When my mind is like a battlefield And my heart is overcome by fear And hope seems like a ship that's lost at sea My enemies on every side And I'm tempted to run and hide Your gentle whisper reaches out to me
Peace (Bethel Music)
Right out of high school, most people are questioned what they want to do for the rest of their lives. That can be scary when you’re 18 and have your whole life ahead of you. I mean, you don’t want to make a wrong decision and be stuck with that forever, right? Your 20s can be everything from boring to exciting, adventurous, daunting and everything in between. What we need to learn, is to not let anxiety take hold of our lives. Have you ever felt like you don’t know the answers to everything? Maybe you’re like me and like to always know what’s ahead of you. It’s good to have a plan for life. But what happens when life doesn’t go according to YOUR plan? What if you feel like time is running out and things should have worked out differently? Have you ever felt like God was taking care of literally everybody else’s problems but yours? Have you ever felt like you’ve prayed so much and still haven’t received any answers? Have you ever been overwhelmed by fear? The unknown can be quite scary. Many times when we feel like we don’t have all the answers, we let the fear from our past or even the fear of the future rule over our present life. When you give power to negative thoughts, your mind becomes a battlefield.
What I’ve learned is to not let emotions rule over our life and consume us. Just because you FEEL afraid, doesn’t mean you have to BE afraid. In Joshua 1:9 God says “Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Our feelings are not always aligned with God’s truth and when we don’t learn how to manage them, it’s easy to lose focus. Sometimes when we don’t SEE things changing in our lives, we automatically assume that God isn’t doing anything, when in reality God is ALWAYS working. Remember the song Way Maker? “Even when I can't see that You're working, even when I don't feel that You're working, you never stop, YOU NEVER STOP WORKING”. So even when we don’t understand why things happen the way they do and when we’re waiting for our breakthrough– God is STILL in control. We get the opportunity to wait upon God and thus experience Him as a miracle worker and promise keeper. Remember that every situation good or bad, is an opportunity for God to reveal how big He is and how he can change a situation at the snap of His fingers. Know that it’s ok to have questions. Every person goes through a phase where they don’t have all the answers. But it’s in the absence of answers that faith is born. That’s when faith can grow. Faith is when you experience a situation and know not to panic because God is in control. Faith is NOT getting want you want and knowing that God is STILL GOOD because He’s got an even better plan for you. Faith is trusting that God keeps His promises. So look back and thank God. Thank Him for closing that door and leading you to the right one instead. Look forward and trust God. Trust in God’s timing. Sometimes His answer is a “Yes”. Sometimes it’s a “No”. Sometimes it’s a “No, not yet”. If God hasn’t met your expectations, it’s because He wants to exceed them. Don’t underestimate what God is doing in your season of waiting. “Walk by faith, not by sight.” (2 Corinthians 5:7).
„Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, (…)” Ephesians 3:20
I always thought I knew what life should be like for me. But what if my biggest mistake is setting boundaries to my imaginations and living inside my own little box. What if God knows me better than I know myself? What if God’s plan for my life is bigger than I hoped, dreamed and imagined? I’m a fan of Joanna Gaines (#fixerupper)and she once said, “If I had planned my life, it never would have ended up like this. So maybe it's kind of fun not to plan. Maybe it’s more fun just to see where life takes you.” So what if the unknown is exciting? Now don’t get me wrong, I think you do need a certain plan for your life or else you might not get anywhere. However, with God you also need to learn to go with the flow. His plans never come close to ours. And just because we don’t have all the puzzle pieces yet, it doesn’t mean the picture isn’t beautiful in the end. “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.“(Jeremiah 29:11)
God has a plan and a destiny for everyone, even you, yes YOU! When he made you, he gave you your own set of skills, he made you unique. He made you different from the person next to you, because His plan for you is DIFFERENT. And in His perfect plan He reminds us: “Fear not, I will help you.”(Isaiah 41:13) So stop comparing yourself and stop telling yourself you aren’t good enough. You are worthy and you are loved. Stop being afraid of the things that might not work out and take a leap of faith. If God wants to put you in a certain place, He will find a way. If he doesn’t, He won’t. Your age and experience don’t matter, because God has the last say. Sometimes what’s holding us back isn’t even other people or situations but our own fear. You might be missing out on the biggest things in life because you’re too scared of whether God’s really got your back. Listen, if God promised you something, it will come to pass.
So, who are you scared of? People?
What are you scared of? Rejection or maybe failure?
Whatever it is, I can assure you that God is walking before you and has already overcome your obstacles. You don’t have to face your battles alone. If I can say just one prayer today, it would be that God opens your eyes to see how much He loves you. He’s got you in the palm of His hands and it’s the very best place to be in. “He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.” (Psalm 91:4) Fear comes from not accepting God as our safe haven. When you decide to walk with God, it’s about actively choosing Him and His decisions over your own. It’s not about giving Him only a part of your life - it’s about allowing Him to work in your entire life, even when nothing makes sense anymore. It’s about replacing fear with faith. It’s about trusting God through the mountains and the valleys of life. It’s about standing still in the eye of the storm.
I decided to exchange overthinking for overwhelming peace, knowing that the author of my life, has figured everything out already. I accepted that I cannot know everything. I learned to praise God before answers come. And when my mind is like a battlefield, I love listening worship songs that encourage me and fill me with hope. “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)
Peace – Bethel Music
God of Revival – Bethel Music
Highlands – Hillsong UNITED
Stand in Your Love - Bethel Music
Goodness of God – Bethel Music
Way Maker - Leeland