Isaiah 41:10
Don’t be afraid. I am with you.
Don’t tremble with fear.
I am your God.
I will make you strong,
as I protect you with my arm
and give you victories.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
On a recent edition of ABC’s 20/20,
I heard the story of 12-year-old Payton Leutner, who was stabbed 19
times on May 31, 2014, by two classmates who had invited her for a
sleepover in Waukesha, Wisconsin. The morning after celebrating the
12th birthday of one of the girls, they invited Payton to join them for a
game of “hide-and-seek” in the woods. Payton reluctantly went along,
and soon one of the girls was sitting on her and holding her down, while
the other stabbed her in an attempt to kill her. This was all a plot
by these two young girls to do something they thought would please
“Slender Man”, a fictitious online character who supposedly lives in the
woods in a mansion. These girls convinced themselves that Slender Man
is real, and that they would commit this murder, and then escape into
the woods to find him and his mansion...and live there forever.
In
a story of heroics (and an untold story of God’s grace), Payton Leutner
willed herself to live. She crawled out of the woods to a sidewalk-like
trail in the park that had been blocked off to the public with a
chain. Remarkably, a bicyclist chose to ignore the signs and chain and
take this trail on that very morning, and he discovered little Payton
lying in the grass - clinging to life. Doctors told her parents, Joe
and Stacie Leutner, that one of the stab wounds missed Payton’s heart by
less than a hair’s breadth. Had this wound been less than a millimeter
farther in one direction, it would have been almost instantly fatal.
When
Stacie Leutner first saw Payton in the hospital, she said that she was
very pale. Stacie told ABC news anchor David Muir that Payton put her
hand out, and she rushed over to her. She said, “I put my arms around
her and I laid next to her, and I hugged her and I said, ‘You're gonna
be okay. It's gonna be fine.’" As the doctors and nurses wheeled
Payton away for surgery, her mother told her that she loved her...and
that she would be okay.
Virtually any mother would have said and
done the same thing. But Stacie Leutner could not be sure that her
reassurances were accurate. She really didn’t know with certainty that
Payton would be okay...that the surgeon and his team could repair all of
the damage. Truthfully, Joe and Stacie Leutner do not know yet whether
Payton will fully recover mentally and emotionally. She seems to be
doing well...but who knows what long-term effects such a traumatic
experience will have on this child. Still, in the moment, reassurance
was all they had...and it’s all they have now as they hope and pray that
Payton truly won’t suffer any lasting damage.
You and I often
face situations that are fraught with opportunities for fear to take
over. We receive unsettling news...we face challenges of a physical,
mental or emotional nature...we have cause to worry to the point of
making ourselves sick! And in all of these circumstances, God says,
“Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Don’t tremble with fear. I am your God.
I will make you strong, as I protect you with my arm and give you
victories.” The difference between these words as spoken by a mortal
parent and those of our Heavenly father is important. Our earthly
parents want this to be so...they hope that the outcome will be as they
spoke of it. But God guarantees His promises! When He says that He will make us strong and give us victories, we can count on Him to make it happen!
I
would bet that at one time or another in our lives, every single one of
us heard our parents tell us that everything would be alright...and we
believed them – even when a small part of us might have known that they
could not be sure they were speaking the truth. So why would we doubt
or question God when He promises to heal us and give us strength and
victory? Don’t we know that God’s word is infallible? Don’t we believe
that God’s promises are steadfast and certain?
One of the
hardest things for Payton Leutner to process has been the knowledge that
her two friends meant to kill her. She is still wrestling with this
profound betrayal. And her parents acknowledge that they are concerned
for these two little girls and their families. But they believe that
Payton was rescued for a reason...that she is here for a purpose and
meant to do something special. Perhaps God is using this little girl
and her story to remind parents to pay a little closer attention to what
their children are doing...and to remind us of His presence and power.
Where
is God telling you today that He will heal you...protect you...make you
strong and give you victories? Do you trust Him and believe His
promises? Isn’t it time you did? How would your life be different if
you “let go and let God” have control? Wouldn’t you like to find out?
©2014 Debbie Robus
Showing posts with label removing fear. Show all posts
Showing posts with label removing fear. Show all posts
Daily Devotional for July 24, 2013
John 20:19
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy likes to pretend that something is after him… a lion, a hyena, or even a bear. He will cower or hide and say, “We have to get away from the scary animal!” He’s only pretending, but let’s face it… in life, there are a lot of times when we would like to “lock the door” – and lock out the “scary animals!” Maybe it’s concern about a class … or a final exam. Maybe we are starting a new job and we are nervous. Perhaps we are meeting someone for the first time, and we have anxiety. Or maybe a doctor is giving us the results of tests or x-rays… and we are worried.
No matter how daunting life situations become, we must remember that we are never alone. Jesus is standing there with us. He offers us His peace and the promise that He will guide us through any and all circumstances. He will calm our fears… He will give us comfort and courage to face whatever lies before us… no matter how large or small our challenge seems.
We are fortunate that we live in a country where we don’t have to lock our doors in order to worship God. Until a few years ago, most church buildings in America were never locked. You could slip into a sanctuary on any street corner and spend a few quiet minutes communicating with God and feeling His presence in a holy setting. Most of these buildings are no longer open 24/7… because of possible vandalism - not the prospect of persecution. Unlike Jesus’ disciples, we are free to worship God on any street corner… anywhere and anytime we choose. And Jesus is standing there with us.
As Christians, we have acknowledged that we believe in Jesus as our Savior… that we trust Him to cover our sins – and to give us hope and peace in this life and for all eternity. Now it is time for us to act upon what we have declared. Whenever we feel nervous, afraid, worried, concerned, or disturbed in any manner, we need to remember that Jesus is standing right beside us, saying, “Peace be with you.” With Jesus by our side, we can face any challenge with hope and confidence… and complete calm.
Do you feel His presence today? Have you unlocked the door and allowed Jesus to come in? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
That Sunday evening the disciples were meeting behind locked doors because they were afraid of the Jewish leaders. Suddenly, Jesus was standing there among them! “Peace be with you,” he said.
Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright ©1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.
Timothy likes to pretend that something is after him… a lion, a hyena, or even a bear. He will cower or hide and say, “We have to get away from the scary animal!” He’s only pretending, but let’s face it… in life, there are a lot of times when we would like to “lock the door” – and lock out the “scary animals!” Maybe it’s concern about a class … or a final exam. Maybe we are starting a new job and we are nervous. Perhaps we are meeting someone for the first time, and we have anxiety. Or maybe a doctor is giving us the results of tests or x-rays… and we are worried.
No matter how daunting life situations become, we must remember that we are never alone. Jesus is standing there with us. He offers us His peace and the promise that He will guide us through any and all circumstances. He will calm our fears… He will give us comfort and courage to face whatever lies before us… no matter how large or small our challenge seems.
We are fortunate that we live in a country where we don’t have to lock our doors in order to worship God. Until a few years ago, most church buildings in America were never locked. You could slip into a sanctuary on any street corner and spend a few quiet minutes communicating with God and feeling His presence in a holy setting. Most of these buildings are no longer open 24/7… because of possible vandalism - not the prospect of persecution. Unlike Jesus’ disciples, we are free to worship God on any street corner… anywhere and anytime we choose. And Jesus is standing there with us.
As Christians, we have acknowledged that we believe in Jesus as our Savior… that we trust Him to cover our sins – and to give us hope and peace in this life and for all eternity. Now it is time for us to act upon what we have declared. Whenever we feel nervous, afraid, worried, concerned, or disturbed in any manner, we need to remember that Jesus is standing right beside us, saying, “Peace be with you.” With Jesus by our side, we can face any challenge with hope and confidence… and complete calm.
Do you feel His presence today? Have you unlocked the door and allowed Jesus to come in? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for July 23, 2013
John 16:31-33
Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was visiting with a friend who is fostering a very young child. She said, “I have grown so much in the last three months.” She shared a few things with me about her difficulties… and friends shared even more about how the child who had come into this woman’s home had some pretty serious issues. I was told of the incredible progress this child has made since coming into the care of my friend and her husband. Clearly their love and nurture have done wonders for him. And she told me, “We have gotten the bigger blessing.”
I totally understand the concept of “growing from difficulties.” And I bet many of you do, as well. You know what it feels like to bear unbelievable challenges, worries and concerns… to operate totally on faith that God will fix things…because honestly, trust in God is all you have! We know this is all we need… more than enough, in fact! But when your back is to the wall, and the only choice you have is to look up to heaven and say, “LORD, this is bigger than I am. You will have to handle this!”… you may not feel so unshakable and assured – at least initially.
The more I experience, the easier it becomes for me to trust God for an outcome. Honestly, it’s fairly easy to say this today… because for the moment, everything in my life is going along quite smoothly. But I know that the day will come again when there will be challenges… heartaches… disappointments… concerns… and plenty of reasons to feel unsettled and frightened. How will I respond in that moment? I would love to say that I will take heart, totally trust God, and forge ahead… unshakable, assured, and deeply at peace. I pray this will be the case. But I know it’s not always easy for us to do this as mere humans! In fact, you may be feeling unsettled and frightened at this very moment.
I believe God is using this scripture passage to reassure each of us today that He is in control… that we are not abandoned… that He is with us. We know that He has done amazing things in our lives already. We’ve seen Him handle crises and conflicts, struggles and disappointments, challenges that appear to be insurmountable and heartaches that seem impossible to bear. All of the trials yet to come are no different. God never changes. So take heart! Let go and let God. Trust Him in all circumstances… and feel His presence. Grow in the difficulties God enables you to handle… and live deeply in His peace in all circumstances.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Jesus answered them, “Do you finally believe? In fact, you’re about to make a run for it—saving your own skins and abandoning me. But I’m not abandoned. The Father is with me. I’ve told you all this so that trusting me, you will be unshakable and assured, deeply at peace. In this godless world you will continue to experience difficulties. But take heart! I’ve conquered the world.”
Scripture quotations from The Message. © 1993, 1994, 1995, 1996, 2000, 2001, 2002 by Eugene Peterson. Used by permission of NavPress, Colorado Springs, CO. All rights reserved.
I was visiting with a friend who is fostering a very young child. She said, “I have grown so much in the last three months.” She shared a few things with me about her difficulties… and friends shared even more about how the child who had come into this woman’s home had some pretty serious issues. I was told of the incredible progress this child has made since coming into the care of my friend and her husband. Clearly their love and nurture have done wonders for him. And she told me, “We have gotten the bigger blessing.”
I totally understand the concept of “growing from difficulties.” And I bet many of you do, as well. You know what it feels like to bear unbelievable challenges, worries and concerns… to operate totally on faith that God will fix things…because honestly, trust in God is all you have! We know this is all we need… more than enough, in fact! But when your back is to the wall, and the only choice you have is to look up to heaven and say, “LORD, this is bigger than I am. You will have to handle this!”… you may not feel so unshakable and assured – at least initially.
The more I experience, the easier it becomes for me to trust God for an outcome. Honestly, it’s fairly easy to say this today… because for the moment, everything in my life is going along quite smoothly. But I know that the day will come again when there will be challenges… heartaches… disappointments… concerns… and plenty of reasons to feel unsettled and frightened. How will I respond in that moment? I would love to say that I will take heart, totally trust God, and forge ahead… unshakable, assured, and deeply at peace. I pray this will be the case. But I know it’s not always easy for us to do this as mere humans! In fact, you may be feeling unsettled and frightened at this very moment.
I believe God is using this scripture passage to reassure each of us today that He is in control… that we are not abandoned… that He is with us. We know that He has done amazing things in our lives already. We’ve seen Him handle crises and conflicts, struggles and disappointments, challenges that appear to be insurmountable and heartaches that seem impossible to bear. All of the trials yet to come are no different. God never changes. So take heart! Let go and let God. Trust Him in all circumstances… and feel His presence. Grow in the difficulties God enables you to handle… and live deeply in His peace in all circumstances.
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 17, 2013
Psalm 27:1
You, Lord, are the light that keeps me safe.
I am not afraid of anyone.
You protect me, and I have no fears.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy and I were driving home, and he said, “I had a bad dream at Paw-Paw’s. A bear was after me.” We talked about how dreams are scary, but they can’t really hurt us… how grownups can protect children and keep them safe from scary things. And I said, “If I was scared, you would protect me… right?” Timothy said, “I can’t protect YOU… you’re BIG!” So I asked him what he would do if his little sister, Zola, was scared. He said, “I would hug her and protect her and keep her safe!” I hope this big brother remembers his vow as he gets older!
Not all of us have an older brother or sister… or anyone who is “bigger” that we trust to protect us. But each and every one of us can call on Jesus. We can rely on His strength and protection. He will keep us safe… He will calm our fears.
I have no doubt that it comforts little children greatly to think that they can trust their parents and other adults to allay their fears and keep them safe. We all need a “parental figure” we can turn to when the chips are down. But more importantly, we need to fully comprehend the strength of God… how HE protects us and keeps us safe… how He can calm our fears… how He sent Jesus Christ to be the light of the world and save us from all “darkness.” And we need to put our trust in our Heavenly Father to do exactly this for us – each and every day.
Whether you are three and a half, twenty-three, or well into your eighties or nineties, you know that the dark can be a scary place… and nightmares are no fun for anyone! Isn’t it wonderful to know that we have the light of Jesus to keep us safe in all situations… to protect us and remove our fears? Are you trusting Him to do this in your life? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
You, Lord, are the light that keeps me safe.
I am not afraid of anyone.
You protect me, and I have no fears.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Timothy and I were driving home, and he said, “I had a bad dream at Paw-Paw’s. A bear was after me.” We talked about how dreams are scary, but they can’t really hurt us… how grownups can protect children and keep them safe from scary things. And I said, “If I was scared, you would protect me… right?” Timothy said, “I can’t protect YOU… you’re BIG!” So I asked him what he would do if his little sister, Zola, was scared. He said, “I would hug her and protect her and keep her safe!” I hope this big brother remembers his vow as he gets older!
Not all of us have an older brother or sister… or anyone who is “bigger” that we trust to protect us. But each and every one of us can call on Jesus. We can rely on His strength and protection. He will keep us safe… He will calm our fears.
I have no doubt that it comforts little children greatly to think that they can trust their parents and other adults to allay their fears and keep them safe. We all need a “parental figure” we can turn to when the chips are down. But more importantly, we need to fully comprehend the strength of God… how HE protects us and keeps us safe… how He can calm our fears… how He sent Jesus Christ to be the light of the world and save us from all “darkness.” And we need to put our trust in our Heavenly Father to do exactly this for us – each and every day.
Whether you are three and a half, twenty-three, or well into your eighties or nineties, you know that the dark can be a scary place… and nightmares are no fun for anyone! Isn’t it wonderful to know that we have the light of Jesus to keep us safe in all situations… to protect us and remove our fears? Are you trusting Him to do this in your life? Shouldn’t you?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 16, 2013
Psalm 23:4
I may walk through valleys as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod
makes me feel safe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I took a walk one recent evening, shortly before dusk. There is a hiking trail near our house, with an access road for vehicular traffic that runs parallel to it. We have hiked the trail, but most of the time we take the access road. The trail runs underneath the side of a tall bluff and is steep in spots, rocky - and in certain areas – fairly dark. At one end of the trail, there is also an observation deck.
As we approached the overlook, we encountered a family… a father, mother, pre-teen and toddler. We said “Hello,” and the parents asked if the access road would take them back to the Visitor Center, where we assumed they had parked their car. We detected a foreign accent… perhaps German…and we decided maybe they were tourists. My husband and I pointed in the direction we were walking and gestured for them to follow us. But they were still taking in the view from the overlook, and as we trekked ahead at a steady gait, we lost sight of the group.
By the time we got to the Visitor Center, it was starting to get dark… and cold… and we could not see this family. We both agreed that surely they took the access road and had not gotten back on the trail. And soon enough, as we circled back to head home, we met all four of them walking toward us. We had been fairly certain the clan was safe. But I have to tell you, I wasn’t relishing the thought of a night-time rescue mission on that cold, precipitous hiking trail!
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God is always with us? Even when we set out on unknown trails in the dark, He is there to guide our steps. Just as this verse says…the mere thought of our Shepherd’s strong hook at the ready - should we need protection - gives us comfort. We truly have nothing to fear. The image of the strength and power of God combined with His incredible love and gentle care for us gives me goose bumps! NO ONE ELSE can do this for us! There is no other who can provide us with all of these things in anything near the measures that God does.
The next time you walk through a valley as dark as death - and you will - think about this scripture passage. Remind yourself WHO is walking alongside you. Picture God shielding and guiding you with one arm… fighting off your enemies with a shepherd’s rod in His other hand. It’s a powerful image… and He’s a powerful God. Do you recognize His presence by your side? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
I may walk through valleys as dark as death,
but I won’t be afraid.
You are with me, and your shepherd’s rod
makes me feel safe.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
My husband and I took a walk one recent evening, shortly before dusk. There is a hiking trail near our house, with an access road for vehicular traffic that runs parallel to it. We have hiked the trail, but most of the time we take the access road. The trail runs underneath the side of a tall bluff and is steep in spots, rocky - and in certain areas – fairly dark. At one end of the trail, there is also an observation deck.
As we approached the overlook, we encountered a family… a father, mother, pre-teen and toddler. We said “Hello,” and the parents asked if the access road would take them back to the Visitor Center, where we assumed they had parked their car. We detected a foreign accent… perhaps German…and we decided maybe they were tourists. My husband and I pointed in the direction we were walking and gestured for them to follow us. But they were still taking in the view from the overlook, and as we trekked ahead at a steady gait, we lost sight of the group.
By the time we got to the Visitor Center, it was starting to get dark… and cold… and we could not see this family. We both agreed that surely they took the access road and had not gotten back on the trail. And soon enough, as we circled back to head home, we met all four of them walking toward us. We had been fairly certain the clan was safe. But I have to tell you, I wasn’t relishing the thought of a night-time rescue mission on that cold, precipitous hiking trail!
Isn’t it wonderful to know that God is always with us? Even when we set out on unknown trails in the dark, He is there to guide our steps. Just as this verse says…the mere thought of our Shepherd’s strong hook at the ready - should we need protection - gives us comfort. We truly have nothing to fear. The image of the strength and power of God combined with His incredible love and gentle care for us gives me goose bumps! NO ONE ELSE can do this for us! There is no other who can provide us with all of these things in anything near the measures that God does.
The next time you walk through a valley as dark as death - and you will - think about this scripture passage. Remind yourself WHO is walking alongside you. Picture God shielding and guiding you with one arm… fighting off your enemies with a shepherd’s rod in His other hand. It’s a powerful image… and He’s a powerful God. Do you recognize His presence by your side? Isn’t it time you did?
©2013 Debbie Robus
Daily Devotional for January 9, 2013
Joshua 1:9
I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I made superhero capes and masks for my nephew, Timothy, and our cousin, Owen… both boys are three and a half. You know how this goes… when the superhero dons his/her costume, they are equipped with powers and strengths beyond any human capacity. Evil villains can be conquered… there is no challenge or problem too big – no force too formidable to be overcome. When Timmy and Owen put on their capes and “fly” around the room, they feel invincible. They have no fear… discouragement is not in their vocabularies.
None of us are superheroes… but all of us can wear the cape and mask! We can “put on the full armor of God” and feel His continual presence. We can call on His help in any and all situations. We can be brave and strong, because our strength comes from the LORD. We don’t have to be afraid or discouraged about a single thing.
Please don’t misunderstand me… if something has you worried, frustrated or frightened today, this does not mean you have no faith. If you are discouraged, you are not a bad person. This simply means you are human – and the devil is working hard to pull you over to his side. Call on God to give you superhuman strength. Believe that HE can make the difference… trust Him to help you work through whatever issues you face with courage and hope. Believe that God can – and will – make the difference!
Too many of us know deep in our hearts that God can help us with anything and everything… yet we choose to wallow in worry, fear and frustration anyhow. Don’t let this be said of you. As Pastor Joel Osteen likes to say… be a victor, not a victim. Call on God to strengthen you… be strong and brave. Put on your “superhero cape” of faith and fly with Christ!
©2013 Debbie Robus
I’ve commanded you to be strong and brave. Don’t ever be afraid or discouraged! I am the Lord your God, and I will be there to help you wherever you go.
Scripture taken from the Contemporary English Version © 1991,1992, 1995 by American Bible Society, Used by Permission.
Recently, I made superhero capes and masks for my nephew, Timothy, and our cousin, Owen… both boys are three and a half. You know how this goes… when the superhero dons his/her costume, they are equipped with powers and strengths beyond any human capacity. Evil villains can be conquered… there is no challenge or problem too big – no force too formidable to be overcome. When Timmy and Owen put on their capes and “fly” around the room, they feel invincible. They have no fear… discouragement is not in their vocabularies.
None of us are superheroes… but all of us can wear the cape and mask! We can “put on the full armor of God” and feel His continual presence. We can call on His help in any and all situations. We can be brave and strong, because our strength comes from the LORD. We don’t have to be afraid or discouraged about a single thing.
Please don’t misunderstand me… if something has you worried, frustrated or frightened today, this does not mean you have no faith. If you are discouraged, you are not a bad person. This simply means you are human – and the devil is working hard to pull you over to his side. Call on God to give you superhuman strength. Believe that HE can make the difference… trust Him to help you work through whatever issues you face with courage and hope. Believe that God can – and will – make the difference!
Too many of us know deep in our hearts that God can help us with anything and everything… yet we choose to wallow in worry, fear and frustration anyhow. Don’t let this be said of you. As Pastor Joel Osteen likes to say… be a victor, not a victim. Call on God to strengthen you… be strong and brave. Put on your “superhero cape” of faith and fly with Christ!
©2013 Debbie Robus
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