One Small Thing

Tonight I ponder the last 24 hours and the way my mind was thrown into a fearful loop of darkness because of one small little thing.

One small thing – a tiny, yet very sharp thorn that prickled and poked at “the fear”. A powerful and relentless prickle which could release torrents of big ugly and horrendous, crashing waves of fear that apparently still reside in a hidden corner of my heart.

Down. Deeeeeep Down.

It was really small – this thing. But small and powerful enough to do potential damage. Yes, I said potential. It’s not even real yet and I fed its power.

One small thing – like a blister on the bottom of your toe that threatens to explode each time you press forward. “Just keep going – it may pop. Then possibly relief will come. Or maybe not. Maybe infection. Maybe gore and blood.”

One small thing that, if left unchecked, has the power to spin me into full-on anxiety, and darkness.

That’s what fear does, doesn’t it? It threatens to take over. Especially if we have allowed a piece of it to stay dug down – keep taking up space inside.

Fear of the unknown. Fear of a possible negative outcome. Fear that even if the ugly thing does happen….what then?

I know what it is for me: I forget.

I forget to remember that even if the horrendous ensues – even if that fear comes to fruition and morphs into what I think could be an abominable reality – even if – my God will take care of me. I forgot to remember.

• He doesn’t promise it will be easy.
• He doesn’t promise it will be fun.
• He doesn’t promise even that it will be void of pain, sorrow, or stretching way beyond what I think are MY limitations.

He only promises to work all things together for my good.

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who^[i]have been called according to his purpose. Romans 8:28

What shall we fear then?

• I should fear nothing but losing faith in my Savior and allow fear to draw me away from Him.
• I should remember to bring my fears to the foot of the cross and nail them in where they belong.
• I should not let fear stay for long and use it as a reminder that it’s time to press in – time to crawl up on my Savior’s lap and bask in the glory of Him.

Yes Him. The One who is truly our only armor against such stealers of joy and peace.

Him ~ His Holiness.

Just Him ~ His Goodness.

Him and His Compassion and His Mercy.

Him ~ His Love.

Just Him ~ His Truth.

Him and His Power and His Strength.

The chink in my fleshly armor is a gift. It is a gift given by my merciful Savior to remind me that such things are not protective at all.  They are flawed. They are not of Him. A thorny little present that helps me remember not to forget.

But as cracked as my heart can be and as elusive as feeling secure in this little world of ours can seem, I am kept and cared for by my One and my Only – Jesus Christ.

There is light in my little crevice right now – it has been exposed. I know the tormentor will try to cover up another little cranny from my line of vision  – it’s what he does. But the light and truth and love of my Savior is there.

He will expose all that is dark. And He will purge it.

Flesh-based armor will chink and fray. Oh yes, my friends, it will fail us. But we are already conquerors in Christ Jesus!

That’s  a BIG thing! And, oh yah……………..

Our God NEVER FAILS.

What, then, shall we say in response to these things? If God is for us, who can be against us?  He who did not spare his own Son, but gave him up for us all—how will he not also, along with him, graciously give us all things?  Who will bring any charge against those whom God has chosen? It is God who justifies.  Who then is the one who condemns? No one. Christ Jesus who died—more than that, who was raised to life—is at the right hand of God and is also interceding for us.  Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? As it is written:

“For your sake we face death all day long;
    we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”^[j]

 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us.  For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons,^[k] neither the present nor the future, nor any powers,  neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord. Romans 8: 31-37

What one small thing threatens you today, dear friend? Is it a fear of something unknown that is causing you to feel anxious? Is it a conflict, a bad news day, or a particular brand of suffering that is making a visit on the doorstep of your heart or mind today? Is a cloud following you around and you are straining to see the light from underneath it? Won’t you join me in laying it at the feet of Jesus? Ask Him to take it from you and help you to surrender it back over (daily) when and if you try to pick it back up again. He is strong enough. He doesn’t need our help. We have only to bring it to Him. He will meet us there, friends. He takes all things – big or small – ugly or not – and makes them into that which is divine and good.

Turn over your one small ugly thing over today to the One who does GREAT things! Then sit back and watch Him work wonders in your life through the beauty of surrender and the glory of just Who He Is!

 

 

 

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