Faith Beyond Fear

Mashed Potatoes are not my cooking specialty. My potatoes are always lumpy. I even have a stand mixer and have allowed potatoes to beat and beat and beat, and they are still lumpy. Therefore, I resorted to instant potatoes.  One day, I was preparing those instant potatoes in the microwave. I carefully took the bowl of boiling water, salt, and butter and set it on the counter. I then added the milk, and when I began pouring the milk into the bowl, the bowl exploded.

EXPLODED!!!

Shattered pieces of my glass bowl were everywhere, along with water, butter, and milk. An overwhelming, slippery, shattered mess existed all around. Not a few pieces of glass, there was not a piece of glass larger than the tip of my pinky finger on the floor. For a few minutes, I stood in shock and looked at the big mess everywhere in my kitchen.

How in the world do I even begin to clean up shattered and buttery wet glass?

How do I keep my children and my dogs out of this mess?

How will I ever get all this glass out of the floor?

Questions bombarded my thoughts. Dinner is delayed. After this fiasco, I might need to order pizza!

Now, imagine yourself standing in the midst of my kitchen. A slippery mess with tiny shards of broken glass surrounding you. What next?  Where do you start?  How do you clean up this mess?  I’m sure you can identify with the feeling of being paralyzed. A gigantic mess surrounds you, but instead of getting busy cleaning, you stand silently still paralyzed in a mess.

Isn’t this exactly where we find ourselves in life sometimes?  Unwanted circumstances plunge their way deep into our hearts and lives leaving us motionless and overwhelmed. In these moments, we need someone to take our hands and lead us out of our difficult circumstances. Or in my case, I needed someone to tell me where to begin in cleaning up shards of slippery wet glass. In these moments, when I am overwhelmed and paralyzed, a Scripture rushes into my mind for me to hold onto as a promise straight from my Heavenly Father.

Unwanted circumstances plunge their way deep into our hearts and lives leaving us motionless and overwhelmed. - Karen Smith Click To Tweet

“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.” ~ Isaiah 41: 13

Did you hear that?  He takes hold of my right hand. There is no need for me to fear. He also takes hold of your right hand; you have no reason to fear!  Hallelujah!  This promise in Scripture makes me want to jump up and sing and dance right in the middle of a slippery, shattered mess.

Since that slippery, shattered mess, I have walked through numerous difficulties in life where I had no clue what to do. I stood in life’s circumstances unable to move, tempted to think God was not there, and forgot that He promised to take me by my right hand and lead me. If you find yourself in a shattered mess of life right now, cling tightly to the promise of His word that God takes hold of your hand and leads you to a place of safety and security. Ask God to bless your obedience in claiming His promise over your life and ask Him to help you feel His presence. His truth can overcome our fear that has left us motionless. Even when the truth doesn’t feel true, it is critical that we continue to proclaim His truth in our life. Eventually, it will feel true.

Even when the truth doesn't feel true, it is critical that we continue to proclaim His truth in our life. Eventually, it will feel true. - Karen Smith Click To Tweet

I am so grateful claiming God’s truth in our broken places never goes wrong. I have learned that even when I am paralyzed in fear and uncertain what the next step is: I can cling to His promises.

His truth will always bring comfort, peace, and joy.

His truth will give guidance and direction.

His truth will defeat the enemy in our lives.

Let’s get busy claiming truth in the middle of our shattered mess even when it doesn’t feel like truth.

I would love to hear what truth you need to claim in your life today.  If you don’t know the power of His Word, I would like for you to reach out to me. I will walk alongside you while you discover His life-changing truth. For me, I am still claiming this same truth today, “For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”  Shattered messes never go away, but the promises in His word will always overcome our shattered messes!

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Karen lives in Madison, Alabama with her husband and three children.  Karen graduated in 1996 from Ouachita Baptist University in Arkadelphia, AR.  Karen has served as Preschool and Children’s Pastor and has been involved in women’s ministry for many years leading small groups, making hospital visits, organizing retreats, and encouraging the hearts of women. Karen now blogs at Glimpses of Faith and Struggles.  What started out communicating medical facts, has become a place where Karen uses life experiences to encourage others in their life journey.  When she’s not busy caring for her family or writing, you might find her cooking or crafting. You can find Karen online at Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and A Wife Like Me, a website dedicated for encouraging wives in their marriages.