Jerusha: I’m so pleased to welcome Andrea Merrell as my guest today! I had the pleasure of meeting Andrea at a writers conference last year and found her to be a wise and encouraging soul. She’s sharing that wisdom with us today, along with offering a giveaway of her nonfiction book on marriage. Leave a comment below for a chance to win!
By Andrea Merrell
Fear comes in many shapes and sizes, sometimes subtle and others times bold and in your face. But when it comes, it wraps its ugly tentacles around you and pulls you into a prison with no doors or windows.
I was fear’s prisoner for a good portion of my life. I still remember the day as a ten-year-old girl when one of my parents’ friends sneaked around to the back of the house, opened the sliding glass door to my bedroom, and scared the daylights out of me. That’s the very moment a spirit of fear took hold.
From that point on, I was afraid of everything. Other kids called me chicken and scaredy-cat. Retreating into a self-made shell for my own protection, I became timid and nervous, worried about what was behind every bush and around every corner. It was a terrible way to live.
As I grew older, so did some of my worst fears. There seemed to be no end and no way out—until the night God delivered me from that spirit of fear. I remember the day it left as clearly as the day it came.
I also learned much about what the Bible has to say regarding this subject. Scriptures such as:
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves torment. He who fears has not been made perfect in love. – 1 John 4:18
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind. – 2 Timothy 1:7
The Lord is on my side; I will not fear. – Psalm 118:6
Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you with My righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10
For you did not receive the spirit of bondage again to fear, but you received the Spirit of adoption by whom we cry out, “Abba, Father.” – Romans 8:15
These Scriptures, along with all the other fear nots in the Bible, became my lifeline.
The Enemy continued to try and lure me back into his trap, especially when both my son and daughter went down a dark path with drugs and alcohol. For over five years, I fought fear and struggled to trust God with the lives of my kids.
Whenever the Enemy would come knocking at the door, I would answer Him with God’s Word.
Resist the devil and he will flee from you. – James 4:7
It worked for Jesus in the wilderness, and it will work for us. It’s our only offensive weapon against the powers of darkness.
In 2 Peter 1:3, we’re told that God has given us all things that pertain to life and godliness. That includes the armor of God, discernment to know when the Enemy is attacking, power and authority to rebuke him in Jesus’ name, and the peace that bypasses our human understanding.
Over the course of my lifetime, God has taught me many lessons, the most important being that He is faithful and His Word is Truth. We can stand strong in faith believing He will do what He says He will do.
He delivered me from fear. He delivered my prodigals. When we trust in Him, He will calm the storm and speak peace into any situation.
If you are battling fear, know that God is ready to set you free. He will fight the battle for you and bring you to a place of peace and quiet confidence.
Call out to Him. He’s waiting to hear from you.
Are you trying to battle fear without God’s help? Has God helped you to conquer a fear in your life or become stronger against it? Please share!
Photos by Aditya Saxena, Alex Stuart, and niu niu on Unsplash
Andrea Merrell is an award-winning author and professional freelance editor. She is an associate editor with Christian Devotions Ministries and LPC Books and was a finalist for the 2016 Editor of the Year Award at the Blue Ridge Mountains Christian Writers Conference (BRMCWC) and the 2018 Excellence in Editing award by the Christian Editors Network. She teaches workshops on writing and editing at various writers’ conferences.
Andrea is a graduate of Christian Communicators and a finalist in the 2015 USA Best Book Awards and the 2018 Selah Awards, as well as a semi-finalist in the 2018 ACFW Genesis contest. She has been published in numerous anthologies, magazines, and online venues She writes a weekly devotion on her website at www.AndreaMerrell.com and is the co-founder and regular contributor to www.TheWriteEditing.com, a blog designed for writers.
Andrea is the author of Murder of a Manuscript, Praying for the Prodigal, and Marriage: Make It or Break It. Connect with Andrea online at Twitter, Facebook, and Goodreads.
Andrea is giving away a paperback copy of Marriage: Make It or Break It to one of you! To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below! (Giveaway ends Jan. 14, 2019; Winner must have continental U. S. mailing address.)
A good marriage is a process, not an event. Establishing and growing a strong, healthy relationship takes commitment, effort, understanding, open and honest communication, and a lot of prayer. Marriage: Make It or Break It will give you hope and encouragement from someone who’s been there/done that—someone who’s experienced the good, the bad, and even the ugly—along with the tools needed to make your relationship the best it can be.
Learn how to choose your battles, avoid marital mischief, and recognize the speed bumps that try to propel you into the proverbial ditch. Learn to embrace the differences between you and your spouse so you can stop trying to fix each other. Find out how your temperament and love language affect your spouse as well as the difference in how men and women think and approach life (waffles vs. spaghetti).
If you’re ready to learn a few truths that will make marriage strong—and a lot of things that will destroy it—this book is for you.
“Whether you’ve been married four days, four years or forty years, Marriage: Make It or Break It is relevant. Author Andrea Merrell’s keen perception on the subject will encourage you to apply biblical truths and principles to your own situation. It will compel you to hang on tight as you commit to nurture, respect, and love your spouse and your marriage. You will be encouraged to truly enjoy the ride together in this sacred privilege you have committed to one another. A valuable tool for someone who is facing challenges in his or her marriage. It also makes a fantastic wedding or anniversary gift. Why just survive, when you can thrive? You’ll love this book!” ~ Amazon review
Comments 7
Thank you, Andrea, for the reminder on how to fight fear. God bless!
You’re welcome, Rene. It’s something we all need to be reminded of from time to time. God wants his children to walk in trust and not fear. Blessings! 🙂
Author
Congratulations, Rene! You are the randomly selected winner of Andrea Merrell’s Marriage: Make It or Break It! I’ll contact you via email with more details. Thanks for stopping by and joining the conversation!
Such a great testimony. Thanks so much for sharing that and those wonderful Scripture references.
Thank you, Anne, for stopping by and for your encouraging words. Blessings! 🙂
Where would we be without the Lord and His Word? I have been in a season of great change with our first child leaving the nest , moving for the first time in 27 years and trying to settle into a new area, new neighbors, new church and new season in our marriage as we release our children. Thank you for the words of encouragement.
You’re very welcome, Becky. Prayers as you transition into this new season. They can be scary but ultimately filled with blessings as we trust the Lord and hold tightly to His hand as he walks us into a new phase of life. 🙂