Kim Bryan

  Shane in a less-exuberant mood than normal.

Shane is terrified of any noise that emits from a smoke alarm.  He cannot even bear the sound of the small chirps that a smoke alarm makes when you need to change the battery in it.  We do not have any information about Shane’s life before he came to live with us, but we do know that, for whatever reason, he came to us with a strong negative association with smoke alarm noises.

Whenever the smoke alarm chirps, Shane hunkers down with his tail tucked completely and makes his way to either me or my husband so that he can lean his entire, shaking body against us in absolute fear.  It’s the strangest thing to us because we know there is nothing to fear.  But Shane does not know what we know, and his lack of understanding puts him in a debilitating state of fear and anxiety.

We communicate to Shane, as best we can, that all is well and that he has nothing to fear.  Shane remains unconvinced for quite some time; in fact, he will even skip meals in his state of anxiety.

How many times does God communicate to us in His Word, by His Spirit, that all is well and that we have nothing to fear?  I have no idea the exact number of times we can read this truth in the Bible, but I do know that it is repeated abundantly throughout both the Old Testament and the New Testament.

How often do we enter into debilitating states of fear and anxiety that are needless and unnecessary?

We have to remember that God is in control, God knows all, and God never leaves us nor forsakes us.  The Bible gives us countless references to God, and Jesus, telling us, in essence, “Fear not, for I am with you.”  (see Isaiah 41:10 for a particularly powerful example).

If we can arm ourselves with these truths, we can be free of the fear that wants to steal, kill, and destroy what we have been given in Christ.

Fear is not from God.  II Timothy 1:7 (KJV) says, “For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.”

Wow.  Given this truth, I opt for the spirit of power, the spirit of love, and the spirit of a sound mind.  I want what God has given to me, not what the enemy wants to deceive me into receiving from him.

The best decision Shane makes in his fear of smoke alarm noises is to take refuge in his master.  He comes to me or to Andy, and he does not leave our side.

We are to make the same decision.  When we feel fear, we are to go to our Master right away.  Psalm 46:1-2a says, “God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble.  Therefore we will not fear…”

When you feel fear coming at you, remember that God is your Refuge, your Rock, and your ever-present Help in trouble.  You are a child of the King, and He does not allow anyone to mess with one of His children.

Fear is a feeling: God’s Word is Truth.  Go with God’s Word.  It will never let you down or lead you in the wrong direction.  Seek, and you shall find that the God of the universe, the Creator of all things, the Maker of heaven and earth, is with you and that He has always been with you.

Why?  Because He loves you more than you could ever imagine.

Fear not – He is with you.

Peace to you,

Kim