Kristi Woods

Encouraging Women to Walk Deeper with God

When My Greatest Fear Came True

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two dogs, one at the top and one at the bottom, with the words "When my greatest fear came true" written between them

 

Do you ever fear something you’re scared of coming true? I have. One day, my greatest fear came true.

 

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Written on July 19, 2018

My head hurts today. Perhaps my body protests the chocolate I devoured yesterday. (I love chocolate–like LOVE it. Sadly, it refuses to love me.)

But it might be the tears I shed this morning concerning our puppy.

Ellie, our 8 week-old rescue, Collie-mix of some sort, ran around the house like normal yesterday–until 5:30 PM. That’s when her breakfast, lunch, and dinner projectiled all over our rug.

And again. And again. And again.

We taxiied her, the cute girl on the bottom of the picture above, to the emergency vet last night. We walked out with a hydrated puppy, assurance it was not parvo, but no real answer as to what battle brewed inside our pup. This morning, Ellie turned her head from food, refused to move out her crate, yelped when we tried to move her, and urinated on herself.

Hello downhill slope.

 

I cried.

Meanwhile, thoughts of my greatest fear concerning Ellie taunted and teased.

Just 5 months earlier we battled sickness with our sweet Bailey.

With steroids and antibiotics pulsing through her body, she appeared to be perking back to life.

But fear danced within me.

“What if?” tumbled inside. What if the meds simply offered false hope? What if she showed signs of healing, only to slide down the slope once again, skidding straight to death’s door?

What If My Fear Comes True?

 

Just six months prior, we lost Dixie, our 12 yr. old beagle/Jack Russell mix. We cried.

We thought we’d have 5 or 6 more years with Bailey, a black and white stray (top in the picture above) who found us in Oklahoma. After all, her age ran young in dog years.

Bailey gathered tidbits of strength, but then she began sliding down that darned slippery slope.

Again.

Just as I feared.

(Find uplifting, courage-filled verses here and here.)

She’s now buried on family property.

With Bailey’s death and a quiet, dogless house, I stood at a fork in the road: Would I trust God amid my fear coming true?

In 2015 I faced fear with my father’s death. (Read more here.)

Soon after a slew of events assailed. (Read more here.) 

Facing death, whether it centers on a person or furry friend, shoots fireworks of fear in many of us. So do a series of circumstances that send us circling.

 

Many of us are facing a fork in the road, albeit a small or big crisis of faith.

  • A marriage torn apart even though we stood adamant against divorce
  • A partner dying far too young
  • A child leaving their faith on the doorstep when they left our nest
  • Feelings of “not being enough”
  • That work promotion landing on a co-worker’s desk instead of ours
  • People failing us
  • Financial security crumbling
  • Health declining

When we fear and it comes to pass, on whom will we lean?

Where will we set our trust?

God offers collective wisdom for the choice.

 

Trust in Yahweh with all your heart,
    and don’t lean on your own understanding.
In all your ways acknowledge him,
    and he will make your paths straight. 

Prov. 3:5-6 WEB

 

Setting trust at His feet–in His love–never fails us.

 

There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear has punishment.

1 John 4:18a WEB

 

lamp with words "perfect love casts out fear" beside it. Foggy land at dusk in background

 

The perfect love of our Father stands trustworthy. He holds out His hand to you and me, even when…

  • Situations make little sense (Joseph, Ruth)
  • Others have hurt us or let us down (woman caught in adultery)
  • Death looms (Jesus, Stephen)

 

Today, if you’re facing your greatest fear, where will you set your trust?

 

Ellie update:

As pathetic as she looked and acted, our sweet Ellie is romping and running, praise the Lord, around the yard and house today. (Technically, she’s sleeping in her crate at the moment, but she was digging in the cantelope patch earlier. She loves cantaloupe but pees like a fire hydrant afterward.) She healed nicely and is a healthy pup. The local vet kindly offered to see her early the next day. They diagnosed her with a urinary tract infection. Meds worked wonders. God too. 😉

 

9/11

For those of us in the US, this day marks a sober anniversary. I sat pregnant with my daughter, watching the turmoil unfold on the television that day. The military claimed rights to my husband, and we lived near the area where the fighter jets scurried from in order to protect parts of DC and our nation.

I recall being afraid–a fork in the road.

May our God of all Comfort, comfort those in mourning, those clutched by fear, those continuing to hurt physically, and people battling with turmoil caused by difficult memories.

We look to You, Lord.

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Here’s a Not-to-Miss Promise for Those Who Fear God

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Do you fear God?

 

You know, the reverental way, a holy dose of awe and worship.

 

That kind of fear. Do you?

I ask myself and ponder that question more times than I’d like to admit. But every single Bible instance concerning the fear of the Lord promises good. Why question?

 

This week’s memory verse assures us of the promise of fear – the awe & worship kind.

 

Angels encamping and deliverance? It reminds me of Daniel. Even though the angel fought for several days, he made it Daniel’s rescue. Daniel’s God – our God – is faithful to those who fear him.

 

For past memory verses and more about #WORD18, our memory verse program for 2018, click here. 

Is God Prompting You to Step Out in Faith Right Now?

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Faith …

 

Have you ever sensed God prompting you to action, and deep in the heart you really, really, REALLY long to be obedient, but a blockade stands in the way?

It’s frustrating and a ball of emotions, isn’t it?

Truth be told, most of us face the obstacle of fear – that’s what it’s called –  in our faith walk. And it’s just that: an obstacle.

 

But who sets obstacles in our path?

 

~ Temptation – that which is of our own will & desire

~ Darkenss – the very one who comes to kill, steal, and destroy

 

I wish it were as easy as hearing God, hopping up on my feet, and following. But this internal war – yowza – it creates a situation of havoc at times. Then again, it might be room for God to move. Perhaps the solution remains simplier than we consider.

Four years ago I began a writing journey. I sat at my computer, scared silly. And I kid you not, I asked God FOUR TIMES, “Are you sure?”

Call me a bit of an instant gratification gal. Mounting rejections didn’t help. My flesh squealed a bit. (Okay, a lot.) I sat ready to quit.

But the Lord reaffirmed the call, reassured with answers. One of those answers included three simple words: Stay the course.

 

Have you ever been called to stay the course?

 

Maybe those exact words ring clear or remain situationally close? It’s somewhat like “run the race well” and “work out your faith with fear and trembling.”

 

 

Four years later, I sit at my computer, like I am right now, praising God. He opened doors in ways I never expected or could see all those times I sat and wondered Lord, did you really say to write?

A door swung open at Proverbs 31 Ministries. I wrote a devotional. The comments blew.me.away. How the Lord touched hearts – oh.my.goodness. Tears streamed that day.

He opened doors at Chicken Soup for the Soul and the Owasso Reporter. He flung open opportunity at The Upper Room, and now I contribute monthly at Crosswalk.com, and iBelieve.com. I sit here humbled and in awe of what the Lord has done, how He’s reaching folks across the globe like I never imagined.

 

Do you sit in awe at what the Lord has done in your life? Make a list as an offering. Click To Tweet

 

But there’s more. This time I sit in delayed obedience – which is a “make-me-feel-a-little-bit-better” makeshift for plain ‘ol disobedience.

Last year, I sensed a prompting to begin promoting myself as a speaker. Call me a “speaker who writes” vs. a “writer who speaks.” I feel as comfortable in front of a crowd as I do one-on-one. The only problem? Bowing to the fear of promotion has morphed this girl into a speaker who’s not speaking about Jesus.

Ouch.

Promotion of self seems about as comfortable as a wool sweater from the 1970’s, when donning one of those scratchy things without an undershirt proved pure torture.

But His plans don’t center around us. They pivot on Jesus. It’s not self-promotion; it’s lifting Jesus high.

Folks need to hear about hope. We’re called to promote. You know, the very name at which every knee will bow: Jesus.

So here I go, and I hope you’ll journey, too. Let’s listen to the Holy Spirit – promoting God Almighty. Let’s toss fear aside and venture where He calls – in utter and complete dependence, with arms lifted high in obedience, and hearts open in worship.

 

Here’s my first step this year:


Hello speaker card.

 

Area women’s ministries and groups will receive this simple postcard soon.

I wanted you, those of you subscribed here at KristiWoods.net, to be first on the “know” list. If you have speaking needs, consider praying over “who” He’s called to fill that need. Maybe it’s this girl, the one who desires to promote Jesus alone. If so, simply email me at Kristi@KristiWoods.net and take a peek at this speaker page.

Feel free to pass this along to folks you know, to pray or however He leads. Thank you for helping me step into obedience. I appreciate you!

 

OK readers, how about you?

 

Where do you feel the Lord prompting a move into obedience? Any feet willing to take one nervous step forward? How about “staying the course”? Let us know in the comments below. Because really, it’s often as simple as action – one step and then another in faith.

We’ll be cheering for you, and rest assured each comment will be prayed over.

Love you guys. #goJesus

 

Linking with other Jesus writers and lovers here: #raralinkup, #chasingcommunity, #fuelyourfaith