How to Deal With Fear and Anxiety Part 2- Focus on Powerful Truth

I learned how to do life with fear alongside.
Not leading the way, not overtaking me… but fear in its’ proper place- as a tool to give information, and as an emotion to acknowledge.

In caregiving for my child with a life-threatening diagnosis, I clung to the powerful truth found in 2 Timothy 1:7 “For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

I prayed it. I told God I didn’t want the spirit of fear and asked Him to help me have His power, His love, His sound mind.

It wasn’t a one and done conversation. It was in the moments when I felt the anxiety and fear creep in. The fear was based in our daily reality- based in the life-threatening diagnosis I was caregiving for. The decisions I made on a daily basis of where we went and what we did had an affect on my child’s very life. The weight of responsibility is heavy when dealing with life-threatening issues. It wasn’t arbitrary fear I dealt with. It was real. But I didn’t want it to rule my life.

I reminded myself of the promises God gave in the passage— to give power, love, & a sound mind.
Really- it was to give Himself, His presence.

“Lord, help me be wise. Help me make the right decisions for my child today. Give me your strength. Your discernment, I would pray.”

I would rely also on my own intuition- the sense of whether something was going to be safe for my child or not. I’d consider the facts of the situation and have to make the decision of whether to be a part of the activity or go to the place or instead, to opt out. It was often a lonely journey as no one else navigated the same issues that were our daily life.

It was hard to navigate- It took faith and a willingness to be flexible with my life and my plans. To surrender my day and my will to what was best.

Fear and anxiety can be ever present with us, but they don’t have to rule over us.

I have a powerful truth for you to hold onto in the midst of difficulty and fear. Click the link. It has my free powerful printables- just for you- 2 FREE 8.5 x 11 Printables- To Empower & Encourage You . You will also get on my email newsletter which you don’t want to miss.

“Live life with fear alongside.” -Amber Jeann Parker. This was the powerful truth and mantra that became a source of strength for me.

I realized I didn’t have to look at my fear as bad or wrong. I didn’t have to feel shame over having fear (in Christian circles, there can be a lot of shame surrounding having fear, but that is a conversation for another day, another post.). Instead I could view my fear as a tool to help me identify danger. It was helpful when fear was in its’ proper place in my life.

What fear or anxiety are you dealing with friend? What spirit of fear is trying to overtake you in your life right now?

God’s word is active and alive and you can also cling to the truth in 2 Timothy 1:7. To meditate on, to pray over, to remind yourself of its’ truth, and to ask the Lord to decrease your fear to its’ proper place…

It is possible to decrease your fear to its’ proper place, as I’m a living testament. It isn’t easy though. It’s so incredibly hard, and it’s also worth it. It is freeing for fear to become the tool it’s supposed to and nothing beyond. To do so requires a moment by moment acknowledgment of the fear or anxiety when it creeps in and then an active fight to keep it manageable. To not ignore or dismiss it but determine if there is any danger at that moment or soon in the future…

Here’s a question to ask yourself:

What is the potential danger or threat the fear is alerting you to? It’s okay to think about and consider. Do not fear your fear itself. Sometimes we feel fear, and we are afraid of having fear so we try to push it down and ignore it. It doesn’t work though. It will come up to the surface. It must be acknowledged and addressed. Using self talk is powerful when we feel the fear.

What am I afraid of right now? Is there a real or perceived danger or threat present? If so, what is it? Why do I feel fear about it right now? As you talk to yourself, you can begin to understand what is going on and why you are feeling that way. Then, you can make informed decisions as to what to do and ask the Lord to help and guide you.

There is hope. It is possible to decrease your fear to a more manageable and helpful place in your life— to become a tool to help you rather than the driving force guiding every decision you make.

“Do life with fear alongside” friend.

If you are needing some extra hope today, grab these 2 free powerful printables- just for you- 2 FREE 8.5 x 11 Printables- To Empower & Encourage You. You will also get on my email newsletter which you don’t want to miss.

You are not alone in your battle, friend. I

’d love to have you comment and share what you are walking through and how this truth helped you today.