Release Fear to Hope

Susan Stewart is a woman of the Word, and a practical, realistic optimist. In this Hope UPGRADE, she points us to many scriptures that will help us release our fears and move to a solid position of hope in the Lord.

Susan says, “An Inuit saying is, ‘We don’t believe. We only fear.’ Sadly, I think this is what our society has come to.”

I (Dawn) believe there are many ways to conquer fear, but hope in God is certainly one of them. (Depending on the Bible translation, the word "hope" appears anywhere from 133 times to 244 times!) I love how Susan zeroes in on this powerful truth.

Susan continues . . .

I don’t read or listen to “news” much anymore. Much of “breaking news" is dread rather than information: deadly storm coming, inflation going to rise, more people hospitalized. I even saw one headline stating, “Life Gets Hard.”

So negative . . . so fearful . . . so hopeless.

Add to this the stress of our modern life: jobs, kids’ activities, commutes, etc. The fearful news only adds to our everyday tension.

Scientists say fear is natural and can be healthy. As one psychologist said, it’s fear that causes us to jump off a railroad track when a train is coming. Fear can be important to our survival.

But the constant state of fear with associated anxiety disrupts our lives and, in extreme cases, our health. Sadly, even Christians succumb to the fear.

God doesn’t abandon us to fear and stress. Instead, he’s provided about 365 Bible verses about fear—one for each day of the year.

Of those 365, more than 100 verses tell us to “fear not.”

Recognize the Bad Kind of Fear

It’s usually not hard to recognize the bad kind of fear, and for those cases, God’s Word tells us to NOT fear—to choose to stand against it.

• "For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind" (2 Timothy 1:7 NKJV).
• "Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand" (Isaiah 41:10 NKJV).
• ". . . In God I have put my trust; I will not fear. What can flesh do to me?" (Psalm 56:4 NKJV).
• "So we can confidently say, 'The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?'" (Hebrews 13:6 ESV).

When I read these verses, I learn God doesn’t give me fear. Because he is my God, he will strengthen and help me. I have no reason to be afraid. He is holding me.

When I trust God, what can others do to me? After all, who’s in charge here? God is.

Practice Good, Wisdom-based Fear.

God also gives us specifics about good fear. As Job says, “. . . Behold, the fear of the Lord, that is wisdom. . .” (28:28). Again, we have a choice.

• ". . . it will be well with those who fear God. . ." (Ecclesiastes 8:12 NKJV)"
• ". . . Fear God and keep his commandments, for this is the whole duty of man" (Ecclesiastes 12:13 ESV).
• ". . . Only fear the LORD and serve him faithfully with all your heart" (1 Samuel 12:24 ESV).
• "You who fear the LORD, trust in the LORD! He is their help and their shield" (Psalm 115:11 ESV).
• "The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear?. . ." (Psalm 27:1).

I hear the loving Father say,

“Fear only me, that’s your duty. I’m your help, shield, light and salvation. Who should you be afraid of? Because you fear me and only me it will be well with you.”

Rejoice in Hope, the Source of Godly Fearlessness

God offers relief from fear through HO. He’s given us more than 100 verse about hope.

• ". . . your faith and hope are in God" (I Peter 1:21 ESV).
• "Let us hold fast the confession of our hope without wavering, for he who promised is faithful" (Hebrews 10:23 ESV).
• ". . . Hope in God; for I shall again praise him, my salvation. . . " (Psalm 42:5, 11 and again in Psalm 43:5 ESV).
• ". . . we rejoice in hope of the glory of God" (Romans 5:2 ESV).

God tells me in these few verse our hope is in Him. We can count on that hope because He promised, and He is faithful to keep those promises.

We have reason to praise God because of the hope we have from Him.

Job uses the word hope at least 25 times. If Job can have that much hope, why can’t we?

One of my favorite old hymns says, “My hope is built on nothing less than Jesus’ blood and righteousness.”

No matter how bleak the world may seem, or news announcements may make it appear, we Christians have nothing to fear.

We have the hope of Jesus in all things.

We can say with the angels, “. . . Fear God and give him glory” (Revelation 14:7 ESV).

What do you fear? How do you fight your fear? Where do you go for hope in a dreary world?

Susan K. Stewart, Managing Editor with Elk Lake Publishing, teaches, writes, and edits non-fiction.  Susan’s passion is to inspire readers with practical, real-world solutions. Her latest book, Donkey Devos: Listening When God Speaks, is a devotional based on life with her donkeys. You can learn more at her website www.susankstewart.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Open Clipart / Vectors and Dorothe, Dark Moon Art, both at Pixabay.

How to Replace the What-Ifs of Fear

Debbie W. Wilson, a practical Bible teacher and counselor, continually points people to the "big God" she serves—the God who is always with us. In this Attitudes UPGRADE, she answers our what-ifs with biblical steps to become less fearful.

Debbie asks, "Have you ever been fearful over what might happen—to you, your child, your spouse, your country, or yourself?"

I (Dawn) am not normally a fearful person. Ok, strike that. I'm unreasonably afraid of house fires and snakes. And maybe empty grocery shelves.

What does the Bible teach us about our what-ifs of fear?

Debbie continues . . .

Most of my concerns fall into the what-if category.

Maybe you can relate to some I’ve felt or heard.

• What if I lose my job?
• What if my symptoms signal something major?
• What if our economy collapses?
• What if my prodigal never comes back?
• What if my husband can no longer work?

Do what-ifs steal your peace? Have you considered the influence of the little word “if”? An “if” in the wrong place undercuts peace and joy.

Too often I’ve allowed a what-if or an if-only to rob me. 

But there is another kind of what-if that empowers.

3 Steps to Becoming Less Fearful

1. Obey God’s Word.

Jesus told us not to worry about what to wear, what to eat, and what to drink. He concluded with, “So do not worry about tomorrow” (Matthew 6:34).

Paul said, “Don’t worry about anything” (Philippians 4:6).

What would happen if we obeyed Christ’s words?

Adam and Eve provide a vivid picture of what happens when we don’t obey God.

The forbidden fruit didn’t look harmful to the couple, but God knew the pain it would cause. Like catching a deadly virus, the poison began to multiply within them the moment they disobeyed God. The repercussions exploded over time.

If Adam and Eve had obeyed God there would be no COVID, no riots, no wars, and no death. We can’t fathom the ripple effect of disobedience.

When we disobey God, our peace, joy, and relationships suffer.

When Jesus says don’t worry, trust Him, He knows best.

When we treat Christ’s words as sacred commands we say, “I will trust you, even if I don’t feel like it. Even if not worrying makes no sense to me.”

2. Stop the Scent of Fear.

When my husband and I visited Yosemite National Park, videos and signs sprinkled throughout the park warned tourists that bears are attracted to the smell of food.

We locked up not only our food, but also lip gloss and anything that smelled like food. Otherwise bears might attack our car or cabin.

Satan smells worry and comes after you the same way bears follow the scent of food. Learn to cast your cares on Christ.

“Cast all your anxiety on him because he cares for you. Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:7-8).

3. Choose Healthy What-ifs.

Instead of focusing on the negative what-ifs,” fix your thoughts on the Lord. Dread disappointing Him instead of what you fear.

Try these substitutes.

• What if God is for me?
• What if He is trustworthy?
• What if God uses this for our good—like He promised?
• What if He’s worthy of my worship and obedience?
• What if God is bigger than my fears and imaginations?

Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego chose to worship God even if it meant enduring the worst they could imagine. Enraged at their defiance, King Nebuchadnezzar had them thrown into a fiery furnace that was so hot the men who threw them in died instantly.

But, when King Nebuchadnezzar looked into the fire, he leaped to his feet in amazement and asked his advisers, "Weren’t there three men that we tied up and threw into the fire?"

They replied, "Certainly, Your Majesty."

He said, "Look! I see four men walking around in the fire, unbound and unharmed, and the fourth looks like a son of the gods” (Daniel 3:24-25).

King Nebuchadnezzar SAW the preincarnate Christ in the fire with the three Hebrews.

But Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego EXPERIENCED Christ. He was their sanctuary in the fire.

Jesus never promised we wouldn’t go through trials. He promised to never leave us.

When we remember His character and focus on trusting and obeying Him, we shed the bothersome what-ifs and enjoy EVEN IF peace.

Can you identify a what-if you need to give to the Lord today?

Debbie W. Wilson is an ordinary woman with an extraordinary God. Drawing from her personal walk with Christ, twenty-four years as a Christian counselor, and decades as a Bible teacher, Debbie speaks and writes to connect sojourners to the heart of Christ. Despite time in Boston, the Midwest, and Southern California, she still says y’all. Her family, which includes two mischievous standard poodles, calls North Carolina home. Look for the release of her latest book, Little Strength, Big God, August 2022. Find free resources and connect with Debbie at debbieWwilson.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Mart Production at Pexels.

Three Mindsets that Can Derail New Beginnings

Joanie Shawhan knows about new beginnings. She has overcome much, and shares suggestions for helping others overcome obstacles in life too. In this Goals UPGRADE, she shares three mindsets that can derail new beginnings."New beginnings can be exciting," Joanie says. "But sometimes new beginnings are the result of painful circumstances."

I (Dawn) know exactly what Joanie's saying! When I got a "new beginning" with a stem cell transplant, my nurses sang, "Happy Birthday." But knowing I had a new beginning and acting like I did were not the same thing. There were debilitating attitudes I had to overcome. Joanie writes about three big ones in her own life.  

Joanie continues . . .

God often uses life’s difficulties to move us forward, change our direction, or give us a new purpose.

For me, a diagnosis of ovarian cancer opened a door I never dreamed possible.

I sensed the Lord leading me to write my cancer story in a book I would’ve liked to read when I needed encouragement and support. A book that would validate my own cancer and chemotherapy experience.

I felt overwhelmed.

Surely, God couldn’t be asking me to write a book. I had no writing experience.

But God places dreams in our hearts bigger than we could ever imagine—dreams only he can fulfill. If God called me to write, He would fulfill His word and enable me.

But in order to walk out this new call, I needed to align my thoughts with the Word of God.

Moses had warned the Israelites of three wrong mindsets that could derail God’s purposes for them when they were on the verge of entering the promised land. I also needed to be alert to these pitfalls that could divert me from God’s path.

Three Wrong Mindsets

1. Fear.

“So be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid and do not panic before them. For the Lord your God will personally go ahead of you. He will neither fail you nor abandon you” (Deuteronomy 31:6 NLT).

When God called me to write In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer. I thought, God, this is too big for me.

Voices clamored in my head.

Writing a book is too hard. What if I fail?

Just as Moses instructed the Israelites not to be afraid, I also needed to remember God’s past faithfulness. He would lead me through every step in the process of writing and publishing.

If I had succumbed to the mindset of fear, the book I had wanted as a resource wouldn’t be available to help and encourage other women.

2. Pride.

“He fed you with manna in the wilderness, a food unknown to your ancestors. He did this to humble you and test you for your own good. He did all this so you would never say to yourself, ‘I have achieved this wealth with my own strength and energy’ (Deuteronomy 8:16-17 NLT).

When I’m stuck in a mindset of pride, I think I can accomplish God’s plan through my own effort.

I need to humble myself and accept the counsel and help from others in the industry, including their constructive criticism.

Ouch!

I am grateful to my editors, mentors, and critique partners whose only desire is to improve my writing and help me succeed.

3. Forgetfulness.

“Remember the Lord your God. He is the one who gives you power to be successful,” (Deuteronomy 8:18 NLT).

Even though I worked hard, my success was not based solely on my efforts. I could not have accomplished my dream without God’s help and the help of many others.

I am grateful to God for His mercy, grace, and continual reminders of how much I need Him.

When I said yes to God, I never imagined the doors God would open for me.

• He led me step by step through the process, and directed me to attend writing workshops so I could learn the craft.
• He provided me with a mentor, a writing critique group, and multiple other connections to help me reach my goal of publishing my book.

Whether I’m in the messy middle or have completed my project, I need to be aware of these stumbling blocks so I can avoid them.

These pitfalls will hinder my walk with God and the fulfillment of my God-given dreams. He wants to fulfill His promises to me. But I need to walk into these promises His way, not my way—and not on my own.

“And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28 NLT).

God delights in fulfilling His promises and the dreams He’s placed in our hearts—His way.

How can you avoid these pitfalls when your trials open doors to new beginnings?

Joanie Shawhan shares true-life stories, offering her reader an eyewitness view of the action. Her Selah Awards Finalist book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer, reflects the value of “Your story plus my story become our stories.” An ovarian cancer survivor and registered nurse, Joanie speaks to medical students in the Survivors Teaching Students program. She co-founded an ovarian cancer social group: The Fried Eggs—Sunny-Side Up. Publishing credits include: Guideposts Divine Interventions, Snapshots of Hope & Heart, Wit, Whimsy & Wisdom, Life Repurposed, and We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished. Follow Joanie at www.joanieshawhan.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Silviarita at Pixabay.

7 Steps—Replace Fretting with Peace

Joanie Shawhan, a cancer survivor and registered nurse, understands how anxiety can take charge and make us lose peace. In this Peace UPGRADE, she focuses on a special psalm that gives solid counsel for replacing fretting and returning to a place of peace in the Lord."Once again, a friend of mine chided me for fretting as I raged about the pervasive evil I saw in the world today," Joanie said. “This is not your circus. These are not your monkeys.”

Oh, how I (Dawn) understand that! How often I have taken on issues and burdens the Lord never intended me to carry. I'm reminded of the old hymn that says, "Oh, what peace we often forfeit..." Joanie explains how we can stop forfeiting our peace.

Joanie continues . . .

All of these circumstances in the world were beyond my control and out of the realm of my influence. Where was the God of Justice?

I had become stuck in a rut of fretting.

A rut rooted in the fear of the future that I had dug through anxiety and worry.

Living in Wisconsin, I’m familiar with ruts. Our wheels spin on snowy roads and create furrows that refuse to disappear until the snow melts.

Ruts become dangerous obstacles that can easily throw us off course.

My pattern of fretting had derailed me. It distracted me from God’s purpose and robbed me of peace. I listened to the voices of the world yammering in my ears and forgot to listen for the voice of the Holy Spirit.

But God reminded me: Do not fret—it leads only to evil (Psalm 37:8 NIV).

I needed a course correction.

How could I avoid the rut of fretting and restore peace?

God offered me a roadmap to peace.

Seven principles from Psalm 37

1. Do Not Fret (v. 1).

According to Scripture, fretting leads only to evil. If I want to follow Jesus and turn away from evil, I need to steer clear of the habitual patterns of agitation and anger that deepen the rut of fretting.

Jesus has called me to walk in righteousness and make right choices through faith in Him.

And this righteousness will bring peace. Yes, it will bring quietness and confidence forever (Isaiah 32:17 NLT).

2. Trust in the Lord (v. 3).

God is faithful and trustworthy even when I don’t understand His plan. My fears and anxiety do not change who He is. They only rob me of my ability to see Him as He is—my loving Father who is constant in His care for me.

Sometimes trust is a choice.

But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you (Psalm 56:3 NLT).

3. Do Good (v. 3).

In spite of the evil churning around me, God’s Word tells me to never get tired of doing good (Galatians 6:9-10 NLT).

Even in the face of adversity, I’m called to love and serve others in humility.

He also commands me to pray for my enemies and those who may do me harm.

4. Delight in the Lord (v. 4).

To delight in the Lord, I must focus on who God is, on His power and majesty. When my eyes are turned toward the Lord, I can’t focus on myself, my circumstances, and those situations that rob my peace.

Delighting in the Lord comes with a promise.

The Lord makes firm the steps of the one who delights in him (Psalm 37:23 NIV).

5. Commit Your Way to the Lord (v. 5).

God is the one who will order my steps. My days are in His hands.

Even when the evil is personal or I feel betrayed, God is the one who will vindicate me.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take (Proverbs 3:5-6 NLT).

6. Be Still Before the Lord (v. 7).

Sometimes I’m so busy grumbling and complaining that I neglect to listen. I’ve discovered that when I’m quiet and still, I’m more apt to hear the voice of the Lord.

His voice and His presence will restore my peace by reminding me of who He is.

Be still, and know that I am God (Psalm 46:10 NIV).

7. Wait Patiently for Him (v. 7)

Patience is not my virtue. I want to rush God, especially when he takes longer to answer my prayers than I would like.

But I need to remember God is not finished yet.

For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for him! (Isaiah 30:18b NIV).

Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things (Philippians 4:8 NIV).

By following God’s words of wisdom, I can avoid the dangerous rut of fretting.

What ruts of fretting rob your peace?

Joanie Shawhan shares true-life stories, offering her reader an eyewitness view of the action. Her Selah Awards Finalist book, In Her Shoes: Dancing in the Shadow of Cancer, reflects the value of “Your story plus my story become our stories.” An ovarian cancer survivor and registered nurse, Joanie speaks to medical students in the Survivors Teaching Students program. She co-founded an ovarian cancer social group: The Fried Eggs—Sunny-Side Up. Publishing credits include: Guideposts Divine Interventions, Snapshots of Hope & Heart, Wit, Whimsy & Wisdom, Life Repurposed, and We May Be Done But We’re Not Finished. Follow Joanie at www.joanieshawhan.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Anne Nygård at Unsplash.

Where There's Hope—There's Future

Susan K. Stewart makes theological concepts practical, using her own life experiences to teach others how to live out the truths of the Bible. In this Hope UPGRADE, she tells the story of three donkeys to illustrate her point that "Where there's hope, there's future!"

"Hope was the quiet leader of our donkey trio," Susan says. "When Hope went to the feed trough, the other two followed behind her. If she decided to walk the donkey trails in the pasture, Hope would take the lead."

I (Dawn) have always loved donkeys, finding them wiser than most people know. They can be problem solvers, and they have incredible memories. So I read Susan's post with a big grin!

Susan continues . . .

Hope appeared to be the one on alert for anything unusual happening. I would see her scanning the field and trees, but she never showed nervousness or fear.

With Hope in the lead, Georgia May and Shanna didn’t seem to have any worries or fear.

HOPE LED the donkeys.

What leads many of us today?

Sadly, many of us are following fear and worry. The virus, terrorists, war, even change can dominate our minds. Dread becomes the focus of our lives affecting everything we do.

Not all fear is bad. God gave us a sense of immediate fear as a form of protection. To be aware of our surroundings for danger and to be able to react when there is an actual threat to our physical well-being.

In our modern age, dread has translated to mental and emotional threats.

Many would say the 24-hour news cycle leads the way down this dark tunnel.

Anxiety over perceived threats is so prevalent it is the subject of writings in such publications as Psychology Today. A search using Google brings up more than three billion (yes, billion with a “b”) references.

Fear appears to be surrounding us.

Gordana Biernat wrote in Psychology Today, “Slowly sneaking indirect fear is also an illness generator. ... If you want to thrive in your life, you must have the courage to say 'no' to fear because the more fear you allow into your mind, the smaller your life will become.” *

Fear can slowly eat away at our lives—physically, emotionally, spiritually.

Another search on Google shows two billion articles about overcoming fear, including:

• “10 Steps for How to Overcome Fear and Achieve Goals,”
• “6 Strategies to Overcome Fear and Anxiety,” and
• “6 Tips to Overcoming Anxiety and Phobias.”
• Even Forbes magazine has “14 Ways To Conquer Fear.”

Among all these schemes are common suggestions: name your fear, exercise, stay connected with friends and family, and turn off the news and social media.

All good advice, but one approach is missing—Hope.

Fear is looking at now; it has no future. Hope is looking forward; there is a future.

Fear is negative; hope is positive.

Fear has no plan. Hope is God’s plan—to have a future with hope (Jeremiah 29:11).

We wait with patience and hope for what we do not see—what is ahead (Romans 8:24-25). Our faith is built on a foundation of hope (Hebrews 11:1).

In this age of fear, how can we dig out of it and reach for hope?

• Meditate on God’s Word. Paul tells the Romans “through the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope” (Romans 15:4).
• Don’t dwell on what might happen. Jesus told us, “do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about its own things” (Matthew 6:34 NKJV).
• Focus on the future. God tells us “Surely there is a future, and your hope will not be cut off” (Proverbs 23:18).
• Be strong in the face of fear. “Be strong and courageous. Do not fear …, for it is the Lord your God who goes with you. He will not leave you or forsake you” (Deuteronomy 31:6).
• Put your hope in Jesus. “And now, O Lord, for what do I wait? My hope is in you” (Psalm 39:7).
• Stand in faith. Our faith is based on “the assurance of things hoped for” (Hebrews 11:1).
• Put on the helmet of the hope of salvation. A helmet covers our minds. The hope of salvation is our protection. (I Thessalonians 5:8b)
• Wait for the Lord. His plan overcomes our fear and worries. “I wait for the Lord, my soul waits, and in his word I hope” (Psalm 130:5).

A couple of dusty donkeys knew they didn’t have to fear. They knew to follow their leader, Hope.

We can overcome fear by doing as a couple of donkeys do—follow God as He leads to “a future and a hope.”

Where will you start your journey out of fear and into hope?

Susan K. Stewart is a teacher, writer, and speaker known for practical solutions to real-world situations. Her books include Harried Homeschooler’s Handbook: Finding Hope in the Havoc, Science in the Kitchen: Fearless Science at Home for All Ages, Preschool: At What Cost?, and the award-winning Formatting e-Books for Writers. Susan’s most recent book, Donkey Devos: Listen When God Speaks, is made of forty devotions based on the donkeys who have lived on their ranch. The Stewarts live in Central Texas with their three dogs, three cats, nine chickens, and a couple of donkeys. They have three children and six grandchildren. You can read more of Susan’s practical solutions at susankstewart.com.

Graphic adapted, courtesy of Albrecht Fietz at Pixabay.

 *Quote source: “How to Stop Living in Fear.” May 20, 2020. https://bit.ly/340ULuu.