June 16, 2018

“So do not fear, for I am with you;  do not be dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you and help you;  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”   Isaiah 41:10

Gardening is very therapeutic for me.  It’s a time when I can just let my mind wander and talk to God about anything while my hands stay busy digging or pulling weeds.  My husband says I am happiest when there is sunshine on my face and dirt under my fingernails.

Right now the weeds are threatening to overtake the gardens.  My goal is always to yank the weeds out while they are still small but I haven’t been persistent enough lately and they are quite large.  It’s the same with fear in my life right now.  I want to weed it out while it is still small.   Yank it out before it grows big enough to crowd out my joy.

But certain fears want to grow back – seemingly overnight.  I’m constantly grabbing at them and tossing them aside.

When I really grab deep into the soil of my heart and get to the root of my fear, I find that my fear is really that God’s plan for my life might not be what I want.  I’m just being honest here.

What if. . .   What if I can’t get the medical tests that I need.  What if I don’t have the BEST doctor?  What if the cancer is growing too quickly to treat?  What if this disease takes my life?  What if. . .

When God says not to be afraid in Isaiah 41 verse 10, He gives me lots of reasons why.

1. He is with me.
2. He is my God.
3. He will strengthen me.
4. He will help me.
5. He will hold me with His righteous right hand (strong and powerful).

His hands are much stronger than mine to yank out my weeds of fear.  His hands are righteous and loving enough to provide me with everything I need.  He will take care of me.  I need to let Him grab my fear by the roots, yank it out of my life and then show me what comes next.  Basically, I’m talking about total and complete surrender.

Lord, you are with me.  There is nothing that can touch me that you don’t already know about and have planned for.  You are my God and you love me.  At the end of the day, I know my strength and help comes from you.  You’ve got me in your hands.  Forgive me when I am fearful of the future.  Forgive me when I want to have things go my way.  Remind me of your faithfulness and love until the fear in me is uprooted and joy, once again, fills my heart.