From Fear to Fullness

Published on: July 28, 2017

by Nikki de Wet…

Nikki de Wet is a very special and well trusted former Junior Junction teacher, kind wife, dedicated mother and devoted Christ-follower. Originally from Zimbabwe, she has a genuine inner strength and trustworthiness which sets her apart.)

FEAR….ANXIETY….WORRY…. sapping strength, crippling, and holding us back regardless of age or situation. With the birth of my second beautiful daughter, these emotions have been my pretty constant companions for the last little while. You would think the second time around I would know better than to listen to those inner voices telling me how inadequate I am, how I’m doing everything wrong with my newborn, and of course, a million ‘what if’ scenarios racing through my mind. Then, in one of those light bulb moments, I realised these fears were not only guiding my decision making but were preventing me from enjoying special moments with my girls. They were STEALING…MY…JOY. I reflected how many moments and opportunities had been lost to fear. This may not be a new revelation to you but it was for me. It is sometimes difficult to see the light, the truth when the darkness of fear surrounds and swallows you. Sometimes our fears may even be justified but that doesn’t mean we should allow them to control us. Here are a few ideas for rooting out fear.

1. Get Perspective:
Share your fears with someone you trust and who may have walked where you are walking now. Often their perspective will shed light on how unfounded your fears actually are. Proverbs 24.6 “For by wise guidance you can wage your war, and in abundance of counsellors there is a victory.”

2. Know the Truth:
Sometimes a fear is an outright lie but sometimes can be disguised as a half truth. Seek out what God has spoken about you and the situation you are in and then speak it out to yourself as often as you need to hear it, replacing the fear with the truth.

3. Have Trust
Trust in God, that what He says is true, that He is bigger than any fear you may find yourself feeling, that He has got you and that He will never forsake you.

I’ll end off with this thought from Ann Voskamp, in her book ‘One Thousand Gifts’ (a brilliant read). She shares this about herself…
“The fear is suffocating, terrorising, and I want the remedy, and it is trust. Trust is everything. If fear keeps our lives small, does a life that receives all of God in this moment grow large too?”

And so my resolution is this… not to let fear and worry impact on my decisions, not to let it stop me from enjoying my children, and from taking great opportunities.
I want to live a life grown large, full of all that God has opened up.