Every Friday I join a community of bloggers for Five Minute Friday. One word prompt, five minutes. Unedited. The prompt this week is: Scared.
Scared, according to the dictionary (Merriam-Webster), means “thrown into or being in a state of fear, fright, or panic.”
There is plenty to throw us into a state of panic these days. A quick look at the breaking news and we can be scared quite easily.
The last few days, I have been focused on the word ‘rest.’ Our bodies and minds require rest more than we often acknowledge. But rest can only be found in One.
“He lets me rest in green meadows …” (Psalm 23:2, NLT)
God is our Shepherd and we need to constantly remind ourselves of this truth.
Sheep, by nature, are fearful animals. They are easily scared and quite simply, cannot rest when filled with panic. It is only when they are assured their shepherd is near that they are able to settle down to rest.
In these days which are filled with many uncertainties, much like sheep, we can experience anxiety. Our minds and imaginations can go wild with “what if’s”, taking us to places filled with danger and harm. As we are filled with the assurance of our Shepherd’s presence with us, we can experience peace in the middle of our circumstances.
“For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.”
(2 Timothy 1:7, NKJV)
We need not live scared.
As we rest in the presence of our Shepherd,
we can live with peace and a sound mind.
Image byGino Crescolifrom Pixabay
Today I may be joining: Five Minute Friday and Grace & Truth .
I love the promise of 2 Timothy 1:7. Thank you, Joanne.
When I reach our lower gate
I am simply not prepared
for the uphill walk that is my fate,
and it’s really got me scared
that I will simply fall face down
and then find I cannot rise
from the dirt, so sandy-brown
and again behold the skies,
but Peanut’s there, with doggy-breath,
and he’ll bid me grasp his neck,
and from the snapping jaws of death
he’ll pull my arse out of the wreck
and let me live another day
to live and laugh and love and play.
This is so good, Joanne. Thanks for sharing.
Love the image of the sheep and shepherd.