When God says “Do not be afraid,” I imagine him comforting me. I liken it to; “Don’t worry darling, there’s nothing to worry about.” Well, turns out I’m wrong.
I’ve been getting really overwhelmed lately and small fearful thoughts enter my mind about what is to come. It doesn’t take long for them to have crept in like a thief and taken all my peace away. When I finally set aside time to come back to Jesus with my train of anxious thoughts, I was reminded of the labour analogy He’s been using to explain things to me. (See previous post) Knowing the potential of a highly traumatic experience v’s a God-enabled and hard but peaceful experience, (in Africa like in birth) I was trying to remember what the difference was in my attitudes towards those labours. (Because I want to experience the good one this time!) And I realised it was fear. Did you know that fear in labour releases your adrenaline hormones, which inhibit oxytocin being released in your brain. It is oxytocin that enables a good experience of labour, and is the hormone that reduces pain. Fear in labour is literally like shutting a door to the goodness (oxytocin) being able to come in and help you do what you are created to do. And so it seems, it is the same in life. Fear is a door that we shut in God’s face, inhibiting His goodness to come through to us. I remember a few years ago in the height of my postnatal depression, I was having a panic attack. During it I was talking to God. “Help me!!” “Trust me.” “How can I trust you if you don’t help me?” “How can I help you if you don’t trust me?” At the time I knew it was profound but I wasn’t really sure why, and I certainly wasn’t able to cooperate. I think back to that now and realise, it’s literal. I was deep in fear. I had shut the door, He couldn’t help. The good thing is, it’s very simple to open the door again. Sorry for partnering with fear Lord. I trust you. Done – door open. Trust opens the door for His Spirit and His peace to come. So now I've realised, He's not comforting me. He's commanding me. Do not fear Andy! Or you shut me out! I’m taking it a lot more seriously. If I find fear comes a knocking, I will no longer even slightly entertain it. I will trust God. Isaiah 59:2 But your iniquities have separated you from your God; your sins have hidden his face from you, so that he will not hear. Joshua 1:9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go. https://www.birthinternational.com/articles/birth/16-pain-in-labour http://io9.com/5925206/10-reasons-why-oxytocin-is-the-most-amazing-molecule-in-the-world
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AuthorWe are Brad, Andy, Hunter and Belle. Hoping to keep you connected! Archives
May 2019
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