“Why are you so afraid?”

Matthew 8:26

“Why are you so afraid?” Just as Jesus asked this of the disciples in the storm-tossed boat, I wonder how many times God has posed that question to me, but I haven’t heard it over the thunder of my frets and worries and hand-wringing.  

Several years ago, my husband and son were driving home from a ski trip in Colorado. I had talked to them when they were leaving Amarillo, then….nothing. I called and called, left message after message. With each thought, my imaginings grew worse and worse. I went from maybe they are having car trouble to they’ve died in a wreck and nobody knows how to contact me. I found myself in tears wondering who to call…the police, my brother? My fear became the only thing I could see, hear or think about.  It grew and morphed into a possible, but not-probable event that stole my peace and joy. When they contacted me from the Dallas area, I was a huge mess of relief and anger! They had turned off their phones because they were listening to a book. Good grief! I felt like a fool as the Lord reminded me of what I had prayed over their trip: Spread your protection over them that those who love your name might rejoice in you (Psalm 5:11).  He admonished me, If you do not stand firm in your faith, you will not stand at all (Isaiah 7:9).

I want to be a woman of faith. My glass-is-half-empty temperament lends itself easily to anxiety and worry and fear. But Romans 8:6 says, The life controlled by the Spirit is life and peace. His Spirit in me speaks truth to me: I am with you; I will help you; I have called you by name; you will not be ashamed; there is no one like me. 

Thank you, Lord, for the good gift of your Spirit.  May I lean into your truth with every fret!

Jill Hardin