Fear No Evil - How To Avoid Worry And Fear

"Yeah, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me."

Do these words have meaning for you? Are you able to live them? Is your faith that strong? For most of us, the answer is probably no. Many people go through life in worry and fear. "Is that project I'm working on gonna fail?" "Where's Johnny? He's late! Do you think something happened to him?" "Is [he, she] ever going to love me like I do them?" "Why hasn't he/she called?" "I'm late for work. Is the boss gonna fire me?"

I note that all fears are based on thoughts about the future. Even when someone has a gun pointed at you, the fear concerns that future moment when they pull the trigger and the bullet is propelled into your body. When you are worried about Johnny being late, you are actually thinking about the moment you find out why. When you are living in the future, you can't enjoy the present. It is difficult to avoid worry and fear. We are only human, aren't we?

Fear of failure is a common fear for many, though not always recognized as such. Most would simply say that they are worried, not afraid. But, the feeling is basically the same. Maybe it's not as strong in one word's definition as the other, but it is still the same kind of feeling, at least for me. It seems that it is always about some future event. Maybe that event is important, maybe not. Sometimes the importance is very much exaggerated, especially by young folks.

Most worry is a fruitless expenditure of time and energy. Most of the imagined disasters , never materialize. Sometimes we tend to bring about the very disaster we fear, simply because we fear it. Worrying about making a mistake during a recital, job interview, book review, stage performance, or about any physical effort such as bowling or golf, can actually cause you to make that mistake. That's the picture in your mind as you go into the event. Experience suggests that picturing what you want to happen, instead of what you don't want to happen, works much better.

The same goes for life in general. When you picture the results you want, you can often achieve them. Dorothea Brande stated in her 1936 book, "Wake Up And Live", that you work best when you "act as if it's impossible to fail".

". . . I shall fear no evil, for Thou art with me." Remember, the Lord is with you every step of the way. You can always ask Him to help, regardless the challenge. He will help. It may not be the way you thought, and it may take longer than you want, but He will answer your prayers, if you believe, i.e. "know" he will. If you know He will help, then why worry?

© 2004 David M. Butcher

Dave Butcher works a musical ministry with his wife, Carolyn Richards. They are full time and travel the USA presenting their programs at churches, gospels sings, revivals, RV campgrounds, fairs, festivals, and other events. Carolyn is the #5 "Most Played Overseas Gospel Artist" according to a chart published in the Oct & Nov, 2004 issues of Glory Train Express. Carolyn was in the top three percent "Most Played" of mainstream and indie country artists in early September according to a chart compiled by Western Heart Promotions of Phoenix, Arizona WORLDWIDE MAINSTREAM "MOST PLAYED "MAJOR & INDIE" ARTISTS CHART" 01-15 Sept.2004

According to the chart, she got more airplay in that time period than Tim McGraw, Brooks & Dunn, and Loretta Lynn. She has had at least one song on the charts every month in 2004. Dave & Carolyn ask that you remember this: The Lord is gonna see that Everything's Alright! Trust Him! http://CarolynRichards.net