We all have something that
scares us. No matter what we do, we just can’t conquer that fear. For some of
us, maybe it’s a spider, for others, maybe heights; maybe it’s of small places,
or getting lost. But no matter what we’ve tried, that fear still grips our
mind. You see, our problem is, we try to handle stuff on our own instead of
offering it up to God. But God doesn’t leave us to fend for ourselves; He will
carry us through our struggles and give us strength to mount up on wings like
eagles, to run and not grow weary, to walk and not faint. (Isaiah 40:31)
In the book of Joshua
[1:9] we are told to “be strong and
courageous. Do not be frightened, and do not be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
For me, I’m terrified of
speaking in front of people, which is funny because I wish I could be a
catholic speaker (ironic, right?) I know I dream big, but hey, “I can do all
things through Christ who gives me strength!” (Phil. 4:13) I have wanted to
conquer this fear for forever now! I’ve tried reading more in the class room
(yes, I’m even scared to read in front of my classes at school) I’ve helped out
more with my youth group and reading and speaking in front of them, but every
time I get up there and I see everyone looking at me, I start shaking and my
voice gets really quiet and I stutter and it’s just not a pretty sight. I’ve
gotten better, but I’m still nervous. I even get nervous practicing before I go
up in front of people!
Towards the beginning of
the school year, I had made a video for my youth group on adoration (sorry I
can’t post the video online) and we played it at youth group right before our
first adoration of the school year. (Movie making is just one of my hobbies and
I’ve gotten pretty good at it, if I do say so myself) My priest, who knows how
much adoration means to me, was in the church when we played the video and he
gave me thumbs up as he was watching it. After adoration was over, I went back
to tell him thank you and he told me that he really enjoyed the video and asked
if I would be willing to share it at the other church that he is pastor for. Of
course I said yes! I was so excited that Father approved of my video and liked
it enough to share it with the other church that I didn’t realize what he was
asking me at first. Then he asked me if I would do a presentation on the
Eucharist along with the video… Ah public speaking, such a wonderful thing…
“Have no anxiety at all, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving make your requests be made known to God.” (Phil. 4:6) This is the bible verse that popped into my head when Father asked me if I would give a talk…and I said yes. So, for the past couple months I have been editing my witness to surround the Eucharist.
As I was writing this blog
post, I decided to look up bible verses on fear and I found one I really like
and I hope you like it too. It’s from the letter to the Hebrews [13:6] “we can
confidently say, ‘the Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to
me?’” how true!? So often we worry about what other people think of us, “but in
the end, it was never between you and them, it was between you and God.”
(Mother Teresa)
“When I am afraid, I put my
trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, in God I trust; I shall not be
afraid. What can flesh do to me?” (Psalm 56:3-4)
Next time you have to face
something that scares you, remember that nothing is impossible for God (Luke
1:37)
“The Lord
is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord
is the stronghold of my life; of whom shall I be afraid? When evildoers assail
me to eat up my flesh, my adversaries and foes, it is they who stumble and
fall. Though an army encamp against me, my heart shall not fear; though war
arise against me, yet I will be confident. One thing have I asked of the Lord, that will I seek after: that I may dwell in the house of
the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze upon the beauty
of the Lord and to inquire in his temple. For he will
hide me in his shelter in the day of trouble; he will conceal me under the
cover of his tent; he will lift me high upon a rock. ...” (Psalm 27: 1-14)
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