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How to Handle Fear

For those who struggle with fear, God has a simple but powerful solution.

In Deuteronomy chapter 7, the Israelites are poised to enter the Promised Land (attempt #2!) and they are once again faced with formidable enemies, walled cities and vast armies.  But they have something their enemies do not:  The Lord of Heaven’s Armies.  In this chapter, God is preparing His people for what they will face, expressing His great and everlasting love for them, and sharing the promises of blessings that will come if they obey and follow Him with all their heart, soul and mind.

In verse 17, He says, “Perhaps you will think to yourselves, ‘How can we ever conquer these nations that are so much more powerful than we are?’”  Then in verses 18-20, He answers this burning question with: “But don’t be afraid of them! Just remember what the Lord your God did to Pharaoh and to all the land of Egypt. Remember the great terrors the Lord your God sent against them. You saw it all with your own eyes! And remember the miraculous signs and wonders, and the strong hand and powerful arm with which he brought you out of Egypt. The Lord your God will use this same power against all the people you fear. And then the Lord your God will send terror to drive out the few survivors still hiding from you!”

Here we learn about God’s solution to fear in the face of a seemingly insurmountable problem:  remembrance.  When we are faced with problems that are too big to go around, too overwhelming to decipher a way out, God wants us to remember.  He wants us to remember what He has done for us in the past.  He wants us to remember His answers to prayer and displays of power in our lives.  This simple act can strengthen our faith in a steadfast God who never changes.  Keeping a written record of these events and moments in our lives can serve us well in difficult times.  We can do this for ourselves but also for and with our children.  Having this type of journal or booklet provides a goldmine of perspective and hope in a time of crisis in our children’s lives.  We can look back at the ways God has worked in our lives, creating a trail of impressions of His never-failing presence like footprints in the sand.  We must remember who He is, evidenced by what He has done in our lives.

Read this article for a way you can make this concept come alive for your family.

Image by Anemone123 from Pixabay
This article is for informational purposes only and is not intended as a substitute for treatment from a qualified mental health professional. Cornerstones for Parents is not liable for any advice, tips, techniques, and recommendations the reader chooses to implement.

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About Laura

Laura Kuehn, LCSW

Laura is a licensed clinical social worker who offers individual therapy to women and moms in Connecticut. She is the author of More Than a Conqueror, A Christian Kid's Guide to Winning the War on Worry. Cornerstones for Parents is the place she combines some of the things she is most passionate about: God's word, parenting and mental health.

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