Tomorrow I draw for the blog contest and because it’s summer, and lots of people have gone on vacation or are playing outside instead of on their computers, you’ve got a better than normal chance at winning! All you have to do is post a comment on any or all posts from the 1st through today and that comment becomes an entry in the drawing.
For those of you that aren’t aware, my husband Steve works seasonally for a company that supplies support equipment to the fire services on large fires. He left on August 25th, worked a smaller fire that wrapped up and then was assigned to the Cascade Complex fire north of Boisie, Idaho. That fire camp was pretty close to the fire when he arrived and it continued to move in their direction, day after day. Being so far away from him, it was hard to hear that it was coming closer to them and they had decided not to move the camp, but to defend their position right there.
Two days ago it actually burned over their camp. It was a huge battle with three helicopters standing guard over them and keeping the flames from hitting them directly. They were able to drive the fire around the camp, but it was a long, scary and exhausting battle.
Fortunately, no one was injured. There were some tents and property lost in fighting the fire. When he called that night he had that awful rasp in the throat that someone who has breathed way too much smoke will have. The fire has gone past them but continues to grow rapidly and is now just under 100,000 acres. Please be praying for him and the men there as there is still no estimated date of containment for the fire.
It is fearful to have your husband or any one that you love in harm’s way. How do you cope with fear or do you cope with it? Does fear overwhelm you in the middle of the night? Do you wander around your house with your heart pounding and your mind racing, turning over and over and over again trying to solve your problems or worring about what might happen to you? Do you wrestle with fear frequently or only occasionally? What do you think God has to say about fear? Have you ever thought to look and find out? He knows us, he knows our frailty and because he knows how hard fear is for us to overcome, he’s written about it hundreds of times in the scriptures.
My favorite verse about fear is:Ps 56:3-4 When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I will not be afraid. What can mortal man do to me? NIV This single verse had a tremendous impact on me years ago when I was in a life-threatening situation. My minivan with my 2 and 8 year daughters and I in it, was stranded in the third lane of five lanes on the 805 freeway in San Diego, California, with cars and semi-trucks going 70 mph all around us. That little verse had been made up into child’s song that was on a tape my girls listened to frequently. I sang that song to them and to myself for the 15–20 minutes we sat in that dangerous position. God delivered us in a miraculous way (the story is too long to tell here) but on that Good Friday, he allowed us to live to give him praise! What a glorious Easter we had that year!
Note that the verse says WHEN I am afraid, I will trust. It is not a lack of trust that you feel fear, it is a lack of trust only if you don’t bring that fear to God for him to handle. When I am afraid for my husband’s safety, I pray for him and remind myself that God is big enoiugh to handle the situation even though Steve is a thousand miles away.
I have walked with God through many seasons of fear in my life… when my first husband was diagnosed with cancer and at each stage in the process right up until he died, fear was my constant companion. At one point I was driving home on the freeway and had what I believe was a mild panic attack. At that point I literally shouted out in my car, "Lord, even if the worst happens, you will be more than enough for me." And I can tell you that as the worst did happen, He was.
Most often the things we fear don’t happen. We spend hours and hours worrying and being anxious over nothing, but sometimes, unfortunately they do happen. Being a Christian doesn’t keep you from the exact same events in life that befall others, God just keeps you IN THEM, and has a plan for you that takes you through them.
If you’re afraid, tell God, let Him know exactly what you fear and why, then think about who God is and His power, strength, mercy, and care for you and choose instead to trust in Him. It is a challenging process and one that is not easy to master, but it will make all the difference in your life.
You have feelings, but your feelings do not need to have you. You can choose to take your thoughts captive and control where you let your mind and emotions go. The bible calls it "renewing your mind." But in its simplest form it’s just "telling yourself the truth." What does God say? What do you feel? Which do you think is the truth? I find it really valuable for me to speak these kinds of things out loud. When I’m afraid for finances, for example, I go find the scriptures that speak to me of God’s care and provision and read them out loud and then I put them into my own words and pray them. I remind myself of God’s attributes and character and I also remind myself of every other time He has miraculously met my needs. Over the many years I have walked with Him, the Lord has a perfect track record in my life. That history makes it easier to trust Him with my next struggle than when I first began to walk with Him. He will do likewise with you.
Fear not… these words are in hundreds of verses are a reminder to us. Look them up and read how many times and how many ways God tells you, "I’m big, I’m strong, I’m powerful and most of all I love you and you are my child… trust me!"
THE PROVERB OF THE DAY: Prov 3:21-26 My son, preserve sound judgment and discernment, do not let them out of your sight; they will be life for you, an ornament to grace your neck. Then you will go on your way in safety, and your foot will not stumble; when you lie down, you will not be afraid; when you lie down, your sleep will be sweet. Have no fear of sudden disaster or of the ruin that overtakes the wicked, for the LORD will be your confidence and will keep your foot from being snared. NIV
Audrey Jeanne Roberts
I’ll have to remember this as I contemplate and possibly make changes in my life. Change is scary but God is always there if I look for him. Maybe I should have that tattooed on my hand where I will always see it and remember. Continuing to pray for Steve and the other firefighters and support personnel.
I’ve never really been a fearful person. I guess I decided to let God handle my fears a long time ago and he has.
Thank you for these words to think about.
I think that trusting on the Lord is the key to personal happiness. That relationship will get you through almost anything. Proverbs 3:5-8 says “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not to thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge Him, and He shall direct thy paths. Be not wise in thine own eyes: fear the Lord and depart from evil.”
Thanks for your wisdom and the ability to articulate it so well. My prayers for Steve and the crew.
I am always uplifted when I read your blog. Pray for Steve and other firefighters daily.
I’m not a fearful person either. When things happen, there is nothing I can do about it. It is what it is. In the moment of crisis, my heart races, but I remain calm.
This is a wonderful place to come to, lots of words and wisdom spoken here.
Lora
Your words meant a lot to me today. Your writing is always inspiring and blesses me.
I struggle as you know A.J. with agoraphobia everyday. Enjoyed this blog entry very much.
Your blog is lovely yu have such nice things to say on there I will pray for
steve and the other men to help them all come home safe.
I am a worrier not necessarily “fearful” – but I have learned hand things over to God.
My dh was a lineman for the Electric Company and he spent lots of nights and/or weeks out in all kinds of weather and conditions to get power restored from storm damages. I “worried” lots, and would have long conversations sitting on the sofa late at night and into the wee hours of morning with God – asking that he keep everyone safe, my husband, his co-workers, and all the folks who were without power too.
About the only thing I fear is Pain & Dentists…technology & medicine finally caught up with the prayers – I prayed for a painless dental experience and I found a Sedation Dentist (you literally sleep through your appointment) – now that’s prayer power. (That’s funny!!! The last dentist’s appointment I had, they had to pull a tooth and broke it off at the roots… to say that it hurt was a massive understatement!!! Hugs, aj)
Fear can be so consuming and something that many individuals live with on a daily basis for so many various reasons.
Several years ago during a health crisis a friend moved me to take a class in holistic healing based on our higher powers. Being disabled my entire life something of this nature was a last resort when all medical treatments have failed. I was quite skeptical but kept and open mind. Ironically the biggest lesson I learned during these classes was something that came to me during a meditation at what was my darkest hour
“Just Believe” was whispered by a male voice but there were no males close enough to have whispered to me.
Like putting our faith in the Lord I was truly instructed to just believe in the greater powers of the Lord and since that day I have done so with more fervor than ever before and life has seemed to magically work its way through some of the most difficult situations.
I will be praying for your husband and those who are there with him
I can’t believe half the month is over already!
I am not usually a fearful person either, like Granann said, I try to trust God with the details. That is not to say I’ve never been fearful. I just try to pray until it goes away, until you have that peace that passes all understanding.
Continuing to pray for Steve and the others in that situation. Thanks AJ for another inspirational message!
Thank you again for your thought provoking words. I more worry than fear things that seem out of my control. I do pray about these things and then let the Lord have them.
Hi AJ~
It seems your blog always correlates to something I am going
through, therefore I find it quite helpful and insightful, thanks!
Keeping Steve (and you) in prayer.
AJ my DH and are Paramedics and Paramedic instructor so I do believe we know the heartache you and your DH are going through….we are praying for all
I have this really bad habbit of finding something I want to read an over looking the rest, that’s what happened yesterday I seen the blog about the Cascade Fire and I zeroed in on it. Today though I felt something tell me to come back to your blogs and WOW was I ever touched. David (my husband) as we have talked about through an e-mail is still over there, I was suppost to hear something from him today and still haven’t gotten that phone call. So naturally I worry. But I have put him in God’s hands cause, I know God will take the BEST care of him. I used to fear him being gone but, after years I just started praying, and praying and God answered my prayers. I no longer have a fear of everything while he’s gone (like the dark, I used to sleep on the couch so I could hear every sound, every said, sound scared me. I would worry about him and just have these bad feelings that wouldn’t go away every ”what if”question there was, I would just cry and give him such a hard time about leaving me home alone.) The Lord has touched me in these areas.
Another thing that touched me was you said your first husband passed away from cancer. David found out 4 years ago that he had an incurable Kidney disease, and was not given good news. I prayed, my family prayed, my church prayed, sooo many people were sending up prayers for him. This was such a hard time for us he was only 25 at the time. He stayed so strong and I felt like I had to stay strong as well so no one really seen the worry and hurt in me but, God He helped me through. He was told he would have to have a transplant. To make a long story shorter he got the Kidney from his mom (which was a living donor) and here it is almost September 1 this will be 3 years. He is still out doing everything he could do before you can’t even look at him an tell he had one. God has brought me through a lot of hard times as well. I have Faith that he will be coming back home to me even if they do decide to keep him another 2 weeks, I know he is in God’s hands. I pray for everyone out there and their families. Take Care.
~Always believeing in him~
Kasey (Kasey, thank you so much for sharing your heart and for coming back and reading. You blessed my bunches! Hugs, aj)