"Don't be afraid; just believe."

What are you afraid of? Death, sickness, the dark, strangers, our kids safety? The list could go on and on. This past weekend at the beach I spent some time with the Father and He showed me how much fear had me in bondage. Now, I certainly didn't THINK I was afraid, but He showed me otherwise. Then He lead me to this verse in Mark 5.

We're all familiar with the story of Jarius, the synagogue ruler and his sick daughter. Here was Jarius, a leader in town falling at the feet of Jesus on behalf of his sick daughter. Jesus, being full of mercy, went with him to see the child but then the crowd pushed in, the woman with the bleeding touched his clothes and Jesus "realized that power had gone out from him" so He had to stop and ask "Who touched me?" (As if He didn't know already!) So Jesus stops and heals this woman on His way and then the some men came from Jarius' home to tell him the girl was dead and not to "bother the teacher". Jesus ignores them (don't you LOVE that?) and looks at Jarius and tells him "Don't be afraid; just believe." (Mark 5:36) Jesus then goes in and wakes the girl from her "sleep".

Now, I've read that story before and that verse before but this weekend God's Word fell so fresh on me. "Don't be afraid; just believe." Why have I let fear have such a stronghold on me? Do I think my anxiety over whatever I'm afraid of is bigger than God? Obviously so if I can't let go of it. If I TRULY believe God then why be afraid? I truly let God have that fear when I sent that shell flying and since then I've slept better, I've been more at peace. I've TRULY rested in my Abba Daddy's lap. He really wants that for all of us. He wants us to trust Him with our WHOLE lives. He wants us to trust Him with our marriages, with our kids, with our finances, ALL OF IT! There's such freedom in a life with the Lord! It is amazing! Won't you let that fear go? God can handle whatever you're afraid of SO MUCH better than you!