Publication date May 21, 2023

Fear and the Power of Words

Publication date May 21, 2023

Did you have huge test anxiety in school, too? I remember my graduation from vocational school well. Though I was a very good student, I always had the feeling of "not being good enough." 

These thoughts, which had nothing to do with the truth, were written all over my life! They loomed so large that I had terrible fear weeks before exams. Even my teacher tried to reassure me, "Déborah, you can do it!"

So, for exam days, my friend and I made ourselves headbands and wrote on them with a sharpie, "I can do it!", even just for a little fun. But do you know what, friend? The Bible tells us that "Death and life are in the power of the tongue…" (Proverbs 18:21 NKJV)! And those words on my forehead went straight into my heart!  

friend, what sentence have you written about your life? Is it based in fear—or faith in a God for whom ALL things are possible? The sentence written over your life gives insight into what's going on in your mind.

friend, Oftentimes we tend to doubt, just like the man in the Bible who brought his sick boy to Jesus and said, "'...But if You can do anything, take pity on us and help us.'" (Mark 9:22 NIV). Do you know how Jesus answered him? 

"...'Everything is possible for one who believes.'" (Mark 9:23 NIV) 

friend, that is the phrase that should be written over your life! Your Teacher (see Matthew 23:10) says to you, "You can do all things through Me!" (see Philippians 4:13)  

Rather than relying on yourself and your own strength, you can rely on the One who is able to do anything through you and for you—even things that seem absolutely impossible! 

Don't be afraid, friend! I encourage you just to be fully aware of what you've written over your own life. Maybe it's time to replace the old "headband" with a new one! :-)

 

Deborah Rosenkranz
Author

Singer-songwriter and author, but especially Jesus' biggest fan!