Fear. It robs peace, paralyzes progress and incites ongoing worry. It can creep onto the throne of our hearts in sly, slow progression, or as a catastrophic blast in the wake of overwhelming circumstance. Do you ever fear? Fear transparency? Fear of battling what you face?
In Mistletoe Movie Star, we see characters like Char exercise faith – not in the absence of fear, but in the midst of it. The Mistletoe characters often fear transparency. Char feared a broken and bare heart in the hands of Jonas Blade. Jonas feared rejection in the absence of fame or any humanitarian success to commend him. Natalie feared the exposure of her impoverished living circumstances. One of the greatest human needs is to belong – to be fully known yet fully loved anyway. To be accepted - not in the absence of our failings, but in the presence of them. To be adopted into committed intimacy with God and one another. Our longing to belong is inescapable – it reflects our Designer who Himself is community – being Father, Son, and Holy Spirit. Char exemplifies Christ’s acceptance of the destitute girls when she leaps to embrace them in distress and persistently advocate for their adoption. She knew that when Jesus’ hands were nailed onto pieces of wood, He surrendered to becoming sin so that invitation could be made for our adoption in.
Circumstances can also paralyze us with fear. In the absence of a known ending, Char was plagued with fear-filled questions about Nat, Beth and Suzy’s future, and plagued with insecurity about her capability in running a shelter effectively. Yet in the face of these fears she repeatedly recalls Scripture, calls others to pray as a community, and looks to her Lord’s proven character to work all things according to His glory and the good of His people. God cannot be less than He is, and He is always victorious.
Regardless of why or how fear has come, its presence will either move us to focus on the circumstances that we can see, or move us to trust in the One who controls the circumstances. When our minds fill up with worry, let’s meditate on Jesus’ sovereignty. When our emotions fear rejection, let’s lean into His acceptance. Like Char, let’s step out in faith whenever we fear by calling on God’s power and presence to overcome the worry that we cannot. The very fear that distresses us can be the means God uses to grow our faith and testify to the One who ushers in peace.
…do not be anxious about anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known to God. And the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. Philippians 4:6-7
Mistletoe Movie Star releases Dec 1st! Don’t miss your chance to read what others have called the best Mistletoe book yet!
Andrea Thom is a married mom to three kids and a therapist. She teaches the Bible through her writing and speaking ministry and has authored two Bible studies: Ruth—Redeeming the Darkness and Amos—Come Awake! You can connect with Andrea at AndreaThom.com
Today, I remember the men and women who have fought for my freedom. It cost many their lives. Acknowledging their courage and sacrifice does not seem like enough.
Both my grandfathers fought in the war. My parents remember those days. My mom has spoken of living on war rations, pulling closed the blackout curtains, and hearing the planes in the air. I’ve been privileged to never know the horror or fear of that kind of uncertainty. In thanks for the peace and security that our soldiers won for our country, I will stop and remember.
I am thankful to those still fighting for freedom. Freedom always comes at a price. I can sleep in peace because someone else is watching over me. I can speak, believe, and live without fear because men and women in our country have fought to protect this freedom.
I remember those men and women, and in doing so, I can’t help but also remember the Lord. Freedom from eternal death comes at a price. Jesus gave his life so I wouldn’t have to. I know security because Christ won it for me. I sleep in peace because God watches over me. His life for mine, I must never forget.
We must never forget the great price that has been paid for our freedom.
Canadians are known across the world for maple syrup, ice hockey, and (my favourite) butter tarts. We eat KD, toboggan, and bring a box of Timbits to the office. We are well known as an overly polite group of people. We apologize even when we’ve done nothing wrong and seek harmony. With all this in mind, it seems fitting that during a year when the Coronavirus hogs every headline and when politics have stirred up a hornets’ nest, to choose thankfulness. I’ve started a list. I remember all the Lord has done for us, and what better time is there to be thankful than Thanksgiving?
I am very thankful to live in such a wonderful community filled with kind neighbours.
I am thankful that we have a home to live in, clothes to wear, and food in the cupboards.
I am thankful that God has made a way for us to know Him through Jesus Christ.
I am thankful that God calls us to repentance and gives us the faith to believe in Jesus.
I am thankful that Jesus covers us with His purity when we repent and believe.
I am thankful that God holds us in the palm of His hand and nothing can separate His children from his love.
To my Canadian friends, what are you thankful for this Thanksgiving? To my American ones, you have another month to make your list! I’d love to read it when you are finished. To the rest of the world, you don’t need to wait for a holiday. Every day is a good day to practise thankfulness.
I’ve spent some time this past spring and summer guest-posting on various websites. Some posts are refreshed favourites and others are new. I hope you are blessed as you read them.
Press On, Sweet Sister
July 16, 2020
When my husband and I first entered full-time ministry, I was confident I knew how life would play out. But after five short years, we had packed our bags to leave, convinced we were unfit for the calling. Ministry has a funny way of turning our certainties on their heads.
We might both be involved in ministry, but your journey will be distinctive to you. You have brought your own set of expectations and certainties to this adventure. Your relationship with the Lord is uniquely yours, shaped by his sovereign hand to craft you into the image of himself. The edges he sands off of you might be vastly different from my sharp edges. The stretching you endure will be intimately tied to your needs and his will for your life. The only certainty I can claim that we share with 100% confidence is our need to remain before the cross in humble dependence upon God’s mercy, admitting our constant need for him.
Queen Esther’s character emerged when she, along with many other young women, were swept into a human-trafficking ring of sorts. Their custodial pimp, Hegai, spent 12 months beautifying them in a preparational harem, and then they competed for a prize that would make them little more than a sex slave with the title.
One by one, Hegai sent them to the King.
In the evening, she would go in and in the morning she would return to the second harem, to the custody of Shaashgaz, the King’s eunuch who was in charge of the concubines.”
Esther 2:14
These girls didn’t parade before the King twirling batons or displaying vocal talents; their audition was an overnight visit. Esther wins this twisted Old Testament beauty pageant and joins the King’s concubines.
“As they go through the Valley of Baca they make it a place of springs; the early rain also covers it with pools. They go from strength to strength; each one appears before God in Zion.” (Psalm 84:6-7, ESV)
I love to run. Well, maybe it’s more accurate to say that I love how I feel when I run. I love how running clears my mind and quiets my soul. I love how strong my body becomes after running regularly. I register for races because I need the motivation of a goal, but after I register, I question my sanity. Why do I keep doing this to myself? Why did I commit to another grueling workout schedule? And most importantly, why did I join with a friend? Now, I can’t back out. I have to continually remind myself that the discomfort of training is worth the glory of finishing with a strong body and mind.
Race day dawns with excitement. The crowd cheers, the gun explodes, and thousands of feet hit the pavement, but soon that excitement fades. The crowd thins. I’m left in the race, just putting one foot in front of the other, looking for the finish line. I am tempted to quit, but my friend encourages me. She wants to stop, so I support her. And as we pass mile marker after mile marker, the strangest thing happens. Our strength and determination increase instead of decreasing. Every stride brings us closer to the finish. We are encouraged as we help one another overcome difficulty and exhaustion. We pump worship tunes through headphones, and the remaining distance to the finish line shrinks. Mental fatigue lessens. Soon, people are lining the streets again, cheering because we are close to the finish. We become invigorated. The prize is in sight.
… It’s in the difficult moments of uncertainty that the testing of my faith produces steadfastness, and I must let steadfastness complete its work in me because the trial ultimately leads me to hope (James 1:3-4). Romans 5:3-4 is clear, if I want hope, I must understand it comes from character. Character is produced by perseverance, and perseverance is birthed from suffering. Every leader must decide if it is worth fighting through suffering to find their hope and joy in the Lord.
Unshaken: How to Face Chaos and Danger Without Fear
March 23, 2020
There was a morning quite a few years ago when my children were small that the wind picked up. Three nearby trees went down and every boom and crack sent the neighborhood running into their backyards to investigate.
I watched out my window as our giant maple swayed like a hula dancer at the mercy of the wind. I felt a bit like the third little pig waiting to see if the huffing and puffing would blow our tree down onto our house of bricks.
Our children were at school 1KM down the street, so after a few more booms and the power failing, I walked out front and looked toward the school. In the distance, I could see the flashing lights of emergency vehicles.
My husband has also visited the Fear Warrior blog, and he is giving away his book, Anxiety Attack. Visit the post below for information.
How Your Response to Problems can Conquer Anxiety
by Kevin Weeks
June 1, 2020
The date was April 1, 2018: Easter Sunday morning. I was only minutes away from preaching the first of two services, and I had major knots in my stomach. More than normal. Far more.
I couldn’t think straight. My brain slogged through a dense fog.
My emotions were all over the place. They had been for some time.
I wasn’t sure if I had the physical strength, the emotional strength, or the spiritual strength to stand up and preach again.
As this storm raged in me, I sank into a chair at the back of our Worship Centre. I cradled my head in my hands, occasionally looking up.People were walking past me, finding their seats, ready for the worship gathering to begin. I was trying to smile and say hi to people, but the smiles felt fake. I could barely maintain eye contact.
There I sat, alone in a room full of people, wondering what in the world was happening to me. Raw emotion smouldered, ready to burst through the surface in a blistering mess, and all I could manage to do was quietly quiver in my plastic chair and wonder to God why I was suddenly overcome by a fear that I couldn’t explain.
How long will we fight these same battles? How long will chaos and turmoil abound in the streets? How long will a tiny virus wreak havoc in the world? News report after news report lands heavily on my heart. Has God forgotten us? Has He turned away from us? Sorrow lingers all day. How long until God intervenes? How long until relief?
It is easy to get stuck in the lingering sorrow, anguish, and despair, but this is not a safe place to remain. Some fights will continue until the Lord returns or takes us home. We fight for the truth. We fight for sanity. We fight for justice. It’s equally vital that we fight against the falling curtain of despair or encroaching fears. Join me in Psalm 13 and acknowledge your woes, declare your dependence on the Lord, and resolve to take the only action that can change your heart. Work through Psalm 13 and feel every emotion the psalmist expresses in those early verses, and then determine to follow his example in the end.
Psalm 13 asks a question we are all thinking: How long? Fight against the falling curtain of despair and encroaching fears by studying #Psalm13. Acknowledge your woes. Declare your dependence on the Lord. Take action.
Read Psalm 13 and answer the following questions. (A printable version of the short study is available on the free short study page.)
When have you felt forgotten, unseen, or not important enough? Create a list of words that describe how you felt at that moment.
Many of the words on your list could likely be used to describe the psalmist’s emotional state in verses 1-2. The psalmist asks the Lord four questions in his grief (1-2). When we are overwhelmed, it is common to ask questions. What questions do you have for the Lord pertaining to your current needs and concerns?
It’s doubtful the psalmist expected answers from God. Asking his questions was more likely a way of communicating his anguish on feeling forgotten. Read Isaiah 44:21 and 49:15. What do these verses indicate about God’s memory?
Based on what you’ve learned from Isaiah 44:21 and 49:15, it’s clear that the psalmist’s feelings of being forgotten are not a reliable source of truth. How do your feelings in emotionally charged moments threaten to lead you astray? Find at least one truth from Scripture that can speak into those lies.
Psalm 13 shifts in verses 3 and 4. The psalmist stops expressing his sorrow and begins asking the Lord to intervene. What are the possible results of the Lord failing to intervene in the psalmist’s life (4)?
How do you need the Lord to intervene in your life? What do you fear might happen if the Lord does not intervene?
Another shift occurs in verse 5 indicated by the word “but,” which contrasts all the earlier despair with decisions the psalmist has made. What three things does the psalmist resolve to do (5-6a)?
What do you learn about God’s character from verse 5-6a?
Why does the psalmist decide to do these things (6b)?
The NASB, ESV, NKJV and the KJV all use the word “bountifully” in verse 6. What images does the word bountiful bring to your mind? Make a list of synonyms for the word bountiful.
Where else in Scripture do we see God dealing with his people and expressing his love for his people in lavish and bountiful ways?
How has the Lord “dealt bountifully” with you?
Jesus understands what it is like to feel far from God. What does he say in Matthew 27:46 and Mark 15:34 that conveys the agony of his soul? Also, see Hebrews 5:7. What does Christ’s suffering as a punishment for our sins reveal about God’s love for us? What sort of response does that stir in you?
Application
a) Go back to question eight and praise the Lord for His character qualities that never change.
b) Rejoice in your salvation (5a).
c) Praise the Lord in song (6a). Either sing, listen to, or sing along with a worship song that expresses your trust in the Lord.
d) Confess the fears you have listed in question six and express your trust in the Lord to work in those circumstances (5).
e) Thank the Lord for His kindness and mercy toward you that you discovered answering questions ten through thirteen.
If you enjoyed this study, check out my other free short studies. If you’d like to try something deeper, check out Glorious Surrender, a short book that will help you discover the freedom of living for God. Or, if you’d like something even more in-depth, try Chasing Holiness and learn how to train for the race you are already running.
Winner of the Women’s Journey of Faith contest 2016. Available for purchase.
Today is a day of high stress for the people of God. Normal has evaporated, and there is no telling when it will return or even if it will ever return. The entire world might be gearing up for a new normal that looks radically different from the past.
The children of God have a choice to make. We can press into God and his Word and fight against fear with the truth that never changes, or we can succumb to dread and anxiety. I am choosing to fill my mind with the Word of God.
The children of #God have a choice to make. We can press into God and his #Word and fight against #fear with the #truth that never changes, or we can succumb to dread and anxiety. ##Free short #study on Ps 77. #Faith
If you join me in Psalm 77, you’ll find some striking similarities between the psalmist and us. The people of God are in distress, and the psalmist cries out to God. He is in a moment like ours, and he decides to turn his attention and energy into prayer and meditation. If you follow along with the psalmist, you’ll find that God leads his people through by the hand. I don’t know about you, but I can’t think of a better place to be right now than hand-in-hand with God.
In verses 3, 6, and 11-12, the psalmist repeats his decision to do two things. What has the psalmist decided to do?
Consider the progression of his decision preceded by the words when (v3), let me (v6), and I will (v11-12). What do these words convey about biblical thinking?
In verses 1-9, the focus in on the psalmist. If you mark every reference to the psalmist and then every reference to the Lord, you will notice a 20:12 ratio. The psalmist is very focused on himself. In verses 10-15, this begins to shift—the ratio changes to 7:15 in favour of the Lord. Finally, in verses 16-20, the entire focus is the Lord. Ten times the Lord is referenced, ending with a declaration in verse 19-20. What does the psalmist declare?
In verse 19, the word through shows the relationship between “way” and “sea,” and the same word through shows the relationship between “path” and “water.” What is the significance of the word through? How might this apply to the COVID-19 pandemic?
It is frightening to consider what going through COVID-19 might mean for us. What comfort can you find in the last half of verse 19? What is the significance of the word unseen, and how does it comfort you today?
In what two ways does God lead his people in verse 20? Explain what those phrases meant for the psalmist and what they mean for you today.
If you’d like to hear more from this passage, check out this short video devotional my husband has put together for our church. It is social-distancing friendly, and it is a great way to address the question: Where is God when I need Him?
Looking for something even deeper? Check out what people are saying about Chasing Holiness. Now is the time to fix your mind and heart on Christ. Each chapter concludes with an in-depth study on a passage of Scripture or theme from Scripture. The e-book is only $4 and is social-distancing friendly! ($2.85 in the USA.) I’ve just learned that my publisher is lowering the price on all their e-books to make them more accessible, so check those prices for steep discounts.
