Kathi Pelton
inscribeministries.com
I battled fear for many years! It was a gripping fear that would consume me and rob me from experiencing joy. I would obey (say yes) to the Lord and then as I began to walk it out I’d be gripped by a soulish terror that was traumatizing. A number of years ago God brought me through a season of healing and freedom from this “spirit of fear.” It was a process of learning trust and peace but because we live in this world there is always the temptation or opportunity to allow fear to return.
When God recently called our family to move from the West Coast to Virginia (we arrived less than a week ago) and live in the Washington DC region I have to admit that the challenges and obstacles that were before us to make this move where an “invitation to become fearful.” The day we said “yes” was filled with some anxious moments as I dealt with my soul. When I took my anxious thoughts before the Lord, He took me into a vision. In this vision I saw the disciples on the deck of the boat in the midst of the storm (Mark 4:35-41) while Jesus slept in the stern of the boat. The disciples were in a fearful panic for their very lives! As I saw this scene the Lord spoke to me and said,
“Daughter, you have two choices; you can live on the deck of fear, focusing on the storm, or you can find where I am and come rest with Me.”
Jesus was not going to let anything happen to His disciples because He knew that the Father was watching over Him (then). In this story, He gave us a beautiful and powerful example of His posture in sudden storms— rest! Just as He rested in the care of His Father, we too, can rest in the shadow of His wing in the midst of the storms.
As we walked through the process of a complete life change, location change (3000 miles from anything familiar), leaving our youngest son, our church, our dearest friends, our home and saying yes to a new financial demand (and spiritual atmosphere) that would take the stretching of our faith once again— I decided to allow my soul to rest with Jesus in the stern of the boat. Though there has been a constant demand on my physical body; my soul (my heart, mind and emotions) needed to be at rest.
If you are experiencing fear, anxiety or a sudden storm— find where Jesus is and let your soul abide with Him there! The “deck of fear” is where the storm will beat against you relentlessly! It will scream defeat with every crashing wave. But there is an invitation into the hidden place (beneath the deck…in the stern) where your soul can find rest.
This is your promise and this is the stern of the boat where you will find rest:
“Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High will rest in the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress, my God, in whom I trust.” Surely he will save you from the fowler’s snare and from the deadly pestilence. He will cover you with his feathers, and under his wings you will find refuge; his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart. You will not fear the terror of night, nor the arrow that flies by day, nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness, nor the plague that destroys at midday. A thousand may fall at your side, ten thousand at your right hand, but it will not come near you. You will only observe with your eyes and see the punishment of the wicked. If you say, “The Lord is my refuge,” and you make the Most High your dwelling, no harm will overtake you, no disaster will come near your tent. For he will command his angels concerning you to guard you in all your ways; they will lift you up in their hands, so that you will not strike your foot against a stone. You will tread on the lion and the cobra; you will trample the great lion and the serpent. “Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name. He will call on me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble, I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him and show him my salvation.”” Psalms 91:1-16
The key is where you dwell! If you choose to live on the deck, trying to save yourself, you will experience the crashing waves but if you will go into the place of abiding in Him with absolute surrender to trusting in Him— you will find rest for your soul and be free from the fear of the day’s arrows and of night’s terrors. Because He loves you, He will rescue you!
Leave the deck of fear and allow you soul to find Jesus and find rest. There is joy in the absence of fear. There is peace in the presence of Jesus!
