To the scared ones out there,

We all feel it at some point. We feel the fear of the future because we are afraid that we may never attain that goal or marry the love of our lives or fill the void in our hearts. The truth is that it is inevitable to have that sickening feeling in your stomach that is a result of feeling like a failure. Maybe you have felt that way your whole life, or maybe you have just begun to have that feeling. Regardless of when it happens, it does happen to everyone. That is the first thing you have to realize: it happens to everyone. Therefore, you are not alone.

Whether we like it or not, fear is something we will all have to deal with. One of my problems is worrying too much. I tend to freak out about the smallest "problems" and allow them to progressively get worse in my head. In reality, it isn't that big of a deal, and my peers often assure me that my colossal problems are minuscule ones. It seems to me that a lot of us have gotten so used to being afraid that we view it as something natural, and it is for the flesh. However, it is easy to forget that fear should not be our first instinct when confronted with an issue. What we should do is turn to God and seek His guidance, but we believe that we have it all under control. I have struggled with believing I can do it all myself. I love feeling independent, but one of the primary ways to conquer fear is realizing that God is with you every step throughout the journey of life. Beyonce may have convinced you that you are "an independent woman who don't need no man," but it is prideful to think that we can make it on our own. I'm not saying that complete dependence on people is essential because the Bible makes it clear that man will let us down. God, on the other hand, will never break a promise or leave us alone. When all else fails, the Creator of the universe promises to never leave or forsake you. You can now let out that sigh of relief. It is so comforting to know that even when you feel like you have hit rock bottom, God is still with you and is not against you.

The future is terrifying. You have no idea what may be up ahead, and you can't tell the future because you are not God. But the point we often choose to ignore is that even if we can't see the future, God can. He knows all there is to know about you and your entire life. If you think about it, it would be fairly boring to know what is coming. A surprise wouldn't be a surprise anymore. A tough time may not help you grow closer to Christ because you are able to see that you get through it and you wouldn't seek Him for help. Letting go and letting God handle your life is the better option. He sees the bigger picture and He is going to get you through every trial that comes your way. Rather than being consumed by worry, allowing Him to take the reins takes such a burden off your shoulders. He instructs us not to worry and instead to trust Him with our whole hearts.

The challenge here is to stop being so afraid of what may come and constantly worrying about things that don't really matter. God has your whole life in His hands. Regardless of whether you can see it now or not, He has a perfect plan specific to you. He knows you better than anyone, and choosing to submit to His will instead of your own will is going to be far more beneficial. He is God, after all. And we are merely dust from the earth and nothing apart from Him. This is exactly what I am challenging myself to do. One of my favorite feelings is freedom, and that is the feeling you get when you surrender everything to Christ and decide to trust him wholeheartedly. In that, there is so much liberty.