Never Alone: The Truth that Can Conquer Your Fear in All Circumstances

Jerusha: I’m excited to welcome fellow Christian suspense author Robin Patchen to the FW Blog today! In addition to sharing her powerful story of fighting real fears, Robin’s giving away one digital copy of her suspense novel, Legacy Rejected. Leave a comment below for your chance to win!

By Robin Patchen

If you’d asked me fifteen years ago, I’d have told you I’m not a fearful person. I was a master at self-deception back then. My journey toward overcoming fears began with admitting that I have them.

I’ve never been one to worry about big things I have no control over. Like, for instance, the coronavirus. I’m social distancing, I’m spending more time in prayer than I did before, but I’m not wringing my hands over it. God isn’t, after all. I do what I can, and then I move on.

Just because I don’t fear the big things doesn’t mean I’m fearless. About a decade ago, I faced what I’d come to realize was my biggest fear—rejection.

My fear of being judged had kept me from forming deep relationships for most of my life. I was going through a time of depression when the Lord told me to share my testimony with my Sunday school class.

My oh-so-godly response was, “Not a chance. We don’t do that.”

But God didn’t leave me alone. The following Sunday, our leader said he felt like we should all take turns sharing our testimonies.

I wish I could tell you I boldly walked to the front of the class and shared. In fact, it took me a year to get up the nerve, and only then by reminding myself that, no matter what, God wouldn’t leave me.

When I told my friends all the ugliest things about myself and my life before Christ, guess what happened? They didn’t reject me. They embraced me.

At that moment, I realized that my true friends were those who loved the real me, not some scrubbed-clean version I pretended to be.

But there were more fears to be uncovered.

In 2015, my oldest child became addicted to drugs. When we presented him with an ultimatum—quit using or move out—he walked out the door.

And my knees hit the floor.

You know that Scripture that says to pray continually? I learned what that meant. Every time the phone rang, acid filled my stomach.

I was sure my son would end up in prison, the hospital, or the morgue.

God’s Word kept me sane. I memorized and recited and prayed Scripture constantly. I worked to believe God, and I kept reminding Him of His promises.

If this had happened a few years before, I’d have hidden what Nick was going through, afraid of being judged. But God had largely freed me from the fear of rejection. (It’s still there, but I try not to let it rule me.)

So, I was honest with people, and faithful family and friends lifted Nick in prayer with us for months.

On Thanksgiving morning that year, skinny, dirty, and still a little high, Nick came home.

He went to rehab a week later and has been sober ever since. (He’s currently serving as a missionary. You can hear more about his story in this video.)

I believe the Lord brought him home because of all the prayers that had been lifted on his behalf. When I told Nick how many people were praying for him, he said, “I know. God never left me alone.”

God never leaves us alone. Not to say that He pesters us, but He’s always with us, and He always loves us, no matter what. It’s that simple and that profound.

In the summer of 2018, my younger son, Jacob, was in a wreck with his cousin.

My sister called me that night and said, “The boys have been in a terrible car accident. They’re being life-flighted to Salt Lake City. They’re both alive. That’s all I know.”

Once again, my knees hit the floor.

By then, I knew what to do. After the initial shock, after telling my husband what I knew, I emailed and texted friends and family, begging for prayer.

There was a whirlwind of activity—making travel arrangements from Oklahoma to Utah, packing, and sharing updates.

About two a.m., alarm set for six so we could make our flight, I fell into bed.

I did what I’d learned to do when Nick was lost to addiction. I recited scripture, I prayed, laying Jacob and Joshua in the hands of God, and I slept.

You may be thinking, What kind of mother could sleep?

Thanks to the months of Nick’s struggle with drugs, I’d had practice sleeping in the midst of terror.

I’d learned that God could be trusted, that there was no safer place for those boys to be than in God’s hands.

Fear is useless. Faith is powerful.

Sure, mine was the old, “I believe, help my unbelief,” version, but God honors our efforts.

Among other injuries, Jacob suffered severe trauma to his lungs, and Joshua suffered damage to his intestines and a serious concussion. Both boys were in ICU—Jacob for a week.

They said my son should have died on that remote desert road.

But, in the car following them when the accident occurred were a former army medic and a nurse. They, along with other bystanders, pulled the boys from the car, called 911, and requested helicopters.

God didn’t leave our boys alone.

We experienced moments of profound fear. But more than that, those were days of learning, once again, how to trust in God.

They were days of speaking God’s Truth and trusting Him to honor His promises.

Today, Jacob and Joshua are both thriving, but I know not all stories end so well.

Sometimes, the accidents are fatal. Sometimes, addicts don’t seek help.

Sometimes, God doesn’t heal on this side of heaven.

God never promised that life would be easy.

But I can assure you of this:

God will never leave us alone.

Have you ever felt God’s presence with you when you were afraid? How does knowing God is with you calm your fears? Please share!

Photos by Jens Johnsson, Jenny Marvin, wan nurin Nabila, and Angelo Pantazis on Unsplash. Original graphics designed by Jerusha Agen.

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Aside from her family and her Savior, Robin Patchen has two loves—writing and traveling. If she could combine them, she’d spend a lot of time sitting in front of her laptop at sidewalk cafes and ski lodges and beachside burger joints.

She’d visit every place in the entire world—twice, if possible—and craft stories and tell people about her Savior. Alas, time is too short and money is too scarce for Robin to traipse all over the globe, even if her husband and kids wanted to go with her.

So she stays in Oklahoma, shares the Good News when she can, and writes to illustrate the unending grace of God through the power and magic of story.

Download a free copy of Convenient Lies, book 1 in the Hidden Truth series, when you visit Robin’s website, robinpatchen.com.

You can also connect with Robin on Facebook, BookBub, and Goodreads.

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Robin is giving away one free ebook of Legacy Rejected, Book 1 in the Legacy Series! To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment below! (Giveaway ends June 1, 2020; Winner must have U. S. Kindle/Amazon capabilities.)

Legacy Rejected

She’s not giving up her home, no matter what threats come against her.

Realtor Ginny Lamont’s family has abandoned her, leaving her with nothing but a warning that she’s in danger. But Ginny’s built a home in New Hampshire. After a childhood of nomadic living, she’s not running again, certainly not because of some nameless, baseless threat.

Real estate developer Kade Powers is thrilled to go out with Nutfield’s beautiful new real estate agent. But the prowler they surprise after their first date offers a glimpse into Ginny’s past and the legacy of lies her parents left her with. She brings a mystery, one he’s determined to help her solve.

With Kade’s help, Ginny searches for the truth of her parents’ criminal activity while her enemies close in. When mobsters show up in her quaint New England town, will she find a way to bring them down, or will she lose the home—and the man—she’s come to love?

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And Legacy Redeemed is available for pre-order now!

Legacy Redeemed

Vanessa will fight to rescue her sister. Caleb will fight to protect Vanessa. But Abbas has evil plans for them all.

Former human trafficking victim Vanessa Baker wants nothing more than to raise her daughter in safety. But when she learns that her sister, Nadia, is in trouble, Vanessa can’t ignore it. Nadia’s captor is a man who once owned and abused Vanessa, and she’ll risk everything to see her sister freed.

Soon after Vanessa stepped into Caleb Peterson’s life, he knew she was the one God intended him to marry. Never mind that she loathes him, never mind her accusing eyes and her angry disposition, Caleb has tried for years to prove himself trustworthy—efforts Vanessa has only spurned and rejected. When he discovers her plan to take on an evil man from her past, Caleb will help her, whether she wants his help or not.

But Vanessa has once again put herself squarely in Abbas’s sights. And Abbas won’t let anyone—not the irritating sister or the pushy boyfriend—get in the way of his plans.

Don’t miss the final book in the Nutfield Saga. Preorder Legacy Redeemed today.