I’m Not Afraid Of You!
by Hannah Keeley
Last week, our whole family packed up and headed for the beach. We LOVE the beach, everything about the beach. We love the sound, the smell, the sand, the waves…everything! And we all love it!
Well, almost all of us.
Klara always stays near the shore. She doesn’t really like to go into the water and prefers to just stay at the edge, where she can jump over the waves as they break onto the sand.
She DID like to stay near the shore. All of that changed last week.
With some coaxing from her oldest sister, Kelsey, she moved a little further out into the water. She had always been afraid of the waves and would never venture further than knee-deep into the water. But suddenly, she was up to her thighs in the water. Then her waist. Then her torso. Pretty soon, she was jumping into the waves and having the time of her life.
She went on and on about how it was so much easier out in the waves because she could just ride them, instead of staying where they were breaking and splashing.
Klara played for about an hour in the water, until I made her come in to put some more sunblock on. As soon as I lathered her up, she ran back for the waves, shouting–
“I”M NOT AFRAID OF YOU ANYMORE!”
For so long, Klara had let her fear keep her trapped near the shore. All she could do was look out and gaze at all the people having fun, while waves splashed against her feet. She wasn’t afraid of the water because she had no experience with water. She was afraid of the unknown.
How many times do we let our fear of the unknown keep us chained to a shore? We were made to dive into deep water, but fear keeps us planted on the sand.
God created you to make a difference. He planted dreams inside of you to be lived out in your life. He breathed His very spirit into you and gave you His power to be an overcomer. Truth is, the waves are not a threat to you. The mountain can’t stop you. The challenge is never too big and the pain is never too deep. Where God gives a dream, He gives the power to make that dream happen.
But we can’t do it in our safety zone. You’ve got to choose–a big, uncomfortable life where you make a difference, or a lesser life.
Leave the lesser life to the people who back away from the challenges and opt for comfort instead of success. You were made for more.
Leave the lesser life to the people who want to take the easy way out and never want to take a risk. You were made for more.
Leave the lesser life to the people who want to stay near the shore.
You were made to ride the waves!
You were made to climb the mountains!
You were made to live with passion!
You were made to LIVE–not simply exist.
Klara had to venture out of her comfort zone to find out how good it is to live the “deep water” life! The reason so few people reach true success is because of the fear of unknown. It’s true. You won’t know what it’s like until you try. You won’t know what lies around the next bend in the road. You won’t know what’s going to be under your foot when you take a step out. But you can know this–God is in the unknown. Wherever He leads you, He goes before you. You aren’t going there alone. He has promised to never leave you or forsake you. He goes before you and His glory hems you in from behind. You don’t have to know the future, as long as you know the One Who’s holding it.
So, what are you going to shout at today? God told us we could talk to the mountain. He told us we could command the waves and the wind. So, what fear you going to face today? Is it that ministry God is building in you? That marriage that is on a rocky road? That business you want to start? That move across the country? That wayward child you want to lead back? The future? The past? The terror that lurks in the corner that you can’t even put a name on it?
Then face it, name it, and scream at it–“I’M NOT AFRAID OF YOU ANYMORE!”
Why do you need to be afraid of something God has already given you command over? His power is in you; and His peace washes over you. You don’t need to be afraid anymore.
Go ahead…step out. When you step out, God steps in. It’s better out in the deep water!
~ Hannah
Hannah Keeley was once in overwhelmed mom living in a cluttered house, deep in debt, out of shape, and barely hanging on. But one day, after finding herself sobbing uncontrollably into a pile of clean laundry, she realized God has bigger and better plans for her (just like He does for each one of His children). Beginning that day, she began making changes in her life that took her from overwhelmed to overjoyed. Today, she’s helping moms do the same. Hannah, her husband, Blair, and their seven children live in Richmond, Virginia, and are having the time of their lives!
