Fear

When You Are Worried

Are you worried? Worry can be terrifying. We worry about our children, our health, our finances, our marriage, and on and on. Worry asks the question, “What is going to happen?” One night I was worrying. What if this happens? What am I going to do? What are we going to do? Worry is like… Continue reading When You Are Worried

Are You Worried?

I know what it is to worry at 3:00 A.M. Do you? If you are like many, worry can take center stage in your mind and refuse to leave until it has exhausted your imagination with all sorts of frightening possibilities. Do you worry about what someone thinks? The truth is that you just can’t… Continue reading Are You Worried?

Don’t Let Your Fears Take Control

Over and over the Bible says, “Do not be afraid.” So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. (Isa. 41:10) Moses said to the people, “Do not be afraid. God has come to test you, so… Continue reading Don’t Let Your Fears Take Control

Can Others Tell When You Are Afraid?

That afternoon, we drove away from their house. We had been in a difficult conversation. We met with a woman whom we both liked and admired but found difficult. She seemed self-assured and almost smug. I told my wife that it seemed as if she perceived herself to be an expert on most subjects. Yet,… Continue reading Can Others Tell When You Are Afraid?

When You are Afraid

“Were you afraid?” she asked. Of course I was. We were moving across the country after living in Waco for twenty years. We were leaving the known and entering the unknown. Yes, I know fear. Typically I become afraid of what could happen. After all, “What if?” Meanwhile, early this morning I sat at a… Continue reading When You are Afraid

The Real Me (and perhaps the real you)

The real me is a guy who sometimes spends too much time wrestling with fear and worry. Does this sound familiar? If not, you may want to skip the rest of this post. Like you, the real me is more than fear. There are other qualities that I hope I’ve grown and matured in over… Continue reading The Real Me (and perhaps the real you)

What Has Fear Done To You?

Jon Acuff has written a fine book entitled Start. At one point in the book as he discusses fear he writes, “Stories without dragons are boring” (p. 64). He says that in every story there is typically a villain of some sort. For many of us the villain in our lives is the voice that… Continue reading What Has Fear Done To You?

(I am away on a vacation/study break during the month of July. The posts that appear during the month are from the archives.) Fear. It is everywhere! No, I am not talking about the fear of the Lord. Nor am I talking about any sort of healthy fear. No, I am referring to another kind… Continue reading Fear

When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle

David Seamands, a longtime Christian counselor, told of a young woman whose mom always demanded perfection. She was never good enough for mom’s praise. When she was 6 or 7 she had a piano recital. She had worked hard and practiced and practiced. On the day of the recital she performed her piece flawlessly. Her… Continue reading When Perfection Becomes an Obstacle

When the Sharp Teeth are Pulled From Human Anxiety

Lately, I have been spending a lot of time with The Paraclete Psalter: A Book of Daily Prayer. Yesterday’s reflection on Psalm 46 was especially meaningful to me. God is our refuge and strength. In 1529 the church reformer and former Augustinian monk Martin Luther paraphrased Psalm 46 in a hymn that has been sung… Continue reading When the Sharp Teeth are Pulled From Human Anxiety