Holy in the Daily

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How to Get Rid of Fearful Thoughts {Thursday Therapy}

Do you ever entertain fearful thoughts? Me too. Yet fear is always an assumption of something that hasn’t happened. It’s an expectation of evil. Of evidence that may appear real, but hasn’t been proven.

But mostly fear’s a time of living outside of the awareness of God RIGHT NOW.

Scary. And all of us do it. We fill our minds with fear and slam the door on God. Oh, we’ll think about him later when our emotions calm down. Maybe.

But that’s not how God works. He is always present in the now. He was there in the past, and he’ll be there in your future. But now is what counts. Not WAS or WILL, but IS. God is. He was and will be, but “is” is what matters when fear strangles you.

Gregory A. Boyd makes this statement in Present Perfect: Finding God in the Now:

The past is gone. The future is not yet. We remember the past and anticipate the future, but we always do so in the present. Reality is always now. And the single most important aspect of reality is that God is present in it every moment. To forget that God is present in any given moment is to forget the most important aspect of that moment.

So fear isn’t the most important feature of your emotional upheaval. God’s presence in the midst of the upheaval RIGHT NOW is the most amazing, freeing, and awesome part of your fear struggle. Here’s how that works:

Get rid of fearful thoughts

1.  Remind yourself that you are, right now, cushioned in God’s love. He won’t let you go. Whatever your body is in contact with—chair, floor, or bed—is a reminder of God’s loving support of you. Feel the physical support and imagine it being God’s love. Rest his love.

2.  Remember that God’s love doesn’t change. It doesn’t waver or grow dim. His love is BIG and sends fear fleeing.

There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love (1 John 4:18 NIV).

So the challenge in fearful situations is to ignore fear’s assumptions and focus on God’s love for you this very moment. And the next moment. And the next. Until whatever you were fearing is no longer your problem, but God’s.

Want more help in dealing with fearful thoughts? See How to Let God Love YouHow to Cleanse Your Mind With a Mind Detox, and How to Leave a Problem in God’s Hands and Not Steal It Back.

Until next week! Enjoy your summer fairs, family gatherings, and living in the love of God this very moment, Susan

“Jesus likes it when we share.” -Adelaide, age 3: Pass this along to everybody and their brother. OK, maybe not everybody’s brother, but you know, all of your friends would be nice.

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This Post Has 20 Comments

  1. Nozipho Khuzwayo

    Thank God I found this page. I am going through a really tough time right now and need to feel God’s love more than ever. My fear of the past finding its way to my future is crippling me. I am going to use this article to keep me going. Thank u so much!

    1. Susan Gaddis

      You’re welcome, Nozipho. I’ll be praying for you as you navigate your situation, knowing that Jesus is holding you tight through the whole thing.

  2. Kim Lemley

    I know I found this rather late but it is helping me so much. I’m in a fearful situation mostly of my own making. I’m afraid of everything that might happen. Thank you for your posts. They are sent by God.

    1. Susan Gaddis

      I’m praying for you, Kim. May the Lord bring you through your difficult and fearful situation with courage and peace, and may you find Him faithful.
      Susan

  3. Kim Lemley

    Thank you Susan. I need all the prayer I can get. Even as I’m writing this I can feel fear leaving my mind and body. God is good! Please keep praying for me though. I have a habit of picking up these thoughts.

  4. Kim Lemley

    Another morning and the fear is back with me. Please pray for me. Jesus, please help me.

    1. Susan Gaddis

      You’re on my prayer list, Kim. Keep doing what you’ve learned in pulling down those thoughts and imaginations that are blocking your view of Jesus and remember to rebuke the enemy of your soul who is out to destroy your peace.

  5. Kim Lemley

    Thanks Susan. I don’t know how this is going to work out well. I just want to sit in a corner and cry.

  6. Kim Lemley

    Good morning Susan. I hope I am still on your prayer list. Thank you so much!

  7. Kim Lemley

    I’m so glad. You have been a blessing. Thank you!

  8. Lynn

    I am an over thinker and it has spilled over to a relationship that is in the very early infant stages. I feel like I need constant reassurance that I’m not being rejected. I run from overly needy people and fret that those that are emotionally unavailable are rejecting me. Please pray that with Gods help this destructive cycle can be broken.

    1. Susan Gaddis

      I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get back to you, Lynn. I have been praying for you and the deep healing you need.
      Hugs,
      Susan

  9. Sonia

    New believer here. I am constantly worrying about potential problems at work that have not happened and I keep worry over them because I’m afraid of the potential consequences from these problems. I know I need to trust God and leave everything beyond my control in His hands because he is God. This post is so timely. Pls pray for me that everything will be ok and God will take care of the rest.

    1. Susan Gaddis

      Praying for you as requested, Sonia. I know it is difficult, but because you and your situation is in God’s hands, it will be OK. Hang in there. 🙂

  10. CAROLINE GEE

    THANK YOU FOR SHARING THE SCRIPTUERS WITH ME I TOO HAVE FEAR BUT I REMEMBER THAT GOD DOES NOT GIVE US THE SPIRIT OF FEAR AN THAT THERE IS NO WEAPON FORMED AGAINST ME SHALL PROSPER GOD IS TRULY A GOOD GOD AND I LOVE HIM FOR ALL THAT HE DOES

  11. Kevin

    I came across this article because I want to leave a problem I’m facing in God’s hands. It has been a very stressful issue and I know that God won’t let it beat me, yet its scary because the things that should have been happening have stalled and because of the stall, I’m put in a difficult situation in other areas. Reading this article and the comments have made me feel more confident about God’s ability to work everything out in my favor. I ask that whoever reads this, say a prayer for me and my daughter concerning this situation. Thanks in advance and thank you God for fixing this for us.

    1. Susan Gaddis

      I will be praying about your situation, Kevin. Hang in there. God is faithful.

  12. Carolyn

    i have been in a mindset about my relationships for a long time. Probably about 50 years. Just when I think I have overcome my issues, something pops up about them and i start looking and thinking about them again. please pray for me .

    1. Susan Gaddis

      I’m glad to pray for you, Carolyn. I know it is disconcerting when old things pop up and try to dominate our thoughts after years of freedom. Just because the thoughts knock on the door of your mind, it doesn’t mean you have to let them in. If you’ve dealt with your issues, don’t let them argue with you at all. Tell them “no,” and redirect your thinking to the truth that Gods says about you.

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