You are not behind!
A few years back, I wrestled with a horrible fear. My dear, intelligent, and creative mama developed Alzheimer’s disease. Walking through it with her was heartbreaking! God helped me stage by stage. The fear rushed in when I thought of my life.
Alzheimer’s can be hereditary. Here I was in my fifties, wondering if forgetfulness was a danger sign. It panicked me! It muddled my thinking even more. Fear hindered me day by day. I needed to shift my perspective!
“All the days ordained for me were written in Your book before
one of them came to be” (Psalm 139:16, NIV).
The LORD met me right where I was. One morning, I was pouring my worries out into my journal when He directed me to Matthew 6. He showed me that by worrying about a possible future, I was robbing my life of joy today. If my days, indeed, were numbered, they were more valuable than ever. I needed to live deliberately.
“Do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about
itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own”
(Matthew 6:34, NIV).
Ever since God and I won that battle over fear, my possible future has been wonderfully motivating. I have earned a blackbelt in karate. I am publishing my first book. If my days are truly numbered, I need to make each one count.
“…let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so
easily entangles, and let us run with perseverance the race
marked out for us” (Hebrews 12:1, NIV).
The good thing is that the LORD does grant us enough days. He knows His plans for me. He knows His plans for you! Do you trust that He will help you fulfill your life calling right on time? He is faithful!
We are not behind!
The fear creeps in on kitten-feet,
with guile and a malign care,
and one day you turn ’round to meet
it, and it is just standing there
with mockery in reddened eyes,
a sneer that bares its teeth.
It giggles at your gasps and cries,
and grounds your heart beneath
the heel that had approached in silence,
grinding hope into the earth.
Fear essays dark goal of violence,
the destruction of your worth,
but, you know, God gets a vote,
and with glee rips out fear’s throat.
This is so good, Anna.
Thanks for sharing.
P.S. I am looking forward to reading your book when it comes out.