The Spirit of Power Defeats Fear
For as long as I can remember I have been afraid of water. At our Women’s Retreat a few weeks ago, the topic came up several times during the second session in which we mingled and asked questions that were printed on the inside of our water bottle labels. Because the retreat had a beach getaway theme, there were a lot of questions about water.
During the first Saturday morning session, we sat quietly meditating on the sound of waves, focusing on our retreat verse, Psalm 46:10: “Be still, and know that I am God.” During that meditation time, my thoughts wandered to our upcoming (now past) vacation. We had plans to go to the Redwoods in Northern California, but the Lord brought to my mind the jet boat trips that you can take up the Rogue River out of Gold Beach, Oregon. I tried to set this idea aside because the last time my husband and I took that trip about 18 years ago, I was terrified. I hardly enjoyed it because of the knots in my stomach from fear. But it just kept coming back to me.
So when I got home I suggested to my husband that we do the jet boat trip, and he loved the idea. We just took the 104-mile round trip up the Rogue with our son last Monday, July 4. It was a beautiful sunny day, with not a cloud in the sky. The scenery was awesome. We saw bald eagles, cormorants, osprey, turkey vultures, swallow nests, merganser ducks with ducklings, blue heron, deer, otter, turtles, a sea lion, and lots of dogs riding on rafts or out camping. We also had a terrific boat captain who made the trip extra special.
But the absolutely best thing about the boat ride was that about halfway through I realized I felt no fear at all. I thought of one of my favorite verses.
For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, of love and of self-discipline. 2 Timothy 1:7 (NIV).
The Holy Spirit prompted me to go on this boat ride and He took away my fear of the boat ride. I felt at peace, knowing that I could trust our boat captain, and that I could trust that God would not send me on a trip unless He planned to see me through. The Spirit of power that God has given me defeated the spirit of timidity and fear.
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I don’t think I’ve had a fear like that, but for many years I had horrendous nightmares, waking with a huge tarantula spider coming down towards my face. I would wake screaming and my husband said I had goosebumps the size of pumpkins. Whenever I saw a spider of any sort, I would literally freak out.
After my loving heavenly Father gently lead me through the day under the house that had caused these nightmares, my dread of spiders vanished. I’ll never really like spiders, but they hold no terror.
Yes, truly God is great. When He heals – whether it be past hurts, harmful addictions, fears, dreads, anxieties or whatever – He heals completely.
What a Saviour!
I’m not a big fan of spiders, either, but am not really scared of them. My water phobia stems from the time I sunk to the bottom of the pool when learning to tread water in swim lessons when I was in the third grade. Someone had to jump in the 7 foot deep pool and pull me out because I couldn’t get back up to the surface. For years I had bad dreams about being under water and there being something on the surface preventing me from getting above water. I am so thankful that God has healed me of this terrible phobia and so many other things. 🙂 He is awesome! Peace, Linda
With God all things are possible. Isn’t He just the Best! Where are you going for your next water trip?
Myfanwy, I don’t know where my next water trip will be, but I know He wants me to move out in His Spirit of Power and not have fear in anything I do. We came home a day early from our trip, so I went to church this morning and the sermon was on being bold for Christ. Our guest speaker quoted 2 Timothy 1:7! I think God is trying to tell me something. If I can conquer one of my greatest fears with His help, I can do anything. Peace, Linda
Praise God. I’m waiting for the next chapter.
Thanks for sharing, Linda
This post makes me smile as I think through past conversations I have had about large bodies of water.
Hawaii is on my dream destination but getting there has me rethinking.
…. I should take a page or two from your book. 🙂 Funny, I know that verse by heart but I just walk around doing the boat or ship or cruise liner ideas 🙂 I will get there yet!
Nice shot.! I`ve never seen one up close so thanks mucho.
Blessings much,
ann
Ann, Always remember, you can do all things through Christ who strengthens us! If He wants you to do something, He will give you the power and the courage to do it. Glad you liked the photo. I wish my bald eagle photos had turned out better. Peace, Linda
LInda, this just encourages me so much, to see how He guides you and then covers you. And makes those verses come to life for you. I feel like He is preparing you for something more, for the future plans that He has for you. 🙂
God bless you and lead you on fearlessly today!
Deb, I’m glad this encouraged you. I think you might be right about Him preparing me for something more. In church this morning the topic was being bold for Christ, and this 2 Timothy verse was quoted by our guest speaker (even though it was not one of the scheduled readings for the day). He mentioned a writing instructor he once had who said his students’ writing was timid when it needed to be bold. I realized that as bold as I am with my writing, God wants me to be bolder – though not obnoxious. Fearless – that is what I want to be! Peace, Linda
I am so glad. God is so good!
Blessings,
Theresa
Theresa, Yes He is! Plus, that was the best day of our vacation so far. 🙂 Peace, Linda