Strength in our weakness

Halloween is coming up and so many stores have creepy, spooky decorations meant to scare you. And believe me, this is the first Halloween I can remember with my boys that they are paralized with fear when they walk in to a store and see any Halloween decorations. They won't even walk by a display that moves and talks. They scream and of course everyone around knows just how scared they are. We, as parents, tell them that their fears are irrational and that nothing will hurt them because we are there, but to them the fear is real. Even if the ghost, goblin, or witch is made of plastic and runs on batteries.... it is every bit as alive as you and I are, to them.  I thought about our relationship with God as I was consoling my 3 yr old last week. I wondered how many times does God say to us the same things when it comes to our irrational fears. We create these fears in our minds but then they become so alive. And just like us parents say to our children, God is saying "They are not real, Listen to me.. I know what it real. Trust Me! I am here, do not be afraid!" So many times I have forgotten to rely on God's strength during moments of fear. I am a scaredy cat in many ways. I have fears about the death, fears of being let down, of not meeting someone else's expectations. Fears of being made fun of or ridiculed. Even writing my fears for you all to see is pretty scary. But I came across some verses today that I will keep handy when the sting of fear creeps up:

-I can do everything through him who gives me strength. Philippians 4:13
-Nothing is impossible with God. Luke 1:37
-Nothing is too hard for [the Lord] Jeremiah 32:17
-In all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. Romans 8:37
-My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in your weakness. 2 Corinthians 12:9

These are great tools to silence the voice of timidity!
Out with Anxiety, In with Confidence!