Afraid?

Afraid to love?

Afraid to laugh?

Afraid To live?

Why? A loveless mother? An abusive father? Maybe.

Abuse, fear, hate, and a lack of self worth are the building blocks of who you have become.

You are afraid to step out and love for fear of being hurt.

You are afraid to laugh for fear it may not last.

You are afraid to live, for fear of death.

None of the pain and hurt you feel has to define who you are. You have been designed by God with infinite potential. You do not have to live in defeat and fear.  God's Love is Enough!

No matter what you have gone through or are going through, you do not have to swim in a pool of despair and hopelessness.  God's Love is Enough!

There is an ocean of love and opportunity just waiting for you.  Dive in! Do not be afraid!  God's Love is Enough!

The Bondage of Fear

A fear of flying, fear of failure, fear of death, fear of a bully, fear of losing everything are just a few of the fears humans struggle with on a daily basis and during their lifetime.  Some fears obviously are rational and some are irrational. It seems as though it does not take much to set some on the rollercoaster of fear and anxiety.

I was speaking with a friend of mine who made what he believed to be a huge mistake at work that would cost him his job.  The mistake he made was small in the overall scheme of things, but for some reason he thought it was the unpardonable sin.  He began to work up in his mind so many different scenarios on what would happen to him as a result of the mistake.  The fear he worked up in his mind was like an empty dark room that he began to fill with monsters.

I used to have an intense fear of flying.  I allowed that fear to prevent me from seizing the opportunity to travel the world during my youth.  While working at Owens Corning I was expected to fly back and forth to corporate headquarters in Ohio and other locations throughout the country.   There was no way out; I had to fly.  One day I said to myself, “I will not let this fear control me.”  I knew that my fear was irrational and that I needed to take control of my thoughts and emotions and get on the plane.  That decision resulted in my being able to see many parts of the country that I would not have experienced had I not overcome my fear.    Truth be told, I still get a little nervous, but not enough to keep me from taking off into the wild blue yonder.

Are you struggling with fear?  Don’t be a slave to it.  When I experience fear, I focus my mind on:

• Acknowledging my fear and I face it head on
• I take control of the fear, I don’t let it control me
• I stay positive

I don’t mean to minimize the impact fear can have on a person with the simple ways I deal with fear, but I choose not to give in to my fears.  I want to live a life of freedom and not in the bondage of fear.

How about you?  

Can a man, by worrying, add a day to his life?

“Every evening I turn my worries over to God.  He’s going to be up all night anyway” Mary C. Crowley

Have you ever seen the Traveler’s Insurance commercial where a dog takes his bone and tries to find a safe and worry-free place to place it?  He tries to bury it.  Then he places it in a safety deposit box.  That night he tosses back and forth worrying about the bone until he can’t take it anymore.  He then returns to the bank and takes it out.  Worry!

My mother used to always tell me not to worry about anything until you have something to worry about.  I love that!  So many of us allow ourselves to worry about things that have not even happened yet.

We start to build in our minds scenarios of what can possibly happen to us as a result of something that is going on around us. We think of the worst possible outcomes and then may even find ourselves unwittingly working towards making them happen.  Have you ever heard someone say, “I am a worry wart?”  It’s almost like they wear it like a badge of honor.

During one of my speeches I asked the attendees how many of them were filled with worry, anxiety and fear?  Several of them raised their hands.  I asked, “How is it working for you?”  They all started to laugh.  Laughter, that’s a good thing.  Laughing at things you cannot control takes some of the power and sting out of the situation.

The next time you are tempted to worry, think about giving the following a chance to help you overcome the temptation:

·         Ask yourself, what is the worst that can happen?  Then develop a game plan so in the event the worst happens, you are prepared to face it head on.

·         Don’t sweat the small stuff!  Don’t let the small stuff be bigger than it is.

·         Fill your mind with positive thoughts!  Displace the negative with the positive.

·         Remember:  This too shall pass!  Whatever you are going through will not last forever.

·         Lastly, pray and read your Bible.  Filling your heart with God’s soul food will leave you full and satisfied.

Although life will never be completely worry free, remember, worry never solved a problem or added a day to your life. 

THIS TOO SHALL PASS!

Worried about losing your home or your car?  Are you in jeopardy of losing your job?  Is the economy running you through the proverbial ringer?   If you’ve lost your job, do you feel like you will never get another one?  Has the loss of your job affected your marriage and relationships?

The economy is down and then we hear that things are turning around, but for many of us, we do not see it.  Fuel and food prices are still high!  We want to buy nourishing food, but all we can afford is the cheaper cuts of meat and canned vegetables.  Life for many of us is a struggle.  I hear so many people talk about how hopeless they feel.

It is incredible to me how much time and energy we spend fretting and worrying about things we cannot control.  The result is sleeplessness, anxiety, and overwhelming fear.

I know you don’t believe it now, but THIS TOO SHALL PASS!  It will not always be this way.  Many of the people who went through the Great Depression and the Great Recession of the early 70’s also experienced tremendous financial loss.  But, you know what?  It Passed!

The key to making it through these tough and trying times is staying focused on the fact that things will get better.   Armed with a positive attitude and laser- like focus on uncovering new opportunities, you can make it through this dark tunnel.  There is a light at the end.

Until then, take time to enjoy the simple things in life, like a cup of your favorite beverage, a book, or visiting family and friends.   I know this may sound overly simplified, but there are so many of us who, because of circumstances, forget to take the time to remember . . . THIS TOO SHALL PASS!