Fear is a LIAR

1 Peter 5:6-7

"Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time he may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on him because he cares for you."

Your average college freshman would look at you and maybe explain to you that they are stressed and exhausted, but that's not it. It wasn't stress that was keeping me up at night they past few weeks. It was fear.

"Fear is a liar

He will take your breath

Stop you in your steps

Fear is a liar

He will rob your rest

Steal your happiness."

This song by Zach Williams tells it how it is. It explains how it feels to live in fear. Living in fear is crippling, and if anyone is honest they'll tell you they don't choose to live in it. But what I have come to realize is when I am afraid and I don't completely fall into the arms of God, his word, and prayer that I am choosing fear. Over the past couple weeks, as I said before, I have been afraid. What is there to be afraid of when your weekly schedule consists of class, working at a frozen yogurt store, riding horses, church, spin class, yoga, and loving people? Well, there is a lot to be afraid of really. I began letting thoughts run in my head that were extremely unnecessary but completely changed the way I felt and acted. As I was already in the word daily my heart became upset because I didn't want to be afraid. I literally think I prayed 24/7 out of pure desperation. I wanted to get away from the things taught in school, and the lies of fear satan tried to tell me. The only place I wanted to be was before the Lord in his presence.

I was exhausted. I was seeking the Lord all throughout, he would give me peace, but I feared my thoughts and the enemy still; so what was he trying to show me?

Noah took me on a trip as all of this was going on in my life. For my birthday, which was in November, he had bought me tickets to go to a concert in Atlanta. It was amazing and I knew when we were leaving God had a plan in it all. Of course, he always does.

We ended up staying the night with his Uncle Jeff and Aunt Juliet after the concert was over since they live in the area. The next morning as we attended church with them the entire passage of scripture in the sermon took a hold of my heart.

Luke 5:1-11

Peter, how could I forget about Peter? Peter the one who was afraid, Peter the one who had deep thought, Peter THE PETER. That's what I kept thinking in my head; how in the world, as I went through this time in my life of fear and doubt, could I forget about Peter? Throughout these verses Peter isn't thinking about the fish, or his fear of losing money anymore; instead he realizes who Jesus is and who he is. Jesus simply replies to his reaction by explaining that he wanted Peter and he loved him. JESUS WANTS ME AND LOVES ME...What do I have to fear? In verse 10, Jesus goes on to explain: 'Don't be afraid." That right there stopped me in my tracks. It was so clear in my heart that I didn't have to be afraid. As Jesus tells Peter that he has plans for him, he loves him, and he doesn't have to be afraid I couldn't help but just feel peace, tear up and write these things:

I don't have to be afraid.

I don't have to live in fear.

I can live with confidence in Christ.

Christ says: "Don't fear."

Christ says: "I got big plans for YOU Hannah!"

Overcoming anything cannot happen in our own strength. As God continues to wrap me in his love I want to seek him and see his plan for me unfold.