Our family includes two standard poodles. They’re playful, affectionate, and smart. When they were young, they also loved to romp in the mud.
A photo of Max and Cosette standing at my French doors with topknots flattened by rain and mud up to their necks reminds me of this stage. They couldn’t understand why I didn’t swing open the door to welcome them inside when they were so pleased with themselves.
Of course, you know why I didn’t let them in. Muddy dogs—even dearly loved ones—contaminate all they touch.
I don’t know why young poodles are drawn to mud. Neither do I understand why I’m drawn to fear and worry. Attraction to bad news must be universal because that’s what news programs cover. It should be called the 6 o’clock bad news!
Bad news can turn me into a prophet of doom predicting the worst. But, I’ve learned something. Believing the worst doesn’t bring out my best. And when I dwell on fear and worry, like muddy paws, I contaminate everything I touch.
Bad news can turn me into a prophet of doom predicting the worst. However, believing the worst doesn’t bring out my best. And when I dwell on #fear and #worry, like muddy paws, I contaminate everything I touch. Click To TweetFear Triggers
Do your thoughts ever take you places you’d rather not go? For example, what happens when —
- You’re involved in a misunderstanding?
- Unexpected bills or scary medical symptoms pop up?
- Your loved one is troubled?
- Your computer crashes?
- Someone wrongs you?
- You don’t feel as close to God as you used to?
Does your mind believe the best, or do you believe the worst?
As long as we live on earth, doubts and fears will track us down. But we need not welcome them. The Bible tells us to take our thoughts captive, because our state of mind affects everything we touch.
Legitimate Fear
Someone said the Bible says, “fear not” 365 times. So, when it tells us to fear something, we want to listen. Hebrews 4:1 says,
Therefore, let us fear if, while a promise remains of entering His rest, any one of you may seem to have come short of it” (Hebrews 4:1 NASB).
This passage goes on to recall how Israel, whom God had miraculously delivered from mighty Pharaoh, rebelled against God when He called them into the promised land. Moses sent 12 spies to investigate the land, not to judge whether they should obey God’s command to enter it. All 12 agreed the land flowed with milk and honey. It took two men to carry a cluster of grapes! They observed the land’s fortified cities and mighty fighters and heard the good news that God would give them the land.
But…10 of the 12 spies focused on the giants. They—
- forgot God’s power, not their might, defeated mighty Pharaoh.
- compared themselves to the giants and saw themselves as grasshoppers.
- believed the worst instead of believing God’s good news.
Their fear spread through the camp like a virus and erupted in rebellion. If they wouldn’t trust God after all the miracles they’d experienced, they would never trust Him. God closed the door to the Promised Land for 40 years.
Now the warning in Hebrews makes sense. Over 600,000 fighting-aged men (Numbers 1:46) left Egypt (around 2.5-3 million people total). But only Moses, Caleb, and Joshua believed God would keep His promise.
The majority was wrong. A warning to us: Who are we listening to? Who are we believing—the culture, the media, or God’s Word?
The fearful majority infected a nation. The urgent warning to fear missing God’s rest now makes sense.
The fearful majority infected a nation. The urgent #warning to fear missing God’s rest now makes sense. #faith Click To TweetJust as the children of Israel’s fears spread through the camp and caused rebellion, our fears and worries are contagious. When we come short of God’s rest, we contaminate others’ faith.
Build Your Faith
When my poodles come to the door covered in mud, I don’t ignore their mud. I hose them off. We are not to put our heads in the sand. We take the bad news along with our concerns to Jesus and allow the Word of God to wash us.
Jesus is still bigger than any giant. We fight our battles with spiritual weapons (2 Cor. 10:3-5). As we live our faith we’ll shine as lights in this dark world (Phil. 2:14-15).
When have you been infected with fear and worry? Have your fears ever contaminated another person? How do you guard your faith?
- This fall, I’ll be leading an eleven-week online study for women on Tuesday evenings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. EST. We’ll be covering Little Women, Big God. The women in Jesus’ genealogy faced crushing problems with little power, but they discovered a big God. Contact me to sign up or learn more. Let’s grow together.
. - To learn more on how to enter God’s rest: Give Yourself a Break covers ten areas that rob our rest.
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Blessings,
Resources
Are you burdened for our nation and world? I invite you to join in prayer and participate in The Return.
“Elijah was as human as we are, and yet when he prayed earnestly that no rain would fall, none fell for three and a half years!” (James 5:17 NLT).
Watch Youtube:🇺🇸 Prophetic Announcement : THE RETURN – Jonathan Cahn
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“The majority was wrong. A warning to us: Who are we listening to? Who are we believing—the culture, the media, or God’s Word? The fearful majority infected a nation.” WOW!!! If that isn’t spot on for what is happening right now I don’t know what is. I do believe the “silent” majority sees God’s hand in this and knows it isn’t over until He says so. But the “vocal” majority is doing its best to sway the public. I pray we focus on Him and His Word. Great post, Debbie, as always.
Ann, biblical and secular history warn us and God’s word is full of hope. We need to fill our minds with truth more than ever. Thanks so much. I appreciate you!
Thank you Debbie, for this encouraging message. We don’t have to dwell on the doom and gloom of life. Even with sadness and worry in the world, there are ways to find joy and hope. God gives us opportunities each moment to share His love and glory with others. 🙂
Yes, He does! Thanks, Melissa.
Wonderful post Ms. Debbie. We have to quit listening to the world and immerse ourselves in God’s truths. Well said author!
Thank you, J.D.!
I often want to bury my head in the sand (i’ve been known to avoid the news for weeks especially lately) – thank you for the reminder that we are to take our concerns and fears to God and let Him wash us with His word. Great post.
Wemi, I don’t listen to the news very much. I ask my family to keep me updated and read sources I trust. Taking these times to the Lord puts my focus and hope in the right place. Thanks for reading!
Love this Debbie and seeing pictures of your pups Fear is really spreading with this virus. The fear has become worse than the virus itself.
We need to remember God is greater than any giant or any microscopic virus. I listen to minimal amounts of mainstream news(Not truthful) and more of Christian stations and some fox news. There are many hopeful M.D.s too with cures for this. So there is no need to fear. I try to share this with everyone and peal back that stifling, heavy blanket of fear thats trying to silence all us. God is in control and He loves us so much.
Kelly, you described it so well: “God is greater than any giant or microscopic virus.” I try to guard my mind too. So thankful for the good news that I do hear. Thanks so much for adding your thoughts!
Fear and faith can be such a tug-of-war inside of us, but they don’t have to be. We don’t have to wait for fear to disappear to believe God. When we start walking in faith, our fear gets smaller.
Rebecca, well said, “We don’t have to wait for fear to disappear to believe God.” Thanks so much.
So good, Debbie. This stood out to me as I read,
Believing the worst doesnt bring out my best. And when I dwell on fear and worry, like muddy paws, I contaminate everything I touch.
Oh to guard my heart against its poison.
Jeanne, I’ve tracked complaining and worry over my family too many times! Thanks for reading.
Thanks for the reminder that thinking the worst doesn’t bring out my best. I need to be careful not to make my fears and worries bigger than God. Our country definitely needs a lot of prayer right now for every person to seek God in all ways.
Thank you, Joanna. We are in a real battle, and I have to guard my heart.
“The fearful majority infected a nation. The urgent warning to fear missing God’s rest now makes sense.” This is such a powerful post, Debbie. Thank you. I tend to sink into fear far too easily.
I want to stand like the two men who knew. They knew God would come through-and He will.
Blessings,
Tammy
Me too, Tammy. We’ll encourage each other to follow the right voice.
I always need reminding of this again and again because I tip toward fear as well: “Jesus is still bigger than any giant.” Thanks for the encouragement, Debbie! You consistently point me toward the Lord.
Lisa, you are an encourager! Thanks so much.