We Have An Enemy Who Thrives On Our Silence

 I had always been fearful for as long as I could remember.  At nine years old, I suffered with "KNOWING" I was  dying of cancer for  months, but would not say a word.  In my mind, I did not want to burden my family with such dire news.   So I "suffered with cancer" for months until a school nurse explained that most healthy nine year old girls get two little knots in their chest.  True story!  Another very clear childhood memory is stepping on a nail as a ten year old, barefoot tomboy one summer and being so fearful of tetanus and the dreaded "lock jaw," that I as crazy as this is...I told NO ONE until I could no longer walk on my foot.  I had resigned myself to the consequences of having my jaw firmly locked in place since, after all, it was my own fault; I was supposed to be wearing shoes outside.  I did not have tetanus, because I was up-to-date on my immunizations, but I did have a raging infection.  For cryin' out loud!  I could have lost my foot and even my life by a completely unfounded and unnecessary fear!!!

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FEAR IS A LIAR

Isn't it the truth that even in our grown-up lives we are often fearful of the imaginary.  We fear a future that will never happen, but we fret over it as if it were the truest part of our reality!!!  How many sleepless nights have I spent worrying over some "vain imagining" that NEVER materialized.  I want those hours of sleep back!!!

Angie Smith says, "We have an enemy who thrives on our silence. He doesn't want us to be in fellowship, sharing our hearts and seeking wisdom on how to live lives that glorify God in spite of the darkness we feel."  Can I just shout out an AMEN! to that????  
 

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My silence when it came to my fears has caused me more stress and anxiety than I can possibly calculate.  We diligently guard our secret fears as if they need protection from the light of the truth.  When I think of how much anxiety I could have saved myself over the years by simply being honest about my fears and allowing others to speak truth to me, I want to smack myself on the side of the  head and yell: "What were you thinking???" 

My challenge to you girls is to begin the climb out of those secret dark places by facing your fears and telling someone.  Allow the Lord and others to speak truth to you, and your fears will begin to lose their grip on your heart and mind.  When Angie first began to address this issue of fear in the lives of women, her email filled up with those who felt their fear was the most heinous, the most horrific, the most shameful, the singular fear unique among other women.  If only those dear girls could have read each others mail, they wouldn't have felt so alone, fearful and ashamed.  

The TRUTH is we have a Savior who wants to shed His glorious light into our hearts and minds!  His truth and grace have incredible power to fight and pull down the strongholds of fear and anxiety!  Women loosed from these kinds of strongholds are no longer imprisoned in their fears and chained by their silence.  They are a force our enemy does NOT want to reckon with!!!

Please leave a comment here or on the DV Women's Ministry Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/groups/114205638666308/about the introduction to What Women Fear.  Your insight is so valuable to all of us as we read this book together!!! Let's shed some light on our fears!!!!

Let me leave you with Angie's prayer for this week:

God, be with us as we journey together through our fears.  Bless us with understanding, with peace, and with wisdom to seek Your face when we start to lose our footing.  Bless those who are reading with exactly what they need to take from these chapters, and inspire them to start moving toward a life that is filled with the mercy that satisfies our souls.

With great affection, 

 Cherri