Surrender My Fears

Week 23, Thursday

Susan Lafferty

Don’t worry about anything but in everything, through prayer and petition with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses every thought, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:6-7 (hcsb)

Fear. Its icy fingers clutched my heart. We lived in a violent place, and my husband was supposed to have been home hours before. There were no cell phones then and probably no phone in sight where he was traveling in the city. My prayer became a “worry prayer” of repeating over and over, “Please bring him home, please, Lord!” He arrived later, safe and sound, having been delayed by a meeting that went longer than planned. He had no way to call and let me know. My fear simmered.

One morning, in that same South Asian city, I drove to a women’s Bible study. When I stopped by to give my friend a ride, she was waiting with a message from my husband: “Bible study is canceled. Come home.” Some Americans and Pakistanis had been ambushed and gunned down in their vehicles within the past hour. The city was in lockdown. Fear was in the air. It was almost tangible. And it had a paralyzing effect on many.

“When I am afraid, I will trust in You. In God, whose Word I praise” (Psalm 56:3-4, hcsb). Singing that simple song from the Word with our children reminded me not to dwell in fear of man or circumstances, but to intentionally turn my eyes toward the Lord and place my trust in Him. Praising and thanking Him became a tension reliever and expression of heart surrender. During my quiet time one day my eyes and ears were opened in a special way. I looked outside my window and saw that the sky was still blue, the sun was still shining, and the breeze was still blowing through the trees. I heard a bird singing. Even in the place of violence and uncertainty, the Most High God was still on His throne. I could rest in the shelter of His wings.

Lord, when fear threatens to overshadow my thinking, help me to cry out to You. When fear of man hinders my wholehearted obedience to You, even in small ways, today—open my eyes to see Your power and surrender to Your mind-guarding peace. Help me to trust in You, my Rock and my Redeemer. Amen.