December 1, 2021

                                                        Week One / Wednesday

Overcoming the Fear of…

Being Alone

But now thus says the Lord, he who created you, O Jacob, he who formed you, O Israel: “Fear not, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name, you are mine. When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and through the rivers, they shall not overwhelm you; when you walk through fire you shall not be burned, and the flame shall not consume you.”

-Isaiah 43:1-2

 

Being alone. The word “alone” has a negative connotation. It’s a word in our society that makes us feel set apart, outcast, by ourselves. We are afraid to sit alone at lunch, to walk home alone, to be alone in our room for a long time, to stay home alone, and to spend the weekends alone. Being alone is something that I find myself struggling with often. This fear often overcomes my thoughts, as I sit alone at night pondering how I could feel so lonely with so many people around me. When the fear overwhelms me, I often ask God why I am so afraid of being lonely. “Why can I not accept that I am alone at this moment?”

 

God often speaks to me about acceptance of the moment. As Isaiah says in this passage, we are not alone, God is there. So then, you may ask, “Why do we feel loneliness?” Loneliness reflects our fear of not being accepted. Although we know that God is present, we still feel this empty void. Sometimes we try to fill that void with worldly things to distract us from this feeling of loneliness. 

 

That void will never be filled without God.

 

Yes, I still struggle with the fear of loneliness. And yes, there are days where I shut God out when I should let him in. Here’s the thing, though: God will not give up on you. God has called us and created us, as Isaiah says.  He formed us to be with Him.

In what ways do you fear being alone?                   

 

Read Isaiah 43:1-2 one more time.

• What does this scripture tell you about God?  

 

• What does this scripture tell you about your fear?

 

 

Prayer for Today:  LORD God, help me accept that there are times I will feel alone. Help me know that I can always turn to you in this loneliness and that you are always present. Help me turn to you not just in my successes but also my struggles. Even through our hardships, you are there. I love you God, and in Your Name I pray, AMEN!

 

Written by: Olivia Gray 

NextGen High School Youth

November 30, 2021

 Week One / Tuesday

Overcoming the Fear of… 

Rejection

Be merciful to me, my God, for my enemies are in hot pursuit; all day long they press their attack. My adversaries pursue me all day long; in their pride many are attacking me. When I am afraid, I put my trust in you. In God, whose word I praise— in God I trust and am not afraid. What can mere mortals do to me?  - Psalm 56:1-4

What are your fears in life? Fear of failure?  Fear of death?  Fear of not being accepted by others?

 

As human beings we need social interaction, we need to be loved, we need the warmth of being included. The fear that we might be denied these emotions from others can leave us feeling lonely and lost.

 

In Psalm 56, David has been captured by his enemies, the Philistines at Gath.  He fears for his life.  As he wrote, "for man would swallow me up". David did not know where his rejection from the Philistines would lead.  But, he leaves his fears to God. "Whenever I am afraid, I will trust in you… In God I have put my trust…”

 

Our fears of rejection grow out of our anxiety in situations that may lead to rejection, for example: meeting new people, job interviews, marriage, sports teams.

 

The power that God gave David was His protection from his enemies.  God delivered him from death.  David was faithful and trusted God, so he could say, "What can flesh do to me?" 

 

God never rejects us. The good news is, if we feel lonely and lost because of rejection, remember we have the love of God.

When we trust God with our fears, we can know that God loves us and will never reject us. We can show our true selves to the world. 

 

Prayers, faithfulness, believing, and trusting that God lives through us, will give us the freedom from fear to live a fuller life.

what ways do you fear rejection?                  

 

Read Psalm 56:1-4 one more time.

• What does this scripture tell you about God?  

 

• What does this scripture tell you about your fear?

 

 

Prayer for Today: Father, I find strength in your love and acceptance.  I am thankful for your mercy.  My fears are your strength. 

 

Written by: Sandy Burnett 

Elder, Evangelism Team, First Impressions Team

November 29, 2021

Week One / Monday

Overcoming the Fear of…

Standing Firm in the Faith

 

Who will harm you if you are eager to do what is good?  But even if you should suffer for doing what is right, how happy you are!  Do not be afraid of anyone, and do not worry.  But have reverence for Christ in your hearts, and honor him as Lord.  Be ready at all times to answer anyone who asks you to explain the hope you have in you…  – 1 Peter 3:13-15

 

Verse 16 then goes onto say… “but do it with gentleness and respect”.  I don’t think you can have gentleness and respect, without love mixed in there.

These few verses are jam-packed with richness.  First of all, I believe Peter is telling us that God is behind us, no matter what we are going through.  We may even suffer in doing what is righteous.  We can have confidence in God’s protection from harm, as we are obedient in doing what He wants us to do.   We need not fear anything or anyone. 

(I think “do not fear/be afraid” is written over 300 times in the Bible!  The writers knew what we would face.  What a reminder, we must need!) 

And shouldn’t we spread goodness with joy?  As we do good, we are honoring Him, with deep respect.  In the last part of this scripture, we must be ready to explain why we have such hope inside of us.  This is the part that becomes “scary” for me.  I wonder if people are ready to hear my story (which is actually, God’s story).  I pray before I speak that the Holy Spirit would soften their hearts, and for His words to be mine. 

I cannot become scared or worry, because, well, Peter tells me not to.  So, I replace fear and envelop myself in Him.  His Love cancels out all fear, as it says in 1 John 4:18: “There is no fear in love; perfect love drives out fear…”

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In what ways do you fear standing firm in the faith?                  

 

Read 1 Peter 3:13-15 one more time.

-       What does this scripture tell you about God?  

-       What does this scripture tell you about your fear?

 

Prayer for Today: Precious Lord, please help me to do the good that you will for me to do. Help me feel protected by you. I praise you that Your confidence surrounds me, so I need not be afraid. I honor You, Jesus. Thank you for equipping me with your love, each time I come in contact with others. I love You, Almighty Father. Amen

 

Written by: Laura Brownlee

Prayer Team, NextGen Ministry Team

November 28, 2021

Week One / Sunday

Overcoming the Fear of…

Being Known

 

On that day it shall be said to Jerusalem: Fear not, O Zion; let not your hands be weak. The Lord your God is in your midst, The Mighty One who will save; He will rejoice over you with gladness; He will quiet you by His love; He will rejoice over you with singing.  - Zephaniah 3:16-17

 

I understand that the Bible says God knows how many hairs my kids are making me lose a day and what the sparrow is having for lunch, but seriously, does He ever take interest in my mundane life? Does He even know what I am going through and the struggles I am facing? Don’t you just love how the devil tries to weasel his way into the corners of your mind, placing that tiny seed of doubt that God isn’t a 100% Almighty, All-Caring, All-Sovereign God?! The devil loves to see us crumble with the thought that we aren’t that significant to the Most High, and God probably couldn’t pick you out of a crowd, right?

 

Of course, we know that’s insane… to think that God doesn’t truly know His own, but when we are in the thick of our pain and struggle, we may give credence to that thought. Take heart, (and I’m speaking to myself in this too!) that we are not merely lost in a sea of faces to our Heavenly Father. Our Omnipotent, Creator God –the MIGHTY One who will save, whispers my name. He looks in favor on ME and says, “I KNOW you, Ashley. You are mine. You are a daughter of the King, and I delight in YOU.” 

 

God is our Abba Father. He is a personal God and He is in our midst! He delights and rejoices over each of His children, and He most certainly delights and rejoices in YOU.  

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In what ways do you fear being known?                   

 

Read Zephaniah 3:16-17 one more time.

-      * What does this scripture tell you about God? 

-      *  What does this scripture tell you about your fear?

Prayer for Today: Father God, help me to remember that I am Yours. and I always am, and will be, known by name to You. Thank You for being such a personal and “in-touch” God with Your children. In Your Name, Amen.

  

Written by: Ashley Wright

Worship Team, Touchpoints Care Team

Introduction

 

Fear Not…

When I was a child, night was hard for me.  It was dark.  It was quiet.  My imagination would swirl around in my head, morphing shadows into monsters and creaks into whispers.

As I grew up, I overcame that fear of the night (mostly).  My imagination wasn’t able to trick me any longer.  I had put to rest the myth of the boogeyman.  I learned that houses “settle” and those supposed voices were nothing more than the wind howling through the trees or the air conditioner kicking on.

I overcame that fear… but, not all of them.  In fact, as I grew, new fears found their way into me.  They settled into my heart and my mind, and they started to affect not only my nights, but my days as well. 

What are your fears?...  We all have them… some stuffed so far down in us that we have now seemingly covered them with pretty clothes, a fancy job, a busy schedule, or the simple belief that we have it all under control.  Ah yes, as adults, we learn to mask our fears, or deceive ourselves into thinking we no longer have them.

The LORD God is intentional when He speaks.  He does not give us a command that we do not need.  So, when we read, over and over again, “Do not fear…” it is because He is the God who wants us to acknowledge that we have them… so that, through Him, we can overcome.

As you read the words of our fellow Grace loved ones during this Advent season, may you reach deep into the hidden places of your heart, acknowledge your fears, and lay them at the feet of the Prince of Peace.  He is with you, and mighty to save.

With Utmost Joy, Danielle & the Grace Staff