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)
With our local high school’s graduation ceremonies only two weeks away, I started thinking about a graduation celebration I’ll never forget.
It was May 2005, the day of Bedford North Lawrence High School’s graduation “walkthrough,” and my good friend Susan received the phone call every parent fears: Her daughter, Schalen, had been in a very serious car accident on her way to graduation practice.
When Schalen was admitted into intensive care with a broken neck and blood clots on the brain, panic swept over the waiting room. The situation looked very bleak. As the doctors shared the severity of Schalen’s injuries with the family, Susan made a conscious choice not to fear. Through tears, she declared, “I will not fear. God is in control. Schalen is healed in Jesus’ name!”
When the pressure of the situation pressed heavy upon Susan and her family, they stood strong on the Word of God, allowing only faith-filled words to come out of their mouths. Susan quoted scriptures such as: “(Schalen) will live and not die and proclaim the works of the Lord!” (Psalm 118:17). She praised God for Schalen’s whole and strong body. She quietly sang worship songs.
And when fear tried to overtake her and make her focus on the additional brain bleed the doctors discovered, Susan called other believers for encouragement, agreement and prayer. She knew if she entertained any fearful thoughts for even one minute, they would consume her, so she didn’t give into the scariness of that situation; rather, she stood in faith for her daughter’s very life.
In less than 24 hours, Schalen rounded the critical corner. In 48 hours, they had her up and walking. Only a week later, Schalen proudly walked across the stage at Bedford North Lawrence High School to accept her diploma. It was nothing short of a true miracle of God. The doctors couldn’t explain her supernatural recovery, but Susan could.
After high school graduation, Schalen went on to graduate college with a degree in elementary education and is currently fulfilling her dream of teaching. She’s a living, breathing testimony of God’s faithfulness and power.
Maybe you are in a high-pressure situation right now, and panic is about to overtake you. If you feel like fear is winning in that battle of faith versus fear, don’t give up. Don’t give in! Stand strong on the Word of God, just like Susan did. Spend some time today in God’s Word. Meditate on his promises, and rest in him. Remember, while the situation you’re facing today might have taken you by surprise, it didn’t take God by surprise. Just trust him. He’s got this.
Yes, I know that is easier said than done–especially when we’re facing really difficult circumstances–but trusting God is your only choice. Pray this with me: Father, I don’t understand why this is happening in my life, but I am going to trust you anyway. I believe that you have a good plan for me, according to Jeremiah 29:11, and I praise you for that plan today. I choose faith over fear right now, and I am asking for your peace to fill me up until it flows out of me. I believe that you are still a miracle-working God, and I’m praising you in advance for my miracle. I love you, God, and I trust that you’ve got this. In the name of Jesus, Amen.
