I would say that I used to be a pretty fearful person. My biggest fear: FAILURE. I have been afraid of failure to the point of making no decision for fear of making the wrong decision. I would hold back and try to determine the PERFECT choice, which often took so long that I missed an opportunity. 

FAILURE may not be your fear. Right now there are a lot of fears out there. Will I or a family member get sick? If I do get sick, will I recover? What if I can’t pay my bills? What if.... just go ahead and fill in the blank. Most of our questions rise from some fear. EVERYONE is experiencing some level of anxiety in our unfamiliar circumstances. It may not be right on the surface for you, but it’s there and I don’t have to convince you about it. 

So, how are you doing? How are you handling all of this? I can tell you that I am aware of the low-level anxiety that comes with not being sure of what will happen next, but I no longer get consumed by fear. My thoughts don’t linger on all the what-ifs like they used to. Do you want to know what God used to help me get past that? A middle school field trip. Really! That was it. 

I was a stay-at-home mom at the time and my 8th grade daughter was going on a music department field trip. I really wanted to be a part of that experience for her so I signed up to be a chaperone. As the day of the trip drew closer, I began to have so many doubts about myself and my ability to handle a group of kids. Especially middle school kids! I had worked the previous year as a part-time cafeteria monitor at the middle school. It had stressed me out so much that I transferred to the elementary school! What was I thinking signing up for this thing? (Just so you know, the next year I accepted a full-time position in the library...at the middle school…and stayed there for nine years!)

I was legitimately scared about being able to handle whatever kids were assigned to me and I knew that I needed to find a way to connect with God and get His help. What I decided to do was copy a Scripture verse onto an index card and keep it in my pocket for the day. It was a verse that would remind me not to be afraid because God would help me. I could pull it out and look at it when I felt overwhelmed. It would be my “sword” to battle my enemy of Fear. 

The day of the trip arrived and I went armed with my “sword”. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” ‭‭(Isaiah‬ ‭41:10‬ ‭NIV‬‬) I had been thinking about it and praying it back to God. Writing it on the card was really the icing on the cake because by that morning I pretty much had the verse memorized. I had a few butterflies in my stomach, but I was confident that God would help me. 

When I received my assignment, I had two girls and one of them was my own daughter! God had helped me by managing my assignment, but I also knew that, whatever challenges came up, God would help me with them, too. There were a few tricky moments, but we had a great day and made some awesome memories. All of my anticipating anxiety had been for nothing, but the lesson I learned changed me forever. 

What you and I are facing right now is nothing like that field trip. The stakes are so much higher. The questions so much bigger. But here’s the thing: The same God who helped me learn to trust Him when I feel unequal to a small task, a middle school field trip, is available to help me through right now. And He is available for you, too. 

That field trip was a turning point in my life. It really was. I learned to rely on that truth as an anchor. “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” DO NOT FEAR...I AM WITH YOU. Those words have echoed in my heart so many times now that they are part of who I have become. 

God is whispering that to you right now, Dear Friend. DO NOT FEAR...I AM WITH YOU. He will strengthen you and help you through whatever is ahead. Keep that sword in your pocket! 

Key thought: You don’t have to be afraid because He is with you. 

A Scripture to consider: “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” Isaiah 41:10

A YES challenge: What is the one thing that scares you most right now? Write Isaiah 41:10 someplace that you will see it often. Post it on a mirror. Keep it in your pocket. Set a reminder on your phone. Read it often and pray it back to God. Memorize it and let that truth transform you. 

Prayer: Father, You are well aware of all that I face right now. Normal life is not normal at the moment and I don’t know what normal will look like as we begin to emerge from this quarantine. I feel so unsettled and sometimes I am downright afraid. Help me to learn to trust You more. Use this time as a turning point in my life. Let my normal become a deeper trust in You. Help me to know that You ARE with Me and You WILL help me. Amen.