#FEARLESS365 is a yearlong study of God’s commandment to us to live without fear. For 365 days, we will focus on one scripture and volunteers from all over the world will share their personal thoughts and what God has shared with them on the specific verse. For more info… go here.
The Spirit you received does not make you slaves, so that you live in fear again; rather, the Spirit you received brought about your adoption to sonship. And by him we cry, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15
The Truth That I Believe Through Experiencing Fear
Fear. An unpleasant emotion caused by the belief that someone or something is dangerous, likely to cause pain, or a threat. Fear. Definitely unpleasant, and something that I have become accustom to since the Fall of 2015 when many things in my life were out of control. Fear. The thought that the plane that I was on was going to crash and I wasn’t going to make it home safe to see my family. Fear. The panic that caused me to have to get off the plane in the Detroit, not knowing how I would get home.
Fear. The paralyzing emotion that can keep me in slavery, except for two words that change everything. Abba, Father. The One who doesn’t give us a spirit of fear but the Spirit that gives us freedom.
So you have not received a spirit that makes you fearful slaves. Instead, you received God’s Spirit when he adopted you as his own children. Now we call him, “Abba, Father.”
Romans 8:15
One of the many things that I love about God is that nothing that we do surprises Him. Even though He is the lamp for our feet on the path we that we cannot see, He knows the entire path! He knew I would panic on the plane, and He knew how I would get home. Making a way home took a little time to figure out, but I ended up being only a couple hours from my old camp directors house where I stayed for the night, and friends who just “happened” to be driving nearby where I was staying picked me up and drove me the rest of the way home.
He is a good Father, who continually shows me that He has a path set out for me, and all I have to do is keep putting one foot in front of the other while looking to Him to be my lamp on the sometimes dark path. My Father who guides my way. This is what He does for those that He has adopted as His children. He takes care of them. He gives them His Spirit. The Spirit that brings peace to the troubled soul, and freedom to debilitating fears.
Months after my panic on the plane I had to fly again. Honestly, I already had felt the fear beginning to build up as the days closed in on my trip. The night before I was set to leave I received a text message from a friend that I don’t know very well. She didn’t know about my new fears, or that I was to be flying the next day. The message said “Are you protective over your son, Charlie? Good. Now you know how God feels about you…”. I believe. I believe that I am a child of the King. I believe that He called me “daughter”. I believe that as His beloved child, He gives His Spirit that brings peace when my spirit is not a rest. Do you believe that?
Jessica Schneider is a writer who currently lives in Norwalk, CT with her husband Mike, and two children, Charlie and Olivia. In her free time, she enjoys spending time with friends and family, walks at the beach, helping with women’s ministry at her church, and relaxing on her parent’s boat. You can learn more about Jessica and read her weekly blog posts by visiting her website.
Defying Shadows 