Releasing Control - Encouragement for Today - October 10, 2019

Peace and perspective from God's timeless truths. [View this email in your browser]( Encouragement for Today --------------------------------------------------------------- October 10, 2019 Releasing Control [LYSA TERKEURST]( [ Listen to this devotion]( “For the Spirit God gave us does not make us timid, but gives us power, love and self-discipline.” [2 Timothy 1:7]( (NIV) Fear is something I battle constantly. I have to work at not living in the harshness of the worst-case scenario. When I’m triggered by a small fear, instead of taming that thought, I feed it. I magnify it. I let it dictate my reaction. Everything gets blown way out of proportion because I convince myself that only my created protection will help me avoid the worst-case scenario. When my daughter Hope was 15 years old, she announced she wanted to spend her summer with a missionary family in a remote village in Ethiopia. The minute she told us what she wanted to do, my mind started racing through all the scenarios of dangerous possibilities, from her plane crashing, to getting kidnapped, to contracting a life-threatening illness far from medical help. Fear overwhelmed my emotions so I couldn’t hear any of the details she was sharing. I just quickly and sternly said, “Absolutely not!” She kept trying to plead her case, but I shut her down and kept saying no. I could see the hurt and confusion sitting heavily on her. And that look on her face kept popping into my mind over and over. I felt utterly conflicted. I wanted what was best for her, but my fear kept overriding any consideration I had of letting her go. I wanted to protect her, but my desire turned into control the moment I refused to pray and seek God about it. Anytime I want my way more than wisdom, I stop checking my desires with God and easily go astray. We distrust God when we are fearful of losing control. When we try to take control, we ultimately leave no room for God to be God. Eventually, I felt God tugging at my heart with this thought, “The safest place for your daughter is in the center of God’s will.” Though I was still afraid and anxious, I slowly opened my heart to the possibility of her going on this trip. Granted, my fears were not unfounded. But as I released control of the situation, I gained a deeper sense of trusting God. If the door opened for Hope to go, I wouldn’t let my fear keep her back. Have you ever done something similar, taking a concern and turning it into a big, all-caps FEAR? For me, when fear emerges in my heart, it tends to feed my doubts. Before I know it, I’m attempting to control things to get my fear under control. This is when I’ve learned I must respond to my fear in faith, based on what God’s Word says. [Continue reading...]( [Learn more about RevenueStripe...]( [Read about Salem Web Network]( | [Subscription Preferences]( | [Unsubscribe]( --------------------------------------------------------------- © 2019 Salem Web Network. All rights reserved. 111 Virginia Street, Suite 500, Richmond, VA 23219. This email is never sent unsolicited. You are receiving this email because your email address, {EMAIL}, is signed up to receive newsletters, updates, and special offers from Encouragement for Today. [Link](