30 Days---Day 2

Describe 3 legitimate fears you have and explain how they became fears.

Three legitimate fears. There are the common fears....spiders, snakes...crickets....that kind of thing. Also, the loss of a loved one. And I don't mean to degrade losing a family member/ friend by categorizing it with a fear of spiders and snakes by any means. I can't even begin to imagine what it would feel like to lose a parent, sibling, or good friend. I am categorizing it with spiders and snakes because I feel that all of the above are common fears that not all, but most seem to have. I honestly can't even begin to imagine what that would feel like or how I would handle that situation. But anyway...I feel like it would be cheating if I used these for my three fears so I am counting them as one! Now for the other two...

Fear of the unknown. Although I am learning to embrace this...not knowing what's coming..it sure can be scary. It seems as though more and more pressure is put on high schoolers about figuring out what they want to do with their life...what they want to go to college for, what career they want to have, where they want to go to school at. It's expected that you have it all figured out... And if you don't have your life figured out, it's the end of the world. And the opposite is true too...you do have your life "figured out" and know exactly what you want to do and where you're gonna go to school at... what happens when it doesn't work out quite as you planned? It's the end of the world. Being a Christian and knowing Jesus has and is definitely helping me to overcome this fear. Knowing that I am not walking through this life alone. Although I don't know what the future holds...tomorrow, next week, next month, next year, 5 years from now....I trust in Jesus. As I am typing this out, I am coming to the realization that this is becoming less and less a fear...still freaks me out but not like it used to. Thanks, Jesus! I have found that Jesus' plans are way better than mine anyway.

Fear of not being good enough. This is something I am working on. In my head I have this idea that I have to be perfect and have everything figured out (fear of the unknown sneaking in!). I have to have all the right answers, and always say that perfect thing, those perfect words of advice or encouragement. If I know that I'm not good at something or there is a chance that I will fail at something (especially if people are around to see) I most likely won't do it. I don't like letting people down. I don't like not knowing all the answers (and most I don't!) and I don't like not feeling capable of doing something. I don't like being put in uncomfortable situations. But again, this is where Jesus comes into the picture. I don't know what I ever did without Him...and why it has taken me so long to get to the point of being comfortable...well not comfortable...but comfortable and confident to start stepping out in faith. I know that on my own, I'm not capable. But I am learning it's okay to not have all the answers to questions and solutions to problems. I may not have the perfect words of advice,  but that is when I have to trust Jesus to step in and take over. And so far in my experiences...He has if I let Him. He makes the incapable more than able! The impossible possible!

So my fears...they are constantly a work in progress. And these are just a couple.... But my biggest fear is that I will let these fears of mine get in the way of Jesus being able to use me in whatever situation I find myself in. I don't want to be held back by my fears....my God is greater than any fear, any worry, any terrible situation I may find myself in...that is super comforting. I just have to keep the faith and trust in Him!

What fears do YOU have??

"Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways submit to him, and he will make your paths straight." -Proverbs 3:5-6

"When I am afraid, I put my trust in you." -Psalm 56:3