Just a few short years ago, I was empty, scared, and uncertain all the time. I felt detached from reality and panicked.
This was largely unprompted, as my life was wonderful. I had obtained everything I’d ever hoped for — a loving husband, beautiful children, great friends, a good situation. I was very happy, but I began to live with the fear that my perfect life could unravel at any moment. Every story of tragedy shook me deeply, and I found myself “undistracted” by exciting future hopes and ambitions. I had experienced everything I had once anticipated, which was all wonderful, but there was no unknown left in my mind.
As strange as it was to begin losing hope at a time when everything was good, I did. I entered into a difficult, dark season of grappling with life, death, reality, and eternity to a dizzying degree. As I tried to wrap my mind around forever, I experienced the mental collapse caused by the impossibility of that endeavor. The icy fingers of doubt wound their way around my heart, and I felt unsure and alone.
My irreconcilable fears were a symptom of a deeper problem: I was still struggling to fully lay down my life to follow Jesus. God opened my eyes to see the countless idols I held onto and how the world and most of what I had devoted my life to was fragile and fleeting. I began to see things for what they were, and out of the struggle with doubt and fear, His wonderful light shone and filled me with faith, certainty, and hope unlike anything I could have ever dreamed.
Our hope isn’t based on our anxious wishes for nothing bad to happen. Our broken world guarantees that bad things will happen, but we are not slaves to fear. We can trust that whatever hardships or sorrows we face in this life will be brief in comparison to eternity. We can trust that all our sufferings will achieve for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.
In Jesus, we have hope that allows us to embrace life regardless of its uncertainty. We have the power of the empty tomb within us, and we hold onto the promise of heaven to come. With our hearts set firmly on things above, we can lay down our lives to follow Christ and live with an unshakable hope.
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Michele Morin says
I come back to Paul’s words in Romans 8 all the time to give me the aerial view of this world and all that I cherish in it. Thanks for coming alongside women to share that even though we live in a scary world “the sufferings of this present time do not compare with the glory which will be revealed in us” — and God’s promises are valid.
Jas says
Amen.
Debz says
I am really not a good talker. Please pray for my husband that he will be a better listener and a better father to my baby girl. Have more patience and understanding with the family. Please pray he will take care of his health too! All along I have been asking GOD why?… why us? in this boat. I could go on and on.. to make this short 19 years ago I became very very ill. Today I am in recovery (probably the rest of my life) I would not even wish this on someone I didn’t like. It was a nightmare-tragic horror. Enough about me and focus on my husband.
Thank you, Blessings
Michele Morin says
Thank you, Lord, for leading Debz to this safe place for sharing our hearts. I pray for the sadness in her voice as she shared this request. Please give her husband ears to hear that as well, and ears for all her words. Awaken in him a love for their baby daughter and a willingness to practice the slow patience of a good dad. Please bring healing to this family and help Debz as she continues her recovery to practice good habits and to do what she needs to do to stay well even when she doesn’t feel like it’s working.
Thank you, Lord, that you are able to bring encouragement and peace to this family.
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
Katie,
It’s kind of easy to not really need Jesus when things are going along swimmingly. We get the misguided notion that if we can just stay “in control” then nothing bad will ever happen. Unfortunately trying to be “in control” all the time is driven by fear and not by trust. I think the underlying fear is if something bad happens I’m not going to be able to handle it and everything will fall apart. The truth is that when bad things happen, we can’t handle it ON OUR OWN. But, that’s where Jesus comes in. In this world, He’s told us we WILL have trouble but to take heart because He has overcome the world. Walking through trials with Jesus doesn’t make everything easy. It’s still really hard, but learning that we can lean on Him as we walk THROUGH the valley and seeing that we come out the other side brings perseverance, courage, and hope and hope never disappoints. I had to, like you, be torn away from self reliance and trying to plan out MY future. When we let go of the control, stop trying to guess what’s around the bend and prepare for it, and just walk with Jesus knowing He’ll get us through, we can relax and walk in freedom. Thanks for sharing your personal journey here.
Blessings,
Bev xx
c2 says
Thank you Bev for commenting. Something in your words touched the depths of fear I was feeling and brought me to the surface so I can breathe. Thank you Katie (and Bev) for presenting the truth in Jesus that I needed RIGHT NOW. ♥ 🙂
Bev @ Walking Well With God says
c2,
Praise for being able to breathe. Lifting you in prayer!
((Hugs)),
Bev
Beth Williams says
Katie,
God did not say there would be no trials or troubles on earth. He did say “we would have troubles but take heart for I have overcome the world”. Satan prowls around trying to entice us with worldly “things & pursuits”. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. If we are fully committed to God then He has us in the palm of His hand. 1 Cor. 10:13 “No temptation has overtaken you except such as is common to man; but God is faithful, who will not allow you to be tempted beyond what you are able, but with the temptation will also make the way of escape, that you may be able to bear it.” He will help us bear each & every temptation. Just surrender it all to God.
Blessings 🙂
Thea says
Thank you Katie and Beth,
For perspective this morning 🙂 We all need that reminder from time to time to get our focus off our fears and on to Him. I know I do.
Thanks again.
Brittany | ordinarilyextraordinarymom says
Oh my goodness! This is exactly how I feel right now – like at any moment my whole world could fall apart. I’m working on doing the exact same thing – sitting it at the feet of Jesus and leaving it there.
Susan says
Me too!
Mia says
❤️
Jessica says
God opened my eyes to see the countless idols I held onto and how the world and most of what I had devoted my life to was fragile and fleeting. — So much beautiful wisdom here, Katie. Thank you for these words today.
Penny says
Katie,
How true this is…….grateful for your words. There are times when I’d battle with myself thinking, “I can’t do this”, but then I am gently reminded that I can overcome, ‘it’, but not on my own.
Have a blessed day all,
Penny
Denise Pass says
Great point! Thank you for this. Hoping happens when things are hard – that is the definition of hope – yearning for something that seems out of reach, and in Christ, our hope is certain. <3
Becky L says
Recently I’ve have many sad thoughts since losing a long time friend to cancer in Sept. Now my other long time friend is battling cancer. Makes me want to cry. Others I know dying. .close to my age. But I love on and remember the good times we had. I also need to be there for my community when there’s brokenness. My long time friends are followers of Jesus and know how our story will end. Gone from earth but forever with the Lord in heaven. That’s the hope I have that brings me back to reality and promise of God being with us. He never leaves nor forsake us. Good times. Bad times. His mercies are new every morning. Great is His faithfulness. I believe!
Rebecca Jones says
Just trusting Him, that’s all I or anyone can do.
Janet says
Thank you for sharing and encouraging me.❤️
Diane Thiel says
And you spoke to my heart. Amen for God’s grace. Thank you sister for speaking what my heart is today and the hope in strength in Jesus in this breath of ca!m and peace.
Thank you and blessings
Diane
Susan says
“My irreconcilable fears were a symptom of a deeper problem: I was still struggling to fully lay down my life to follow Jesus. God opened my eyes to see the countless idols I held onto and how the world and most of what I had devoted my life to was fragile and fleeting. I began to see things for what they were, and out of the struggle with doubt and fear, His wonderful light shone and filled me with faith, certainty, and hope unlike anything I could have ever dreamed.”
How?!?! How did you do this. I think this is written for me but I have no idea how to finally and fully let go.
Thank you for writing this!
Nancy Ruegg says
Praise God for his promises that lift our spirits and fill our hearts with hope. Thank you, Katie, for your honesty and focusing our perspective on eternal things, not earthly. “With our hearts set firmly on things above, we can lay down our lives to follow Christ and live with an unshakable hope.” Beautifully and powerfully said!