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    • Finding “Bread” in the Valley

      Posted at 7:00 am by sneuhofer, on December 13, 2017

      John 6:35 (NCV) Then Jesus said, “I am the bread that gives life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry, and whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.”

      I’ve come to this place again where I have given FEAR a foothold and allowed it to dictate my actions. So frustrated with myself this morning, I cried out to God “Lord what is WRONG with me? I don’t want to be this person… I so desire to be in your word and in fellowship with you.  Why am I struggling?”

      In the quietness I heard His still small voice “You’re not getting alone with me… You are not allowing me to sustain you through this valley.”

      As much as I hate to admit it…  I haven’t been having a good quiet time lately. I’ve been distracted by the circumstances in my life. My son, 12 years old,  is growing up and is demanding his independence. He sure is good at being a 12 year old, strong-willed young man. To be honest…his demands are not often handled the right way and as a parent, my job is to guide and discipline – and sometimes I feel like a failure at it. I become the worst version of my self…and I blow up. Not good…not good at all! For me, change is so difficult…and I can’t control it one bit.

      Ok, there you have it. This is another opportunity for me to trust God with everything… yet I worry. He wants us to CRY out to Him. Yet, when I worry or stress, I tend to shut down completely. I become too afraid to move. Reading through the gospel of John this morning, I was reminded of why I felt like this in the first place. It isn’t because I’m worried; It’s because I haven’t been handing my worry over to Jesus and trusting Him to provide.

      Jesus is the only One who can sustain us and provide for every need we have. In times like this, I shouldn’t run and hide from the world around me. I should RUN to CHRIST and cling to him for every thirst, hunger and need. It shouldn’t matter that I am trying to get through to a strong-willed 12 year old who thinks he knows everything.  I should be talking to Him about helping me through whatever “tantrum” comes next. He already knows my heart and my circumstance, it’s up to me to talk to Him about it….and lay it down at His feet.

      He is the bread of life….and I can find nourishment and refreshment for my soul through Him. I don’t have to waste away in the middle of this valley, I can feast at the table of the Lord because He not will only satisfy my physical needs…but my spiritual needs as well.

      God is greater than any problem I have.  He will provide for every single need. 

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      Posted in fear, trust, worry | 0 Comments
    • Get out of that fear pit!

      Posted at 12:18 pm by sneuhofer, on October 5, 2017

      Psalm 27:1 “The Lord is my light and the one who saves me. So why should I fear anyone? The Lord protects my life. So why should I be afraid?”

      According to Noah Webster’s 1828 American dictionary, the word fear is defined as:

      FEAR n. A painful emotion or passion excited by an expectation of evil, or the apprehension of impending danger. Fear is an uneasiness of mind, upon the thought of future evil likely to befall us.

      I think Mr. Webster got it right. Fear is “a painful emotion” and can imprison us within ourselves. Once inside those dark walls, “fear” can renders us completely helpless. Have you ever been there at one time or another in your life? I have and it…FEAR…has left me paralyzed for days, even years.

      Have you ever had the fear of being rejected or misunderstood? What about the fear of being overcome with a sickness that would not allow you to provide for your family? Or the fear of dying or losing your job in this down turned economy?

      The list of “fears” is endless. But there is hope…and his name is JESUS! It was only by keeping my eyes firmly fixed on Jesus and His plan for my life that I was able to “shake” the grip fear had on me for so many years…. yes I said years!

      God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears. (Psalm 34:4 MSG)

      Jesus surrounded me with an amazing circle of friends that loved me and encouraged me to “get out of my pit” and walk the path Christ had laid out for me.

      If you are sitting in a “fear pit” you are right where Satan wants you…doing absolutely nothing for JESUS.

      Is fear holding you captive today? Dispel fear’s darkness by calling on the LIGHT (Psalm 27:1) to save you and then focus on what is true (Philippians 4:8).

      Additional scriptures on fear: Psalm 34:4, 1 Peter 5:7, Isaiah 41:10, Psalm 91:4, Matthew 6:26-34

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      Posted in darkness, fear, helplessness, the Lord my light | 0 Comments
    • Why won’t you answer me, God?

      Posted at 8:45 am by sneuhofer, on August 24, 2017
      Have you ever poured out your soul to God before? Perhaps you have chronic illness or pain, or you have doubts or fears about how a situation is going to turn out in your life. The only question you have is “Why God?” or “How long do I have to cry out to you before you help me?” I know I sure have…and sometimes I cry out to him multiple times a day. But I can’t help but thank Him when I am reminded of His faithfulness when I read through my Bible and see example after example of God’s children crying out to Him in their time of need.

      Psalm 102:1-2 (MSG) God, listen! Listen to my prayer, listen to the pain in my cries. Don’t turn your back on me just when I need you so desperately. Pay attention! This is a cry for help! And hurry—this can’t wait!

      Habakkuk 1:1-4 (MSG) God, how long do I have to cry out for help before you listen? How many times do I have to yell, “Help! Murder! Police!” before you come to the rescue? Why do you force me to look at evil, stare trouble in the face day after day? Anarchy and violence break out, quarrels and fights all over the place. Law and order fall to pieces. Justice is a joke. The wicked have the righteous hamstrung and stand justice on its head.

      In both of these instances the Psalmist and Habakkuk cry out to God in desperation. Although there’s a difference in their plea, they both cry out because they know they can go directly to God, in times of joy and trouble, and He will hear them.

      The Psalmist and Habakkuk weren’t afraid to pose their questions and concerns to God. In Psalm 102, the Psalmist recognizes that God will be enthroned forever (102:12). If you continue to read on in both Psalm 102 and Habakkuk 1, you will also see that God knew exactly what was going on and was in control. The truth is our God is sovereign and His plan (short-term or long-range) will be fulfilled on His timetable.

      Even today, the same is true for us. We may not like our current circumstances (an illness, pain, marital issues,  the direction of our nation, senseless killings, robberies, terrorist attacks, abortions, famine,etc.)  we have to realize that God is still in the driver’s seat. Nothing that happens in this world catches him by surprise…NOT one thing. God is working out His purposes in His own time, not ours and certainly not according to our comfort level.

      The Psalmist’s and Habakkuk’s example are ones of encouragement, especially when we fear God doesn’t see our circumstances. I challenge you to read Psalm 102 and the 3 short chapters of Habakkuk today and consider the following:

      Take your complaint/concern to God.
      Wait for God to answer.
      When God answers, Rejoice/Praise Him for the outcome.

       

       

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      Posted in doubt, fear, trusting God | 0 Comments
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