Life. Unafraid. {Day 7}

Royalty used to build fortresses of their own, so they could rest behind the walls they built.

I think a lot of us do that, too. We think that if we build up walls, we’ll protect ourselves and then we’ll be able to rest from all the things that cause the fear. We dead bolt steel doors and hide behind them. We hide inside of an unhealthy relationship, the kind we put too much stock into, and hope beyond hope that it doesn’t fail. Then, when it does, we trust no one, and build a wall of solitude, lest we be found out for who we really are, lest we get hurt again.

Here’s the thing, though, these walls we build, the ones we build with our own hands, they only hole us up behind them. And in the protecting, they keep us from living. They might keep us from danger, but they also keep us from real life.

That’s why I’m choosing this life unafraid. I’ve been thinking it could really be called Life. Unafraid. With the periods between the two words. Because real life can only by truly lived in the unafraid. When I’m unafraid, I am free to do life. Free to do things that my fear would not allow.

But the truth is, choosing alone doesn’t bring me the kind of peace, the kind of real life, I want. The choice for unafraid needs a power, a strength beyond what I myself can muster. Otherwise it would just be called unafraid. Without the life. The only way I can really know peace, really live unafraid, is if I have a truly solid refuge surrounding me. Tried and true, unshakable fortress. The only way I can possibly live in freedom from fear is when I have a shelter that will never, ever, under no circumstances, crumble or falter.

That’s why God the LORD is my refuge. That’s why everyday I tell Him anew, “I trust You today. Lord, You are enough. Be the Lord of my life today. I want to be where You are. So help me stay right there. In the shadow of Who You are.”

*This month, I’m joining a bunch of other bloggers in a challenge to write for 31 days on a topic about change. Having struggled with fear (sometimes paralyzing) for a lot of my life and missing much of the living that I know God wants for me, I am on a mission to live unafraid for 31 days straight. And challenging you to join me. And I’m writing about it. You can catch up here if you’ve missed any of the days. Bring a friend, too. It’ll make it more fun. Oh, and here’s a button for you to grab if you have a blog and would like to share the unafraid life (which, btw, I would love).

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