[don't give way to fear]

Sometimes I look at life and feel...
well, overwhelmed.
Left to my own devices and my own flesh,
I can whine about a lengthy (and as I often rationalize, legitimate) list of reasons to fret and fear.
You probably have a list all your own.

I'm thankful that God so personally knows
my heart,
my leanings,
and my weaknesses.
Before I was ever made,
He anticipated the things that would make my heart soar and the things that would send me into a tailspin.
He knew, friends, that we'd be afraid sometimes.

And so He gave us Sarah.
Beautiful, imperfect, faith-filled Sarah.

If ever there was one who related to our fears,
it was her.

Take a look at her life in Genesis 12-23.
She longed for a baby (and that dream seemed hopeless until she was an elderly woman).
She followed her husband to an unknown place (even when his decisions were sometimes less than wise).
Her family dealt with conflict and confrontation (even when following God to the place where He was showing them).

It seems like her list of fears was lengthy.
Giving birth in her nineties?
Scary.
Settling in an unfamiliar place where she knew no one?
Yep, scary, too.
Following, trusting, and submitting to this man she likely felt like throttling at times?
Mmm-hmm.

And yet, she did not allow her fears to control her.
She trusted God.

Peter admonished us in 1 Peter 3 to let our beauty be not only external, but "the hidden person of the heart with the imperishable beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which in God's sight is very precious.  For this is how the holy women who hoped in God used to adorn themselves, by submitting to their own husbands, as Sarah obeyed Abraham, calling him lord.  And you are her children, if you do good and do not fear anything that is frightening."  1 Peter 3:4-6

Scripture says we're Sarah's daughters if we do what is right and don't give way to fear.
I don't know about you,
but that little nugget inspires me.
I'm so glad God included it.
Because it indicates that Sarah was like me.
She knew all about fear.
Yet even when the pieces didn't add up,
even when there were loads of unknowns,
she wasn't paralyzed by fear.
She didn't collapse beneath it.
She trusted God and did what He called her to do.
And we are her daughters if we do the same.

He can be trusted, dear ones.
As we bring our heart-gripping fears before Him in faith,
He replaces them with peace, security, and sweet rest.
He knows just what we need.
And He'll be faithful to strengthen, help, and uphold us no matter what looms ahead.

"Now may the Lord of peace himself give you peace at all times in every way.  

The Lord be with you all."

2 Thessalonians 3:16