Tempted to fear?

      "Women are always tempted to be initiators.  We like to get things done.  We want to talk about situations and feelings, get it all out in the open, deal with it.  It appears to us that men often ignore and evade issues, sweep things under the rug, forget about them, get on with projects, business, pleasures, sports, eat a big steak, turn on the television, roll over, and go to sleep.  Women respond to this tendency by insisting on confrontation, communication, showdown.  If we can't dragoon our men into that, we nag, we plead, we get attention by tears, silence, or withholding warmth and intimacy.  We have a large bag of tricks.

     C.S. Lewis's vision of purgatory was a place where milk was always boiling over, crockery smashing and toast burning.  The lesson assigned to the men was to do something about it.  The lesson for the women was to do nothing.  That would be purgatory for most of us."1.


Found on Pinterest

     I read this quote a few days ago and it has been burned in my memory since then.  I know in my own life, most of what this quote says rang true.  I want to communicate when something is wrong.  I want to fix the situation.  I want to fix every one's problems...and when certain people whether they be male or female, seem to ignore or evade or even seem to forget, (get ready for this, since I'm sure I am the only one that does this)  I either give the silent treatment or get confrontational....yep, I am no saint.  This is an area that God has really been working on my heart lately. 

Yes, I believe it is good to communicate, but so often what is spurring me on?  Is it fear or rational thinking that causes me to lose my control and demand communication?  I think we all know that a LOT of the time it is fear.  Fear of something getting out of control.  Fear of what others will think.  Fear that it is not moving quick enough.  Fear that something will go wrong if it is not taken care of.  Even fear that I may be missing a clear sign from God about direction in my life.   How can whoever else is involved, think that everything is okay, when I am "inwardly bleeding" from a verbal wound?  Yes...I can become very emotional.  I'm a girl and those emotions turn on SUPER quick.  Yes I tend to analyze everything...

However..

Fear is not from God!  Let me say that again.  Fear or anxiety or worry IS NOT FROM GOD!!  Satan wants me to be fearful, confused, angry, frustrated (you can list any other emotion that is not a reflection of God).  

The best way for me personally, to work out a situation when my emotions are running high is to usually (unfortunately not always) go to my prayer journal and start writing my thoughts on paper to my Heavenly Father.  As I write He starts bringing Scriptures full of promises to my mind.

Scripture like:

     "Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding." ~Proverbs 3:5

     " Finally, my brethren, be strong in the Lord, and in the power of his might.  Put on the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil.  For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places.  Wherefore take unto you the whole armour of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.  Stand therefore, having your loins girt about with truth, and having on the breastplate of righteousness;  And your feet shod with the preparation of the gospel of peace;  Above all, taking the shield of faith, wherewith ye shall be able to quench all the fiery darts of the wicked.  And take the helmet of salvation, and the sword of the Spirit, which is the word of God: Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints;  And for me, that utterance may be given unto me, that I may open my mouth boldly, to make known the mystery of the gospel," ~ Ephesians 6:10-19

Found on Pinterest

    If you were to take a peek into my prayer journal you would see the words "Lord help me to trust you today."  or just simply "I trust you."  written on almost every page.

"Blessed is the man who trusts in the Lord, whose trust is the Lord.  He is like a tree planted by water, that sends out its roots by the stream, and does not fear when heat comes, for its leaves remain green, and is not anxious in the year of drought, for it does not cease to bear fruit.”  ~ Jeremiah 17:7-8

I could go on and on listing passage after passage of Scripture that I have written down in my times of fear.  He loves us more that we can imagine or fathom and those verses are there to comfort and encourage us.

So, what is my point with all this.  Yes it is important to communicate and make sure that our relationships with other people are the way God would have them be, but, I need to make sure that when and if I go and communicate, I am doing it after I know it's something God wants me to do and I can communicate the way he would have me too.   It is so easy for me and maybe even for you, to take control because of the fear that so quickly penetrates our hearts.  Unfortunately because of our sin nature, it is very easy to let fear rule.  But we have been saved by a God so much stronger than us and He doesn't want us to fear, but to trust Him.  To wait and call upon Him.  To trust Him and watch Him work.

I would love to hear any thoughts you all might have :)

In Christ,

 

 

 

Footnotes:

1. Passion & Purity by Elisabeth Elliot