For my tenth birthday, my parents decided to ‘cure’ me of my obsession with chocolate. They bought me ten blocks of my favourite chocolate thinking that if I had too much, I might stop being so obsessed with it.
Over the next few days, I found myself slowly handing out blocks of chocolate to my family members. Now, this was a pivotal moment in my journey of realising too much chocolate was actually bad for me.
For a 10-year-old girl who loved chocolate more than any other food in the world, eventually I was so sick of it, I couldn’t eat any more.
My parents always told me to do everything in moderation, so that I could enjoy the things life had to offer in small portions. It is amazing how someone can tell you the same piece of advice over and over again, but it never seems to click until a certain moment.
Overwhelmed
Sometimes when an overwhelming sensation comes over us, we do not know how to handle it. When we have spent a long period of time obsessing over something or constantly dwelling on the same thing for far too long, it starts to take a hold over us.
God doesn’t approve of us sitting in agony over the things we allow to overwhelm us. He has so much more planned for us, but we sometimes restrict ourselves and our life’s purpose by allowing fear to seep in.
Rid yourself of fear
The Bible talks a lot about allowing God to be your strength in overwhelming situations. It also talks about ridding yourself of fear in order for fear not to steal your joy or blind you from the plans God has for you.
Once upon a time, I was terrified of many things, but it wasn’t until I faced them head-on and gave my fears, worries and doubts over to God, that I actually saw a change in my life. Things started opening up.
Think of it this way, imagine a straw. When you drink through the straw but put your finger on the end to keep the liquid inside the straw, you are stopping it from exiting or moving forward.
Jeremiah chapter 29 verse 11 says, ‘For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.’
We need to focus on the blessings in life and rid ourselves of fear in order to not remain stagnant in fear.
Don’t let things define you
I remember when I started getting into photography and film more seriously. I was about 15-years-old, and I felt a little anxious because I was quite young. I remember this one day that my aunty encouraged me. She said, “don't let anyone ever look down on you because you are young”—referring to the verse in 1 Timothy chapter 4 verse 12.
When we restrict our potential and our gifts to an age, a score, a category, a personality trait, or something else, we are depriving ourselves of a great blessing, or a blessing for someone else that will be delivered through us.
When we face things in life that hit us right in the face, we must take it on in God’s glory knowing that He leads our path, and He knows the way. We cannot let the overwhelming fear we carry, overtake or hide the good things God has for us.
Keep your focus on Him
Our best days are ahead of us and we need to keep our focus on God’s plan and what he wants for our life. Psalm chapter 30 verse 5 says, ‘Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.’
Whatever we face, whether it be sickness, a challenge, a health scare, a minor fear of being in the way, or even facing something new in life, let’s face it with courage and destroy the fear in our lives.
Focus on how God can use your gifts and who you were made to be as a blessing for someone else. You never know—you may even make a new best friend all because you decided to try smiling this week.
Cartia Moore is a sword fighter, trained and skilled in the art of fencing. She is currently studying a Bachelor of Arts, majoring in Screen & Media Studies, and minoring in Drama and Creative Writing. Her focus is film, television and sword-fighting. She is a youth leader who has a passion for bringing young girls to God and helping them to seek and find their worth and value in Him.
Cartia Moore’s previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/cartia-moore.html