary. And Joseph heard in a dream that what Mary said was true. Those who waited for the Promised Messiah had hints of His coming. It was no longer silent and the events began to unfold to those who would believe.

Mary's encounter with the angel filled her with questions yet her final word to him was...”Behold, the servant of the Lord; be it done according to your word.”

Her questions didn't evaporate but His peace descended as she pondered his words,

God is with you;

Do not be afraid;

Nothing will be impossible with God.

As she grappled with the unknown, she journeyed to visit her cousin, Elizabeth. She needed some fresh perspective. She needed some space from the terrifying glares of the village families who didn't understand the truth and only saw a young girl pregnant out of wedlock, an offense punishable by stoning.

Elizabeth and Mary share the amazing events that had befallen both of them. They saw the hand of God accomplish the impossible—in one who was a virgin and in another who was past her child bearing age. Two miracles connected by the power and majesty of God. Two events that would forever change the world.

Mary must have been afraid. Afraid of the consequences. Afraid of what would come about. Afraid of what others would think. Afraid of what Joseph would say. Yet, she says to the angel, “I am God's servant, may it be as you have said.”

She believed God. She trusted Him. Still, it must have taken a lot to surrender herself to His purpose.

Is your world dark right now? What are you afraid of? What unknowns are you facing?

Just like the words of the angel to Mary, God is telling us not to be afraid. He will provide what we need when the time comes. He is asking us to believe and trust Him.

To a young girl who faces chemo treatments, He is saying, Do not be afraid.

To a young man with tumors throughout his body, Do not be afraid.

To a woman overwhelmed by her husband's betrayal, Do not be afraid.

To one with a heavy heart, Do not be afraid.

He is with you through whatever trouble you're facing. He will care for your needs and show you what to do each step of the journey. Trust Him. And, believe. Elizabeth's words to her cousin, Mary in Luke 1:45 are for us too.... “Blessed is she who believed that there would be a fulfillment of what had been spoken to her by the Lord.”

Believing brings about change, in our hearts and in the world as God's power is released to accomplish His purposes in and through us. Power to make a kingdom difference for eternity. So, whatever you face today, don't be afraid. The Lord is with you. 

He is Emmanuel,

Jeanne

My Spin on Philippians 4:6-9

Telling someone not to be anxious is like asking them not to breathe. It is certainly true of me. Worry just seems to be the natural response to anything I fear or lack knowledge about. 

You might as well give me the middle name, Fear, because it's been such a big part of my life since I can remember.

I was a little girl who was afraid of Santa Claus, floral arrangements, cemeteries and music. It took me forty years to figure out the roots of those fears. Not that it took away my fear of things, but I began to understand how intrinsic fears are to humanity. It's no wonder then, that the words 'fear not' appear 365 times in Scripture. 

One for every day of the year.

So passages like this one in Philippians begin to be life-verses for people like me. The words and truths roll around in my mind so much that I begin to paraphrase them by heart. My spin on these verses in Philippians goes something like this:

I won't worry and fret about things; instead, I'll talk to God about them - a lot.

Every time I start to worry again, instead of letting it get to me, I'll bring it to God because He is the one who takes care of everything I need. He knows what the trouble is and He knows how to fix it.

When I start to worry, I'll think about all the amazing things he has done for me in the past—I know there are plenty of them. It will help to focus on the ways He has answered prayer and come through for me before. That's why the Bible tells about setting up memorial stones; they are markers to help me remember everything that He has done in my life.

When I find myself getting overwhelmed by all the darkness and worries, I think about the things that are true; the good and pure things; the silver lining things; the things I have praised Him for, and I'm thankful for them.

Because I know deep down that He will take care of this stuff - Because He has come through for me in the past. When I do these things, I have God's peace even when it is hard for others to understand especially with everything going on around me. Because whatever is going on, He promises to be with me. And if He is with me, I will not be afraid.

What are you afraid of? What do you worry about?

He says, "Fear not. I am with you. I am your peace. I will accomplish everything that concerns you" (Psalm 57:2, Psalm 138:8)

Fear is the opposite of faith so my prayer is that I can grow stronger in my faith and my trust in Him so that my fear will become less.

Praying for you too,

Jeanne

Hurdling Over Anxiety

Can I trust that God only wants what is best for me? If something bad happens, can I see beyond the circumstances to focus on the good? Do trials make me a stronger person? Is my character more important to God than my comfort? There are so many questions. Good questions.

I thought I had done a good job of settling this fear/anxiety debate a number of years ago. My husband, John used to travel quite a bit and I was home alone with three toddlers. My fear had risen to new heights as I lay awake every night planning escape routes in case of fire or a break-in. As soon as darkness fell, the doors got locked and I didn't venture outside till the next day. Till the Lord whispered deep within, “Who is your protector, Me or John?” Profound!! It started me thinking so I delved into the Word to see what God says about fear and His protection. Soon I was sleeping at night again.

The funny thing about God's lessons is that as soon as we learn it, He stretches us further. I began to enjoy being home during the trips my husband made. Easy dinners. Time to myself in the evening after the kids settled into bed. Then, boom—the traveling stopped. I guess I passed.

The thing is, there is always a new hurdle of anxiety to scale. And, our gracious God is a patient teacher. The funny thing about being anxious is that most often we never experience what we are afraid of. It is such a joy robber and a time waster.

What circumstances are you anxious about? How are they robbing you of living to the fullest?

I look forward to hearing from you,

Jeanne

Restoring Beauty - After The Locusts Eat

When I was a teen, I got an old chest of drawers from a family member who passed away. The oak dresser had brass handles, small drawers and a cubbie door above and full size drawers below. It was in dire need of some T.L.C., airing out and a new finish. So, I set to work, sanding and brushing on coats of finish until it didn't look half bad. I really enjoyed bringing it back to life and found satisfaction in restoring its beauty.

To restore means to bring to its original state or intent. To relate this to spiritual terms, when we come to Christ, He restores us to our relationship to the Father, one of fellowship and community, just as it was in the Garden of Eden. Scripture says we were made in God's image; Adam and Eve had fellowship with God in the garden. But, sin broke that connection.

The good news is He promises to restore what the locust has eaten (Joel 2:25). I can't imagine what it looks like after a swarm of locusts blows through; pretty bleak. Yet, I know there are many with stories of how God restored and redeemed what they thought was lost. God restores our relationship in Christ and then begins our life-long restoration process to become more like Him.

My locusts have been fear and discouragement. They ate away at everything, it was really hard to have hope. I have been living with the effects of locusts for the past few years—so many changes, the death of dreams, and discouragement with a capital 'D'. I struggled with the restoration process because it hurt. My natural tendency was to escape, to do anything to cut it short. But in the end I see how it was necessary in order to bring forth beauty and His intent. God is faithful. I feel the anchor of hope held fast and I am starting to dream again.

My old dresser couldn't be restored without first stripping away the old finish. The same holds true in my life. God is in the business of restoring lives. He specializes in broken people, marriages, families, health, loss of hope and so much more. Yet, our restoration always begins with Himself.

What are your locusts? Has God begun to restore what has been stripped away?
Discover what Scripture says about pruning—how are these topics related in your life?

May He bring forth beauty in you,

Jeanne