Spiders, The Dark, and Elevators...Oh my!

I'm afraid of a lot of things...spiders, the dark, elevators...all silly things when you think about it.

I've been thinking a lot about fear lately.

Not spiders you find in dark elevators, "What if" fears like:

What if we receive a child we can't handle?

What if we pass on our perfect child and mom?

What if no one picks us?

What if Jared always has to work 2 and 3 jobs to provide for our family?

What if we never get to sleep again?

That last one is a legit fear, right?

The truth is, "What if" questions are really self-centered questions. I'll never say outright, "What if God really doesn't care and drops the ball on this?" but that's kind of what I am saying when I let my heart be gripped with "What if" fears.

It's so easy to be consumed by fear that it takes a conscious decision to instead focus on God's promises. It doesn't come naturally, at least not for me.

Isaiah 41:10 says,

"Don't be afraid, for I am with you. Don't be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you. I will help you. I will uphold you with my victorious right hand."

No matter what, if I hold tight to God's promises, follow His leading, and trust Him, I can't screw this up.