From One Woman to Another

Let’s be honest, Ladies…we can be brutal and awful to one another.  We can be judgmental, conniving, jealous, competitive, and threatened by one another.  For some reason (especially in NYC), we feel the need to do whatever it takes to climb to the top – even if it means that someone gets hurt along the way.

“It’s not personal, it’s just business.”

We sometimes assume the worst about another woman, especially if we feel threatened by their beauty. Am I the only one?

I think NOT.

I wonder… I wonder what life would be like if women uplifted one another instead of tearing each other down.  I wonder what insecurities would dissipate if we assumed the best about one another, EVEN if the other person’s motives aren’t good.

Now I know you’re probably thinking – “oh Nat, that’s cute. You want the world to be a better place. That’s so cute and naïve.”

Yeah, perhaps it is. But you see; I’ve actually seen what this looks like. I’ve seen it, and I’ve actually felt what this is like. It’s as real as the chair you are sitting on whilst reading this.

I’m a part of an amazing church that believes in women and the purpose they bring to this world. I actually know quite a few churches like this. Amazingly enough, the men in our church believe in us and support us as well. And even MORE, the women in our church lift each other up. We support one another…and we celebrate the beauty and successes in one another.  GASP. We SUPPORT THE SUCCESSES AND BEAUTY IN ONE ANOTHER?! YUP.

I don’t know about you, Ladies.  But I actually find this quality in other women  refreshing. It makes me want to be friends with women who carry this kind of grace-filled love for one another. And may I please add, that I actually (maybe I’m wrong) think that men find this attractive as well. I think Men might even respect a woman more when she exhibits this kind of humility towards other women.

What is more attractive than a woman who is confident enough to applaud and compliment another woman?

That doesn’t mean that we don’t deal with insecurity and feeling “ugly” or “fat” some days. It means that in SPITE of how we “feel,” we can still muster up enough love and confidence in who we are to reach out to another woman (even if we feel threatened by them in any way) to offer GENUINE kindness. Key word – GENUINE.

If I may… be so bold to say a few little “tid-bits.”

Please – for the love of the FATHER GOD in Heaven, Let’s STOP using the excuse that we are just hormonal. PLEASE.

I get it. Our hormones are a bit out of our control at times, and can be interesting to navigate for some women who do have an imbalance. For the rest of us, who actually have no excuse – let’s not use it anymore…ok? Ok.

So when we have moments where we are less than “pleasurable” to be around, how about we extend an extra bit of grace for one another. Recognize those moments of weakness, and go the extra mile.

Imagine if other women looked to YOU to be the “light” in their life. Imagine if instead of someone being turned off by your constant insecurity that outworks itself in rudeness or aloofness, that they are drawn to the fact that you INCLUDE others.  Gosh, I love when I meet other women that are inclusive! It makes me want to be a better person…and it challenges me to be more intentional about including others.

So how about it, Ladies? Let’s be more encouraging to one another.

Instead of getting upset with your friend who got the part you wanted in the show, or got the modeling job with the company that you wanted, that you celebrate with them instead.

Instead of allowing jealousy and hurt poison your heart because “everyone else is getting married and you aren’t”…that you celebrate.  TRUST ME; I know what this feels like. And I made a decision – a deliberate decision that I would celebrate with my friends, because I knew that my day would come. SO SUCK IT UP, and just be happy for each other! (Side note: my friends are AWESOME at this.)

I’ll leave you with this…

I think there is an incredible power in unity; especially when women come together to help one another. We can get a lot more accomplished this way.  Life is a LOT more enjoyable when we work together as well.

We don’t all have to be best friends, but we really should learn to work together better. It’s not impossible…but it may take a bit more humility on our part. Are you up for it?

 

Can I sit with you? - (The Struggle to Belong)

Growing up, I heard a lot of stories from kids my age whose parents sat them down, and told them that they would be moving to another city.  As a kid, there is an immediate "panic-dread" feeling that overwhelms you the minute you find out that you have to move to another city, state, or school.  Your life is now over. Done.

"But, I don't want to leave my friends! How will I make new ones?!"

Or..something like that. Even if you were the "cool" kid in school, you may not be in the next place - scary. Funny how that doesn't change with age.  "What if people don't like me in my new job?"

Let's just call it what it is. Let's just be honest with ourselves, and admit what we have all felt (at some point in our lives).  We just want to belong somewhere.

Years ago, a teen flick movie was released in theaters that uplifted the idea of popular, beautiful girls who bullied anyone who didn't fit into their ridiculous criteria.  I remember watching this movie with my friends, and I hated it. My immediate response was anger and frustration that this was something that thousands of young people would watch, laugh at, and imitate.

I realize that my response was perhaps a tad bit dramatic, but nonetheless, I hated this movie.  I've since watched it, and can look at it with a more "light-hearted" viewpoint, but I'm still not sure that I ever want to be "ok" with this movie.  And YES, I do realize there is a greater "moral" in this movie, that was SORT of communicated at the end of the movie.

I digress on that.

I think it's easy to look at other people and feel like you're the only one who doesn't belong.  You compare your life with theirs, and find a million and one reasons why you don't belong, and why EVERYONE ELSE does.

"Does anyone even notice me?"

OBVIOUSLY, THAT IS RIDICULOUS!! (and the biggest lie from the devil - he's such an idiot...and he's been feeding the same lie for centuries. Nothing new).

It's like the kids say these days, "Story of my life..." Ha.  Funny thing is, I'm sure a lot of people feel this way, and no one else would know it.

The more I think about this whole "fitting in" concept, the more I realize that sometimes when we "fit in," we end up becoming someone that we hate - or someone that isn't truly who we are.  We become more exclusive, instead of inclusive...and THAT, to me, is even more scary.

When I'm reminded I don't quite fit in whatever/wherever, I'm also reminded that someone else feels the same way.  The real truth, folks: I'm not sure any of us really fit in. I don't mean that in the way that you might think.  We all matter, but I don't necessarily believe we are all meant to fit in.

We are blessed enough to have friends/family that love us for who we are.  They love us with all of our insane thoughts, stupid immature moments, and more obviously - our endearing qualities.

Let's look at the idea of healthy FAMILY for a second.  A healthy family isn't perfect.  Each member within that family has different qualities, desires, dreams, and even faults.  How is that they all fit in though? Because each one of those members has made a decision to love each of the others, with no strings attached. They don't love them because they have everything in common, but just simply because of who they are.

THAT, is what belonging is all about.

Some of my best friends are incredibly good at making people feel welcomed - and truthfully, that is why they are my friends.  I find it difficult to be close with anyone who doesn't think that way.

EveryONE belongs, and everyONE matters.  If I can't find a commonality with someone, I try harder. I am primarily an introvert - but that's no excuse for being "too shy" to include someone else. And when I don't feel like I fit in, I try harder to make sure someone else doesn't feel the same way.  Then the most beautiful thing happens.  In the process of helping someone else, I am reminded that my part matters, and even more, that people matter. My focus shifts from me to others.

Jesus was/is the ultimate example of including others.  When He gave His life on the cross, He thought of US. Not just one person...all of us.  He thought of the world, present and future.  He didn't fit in either, but yet He is the son of God. If there was ever an example to follow, it's His. He didn't fit in, was shamed and persecuted, but yet He loved relentlessly.

I started writing this a few weeks back in a moment of weakness. I knew how I felt was real, but silly. Most of all, I knew I wasn't the only one.  But this is becoming less and less about me, and more about how I can do my part to include others.

Hopefully we are learning to grow in this as we get older.  Hopefully, we are teaching those after us how to do this.  I'm seriously tired of: "You can't sit with us!"

I'm going to start asking: "Can I sit WITH you?"

The Truth about Joy and other things...

I’m going to be as real and as raw as possible in this blog post…and I hope, if anything, it provides some sort of therapy for my mind. 

Here’s the brutal honesty.  I think most people put their “best foot forward” when it comes to social media.  Someone once commented on a photo I posted about laying in the grass and enjoying every moment, “Wow, your life is nearly perfect huh?”

I laughed really hard at that comment before replying…and for longer than 10 seconds.  The thing is, my life isn’t perfect..nobody’s life is! But I guess, for a few moments, every once in awhile, I like to celebrate the really really small things.  Because when we learn to celebrate the really really “seemingly insignificant” things/moments in life…we learn to enjoy life more. 

Sadly, I didn’t really learn that until I was in my late twenties, almost thirties.  

I HATE my job.  Hate it…in fact, I’d say that when I think about my job, I get a little sick feeling in the pitt of my stomach that doesn’t go away until I take a moment to pray about it. You see, my current job didn’t always give me that feeling.  I used to wake up, knowing I had a lot of work awaiting me, but I never had that nervous, sick, “so stressed out” I can barely get through this migraine feeling.  The past few months have been a continuation of this very feeling…day after day.  The weekends never quite seem long enough, and the moments when I’m enjoying life with the ones I love…never quite seem long enough.

I hate that. I despise the fact that I am so discontent.  I think what’s worse, is the fact that those feelings can so easily creep in and poison the beautiful things in life. 

I woke up this morning…trying to find an excuse to miss work.  But it’s not in my heart to ever be dishonest to get out of work, even when I think I deserve it.  (It’s a personal thing.. my parents instilled into me amazing principles in honesty).

Now, I could list all of the reasons why my job is an unhealthy place to work at…and also why I know it’s not somewhere I want to stay, but it would be pointless. It would be pointless, because maybe it’s a great place for someone else to work.  Obviously I want this business to grow and flourish…just without me. 

To answer the question I’m sure you are asking…YES, I am looking for another job. 

Here’s where it gets good.

Just when I think that things can’t get any worse at my job…God always steps in and shows Himself faithful.  I wish I could share the details, but all i’m going to say is that God is good.  

There are those moments in life when you feel a little bit “hopeless” about a certain situation, and it’s in those moments that I believe God sends reminders..

“I’m with you…I haven’t left…I’m still here…and I’m going to take care of this.”

I know my job story is SO minimal when compared to so many of yours, but let this small small example be a reminder that He is with you in whatever battle you are walking through.

I woke up this morning hearing the holy spirit remind me to CHOOSE JOY. My first response was, “REALLY?! Joy?! There is no joy at my job.”

Hahaha!…and quickly I was reminded all over again of the fact that I have a job. 

And that’s all I needed to shut up.  

In saying that, I do not believe God wants us to be miserable in life.  So, I am believing and trusting for more. I’m believing God has the perfect job out there for me..a job that I’m excited about.  I’m believing for an Ephesians 3:20 kind of job…”beyond what I could even think or ask…”

It’s definitely out there. Until then, I may hate my job…but I will choose JOY.  

I’m just gonna start laughing at all the dumb things that happen throughout my day instead of getting mad.  

I’m sure people will start thinking I’m crazy, but whatever. At least I’m laughing!!!

Also, here are some beautiful scripture reminders of joy:

James 1:2-3

"Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds,  because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance."

Romans 15:13

"May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit."

John 16:22

"So with you: Now is your time of grief, but I will see you again and you will rejoice, and no one will take away your joy."

My Morning Heart Explosion

I woke up this morning feeling like my heart was going to explode.

Well, that was AFTER the fact that I deliberately neglected to go to the gym.  You see, aside from the fact that I somehow manage to get to work at least an hour before my other colleagues, mornings aren't my strong suit.  One day, I'll be a champion at mornings.  (Insert, "I have a dream" speech...which is completely NOT related, ha!)

My heart....yes, my heart.  I admit that I am quite the emotional person.  Most of my emotion is internal, which can be a great thing...and can also turn into the most ridiculously selfish thirty second display of emotion.

Picture this.

I'm walking to work (subway ride, included), headphones in, listening to a BETHEL song (for those of you who don't know who they are...check this: www.bethelmusic.com ) on the highest setting I can put my iphone on without disturbing anyone else.  There is a bridge to the song which says:

Bless the Lord, Oh my soul cries out
All that is within me, Praise
Bless the Lord, Oh my soul cries out
All that is within me, Praise


Simple?  Yes, it is.  But the best part about something as simple and declarative as these words, is the fact that we sing them no matter how we feel.  I'm actually in what I would consider a "mountaintop season."  Is everything perfect? No, not at all.  But my soul is well.  I can see areas of my life that I was trusting God for breakthrough, actually bearing fruit.  As i'm listening to this song, all I can think of is how faithful God has been through everything.

Then, I start to think about how good Jesus is...

How He saved me...and how He continues to save me.

How He has won my heart...and how He continues to win my heart.

I'm thinking about how much He knows me more than I know myself.

How He has relentlessly pursued me since the day I was born, and still continues to.

How He takes care of my family, when I can't be near them.

How He takes captive every single thought that isn't from Him...and replaces it with love.

How He knows my mistakes..and still gives me what I don't deserve.

He has forever WON my heart (and all of my emotions!) ...and I will gladly let Him.


If anyone has earned it, He has.

I'm not sure if this post has any one theme, other than to say...Keep remembering His goodness.  Keep looking heavenward when all you see is calamity, chaos, confusion, and brokenness.  If you are in your BEST moments, remember Him.

He never forgets us... ever.

I'll leave you with a verse that I have prayed so many times:

Psalm 51:12 "Restore to me the joy of your salvation.  And grant me a willing spirit to sustain me."

The Message version is mind blowing:

^7-15Soak me in your laundry and I’ll come out clean,
    scrub me and I’ll have a snow-white life.
Tune me in to foot-tapping songs,
    set these once-broken bones to dancing.
Don’t look too close for blemishes,
    give me a clean bill of health.
God, make a fresh start in me,
    shape a Genesis week from the chaos of my life.
Don’t throw me out with the trash,
    or fail to breathe holiness in me.
Bring me back from gray exile,
    put a fresh wind in my sails!
Give me a job teaching rebels your ways
    so the lost can find their way home.
Commute my death sentence, God, my salvation God,
    and I’ll sing anthems to your life-giving ways.
Unbutton my lips, dear God;    I’ll let loose with your praise."

The Truth Is...

The truth is, not much has changed.  Or so it seems...

I still battle thoughts of unworthiness, failure, and fear.  I still have mornings when I wake up with the overwhelming thought that I am not good enough, strong enough, creative enough, adequate enough, or beautiful.

You would think, at the age of 30, that I would be well over combating the thoughts equal to that of a 15 year old insecure girl, but sometimes - I’m not. 

I wish that I could say that I never struggle with insecurity. Oh how good it would be to be confident in knowing I don’t fight against a lack of confidence..ha..that’s ironic.  The truth is, I do…some days.

As I was laying in bed thinking about all of these disappointing “truths” the other night, I felt the holy spirit remind me of something.

“Your insecurities NOW, are not the same as your insecurities THEN..”

WOW.  I have changed?  

Now the REAL truth. 

I don’t struggle with the same thoughts of insecurity.  I don’t battle the same feelings of unworthiness that I did even a year ago.  Jesus has redeemed and restored so much in my life, that I’m not even “moved” by the same thoughts that used to weigh me down before.

Day by day, He strengthens me.  As I wait upon Him..as I seek Him, He gives me strength to withstand anything.

A few years ago, I sat with a friend who is going through a very tragic circumstance in her family.  There had been unfaithfulness in the marriage…and every single fear imaginable came into my mind.  I kept thinking, “Well, I’ve had boyfriends cheat on me in the past…what if I have this with my husband one day?”  I was meant to be in my friend’s life as a support, and yet, I was afraid of the very same thing she was walking through.  

Recently, I found myself in very similar situation.  I remember thinking, “Oh, I hope I don’t start fearing this for my own life.”  It was in that exact moment when I realized: “I’m,ok.  God has already faithfully brought me through this in the past, and brought me to a place where I can TRUST Him with this part of my life.  I don’t need to fear for the future.” 

The TRUTH is, I’m not the same person that I was last year, or the year before.  I don’t deal with the same insecurities, fears, or doubts.  

The TRUTH is, I am walking with Jesus through new areas of trust in Him.  I am learning to trust Him with parts of my life that I have not trusted Him with before.  

So, it seems on some days, that I haven’t changed.  It seems like I am still that insecure little 15 year old girl that ‘can’t get it together!’  But that’s not the truth.  

It is a very GOOD thing to remind yourself of the TRUTH. Not the lies you hear all day long…but the truth.  

We don’t need to build “memorials” around the things we used to struggle with..and stay there.  Remind yourself of what God has done already.  Remind yourself of what He has delivered you from, what He is in the process of completing! Give yourself a good ol’ slap in the face if you need to.

I love the line from the movie “THE INCREDIBLES”:

“Pull yourself together! You are elasta-girl!”

Ha! Perhaps we need to remind ourselves of how much we can do in HIS name.  We are incredible…in HIM. We are indestructible in HIS name.  We may have been struck down at one time, but we are back up and better than ever now! 

Even if you don’t “feel” like it now. 

Since when has our faith in Jesus ever been based on our “feelings?!”  That’s what I have to remind myself of nearly every day.  

You are not where you could be..or should be…or have been.  

The truth is… He is strong in our weakness.  

2 Corinthians 12:9-11

"And He has said to me, “My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness.” Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me. 10 Therefore I am well content with weaknesses, with insults, with distresses, with persecutions, with difficulties, for Christ’s sake; for when I am weak, then I am strong."

Now THAT is something to build a memorial around! Build a monument on the fact that in Jesus we are made strong…even in our weaknesses!  

Be patient with where you are at…allow God to complete what He has begun.  So yeah, maybe we still struggle with insecurities… let HIM walk with YOU through them.  Let Him strengthen you as you trust Him with your heart.

You are better than you think you are.  :)

And most of all, You are LOVED by a God who madly, and compassionately loves YOU.  

That is the TRUTH. Everything else…is a lie. 

P.s. A LOT can change in a moment...I just got back from a trip to Hawaii.. and there is no way that could have happened without God.

Being Brave

I have been pondering this verse for months now…and for some reason (unbeknownst to me…but definitely known by our Mighty God), I cannot shake it from my spirit.

1 John 4:18 "There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear, because fear has to do with punishment. The one who fears is not made perfect in love.”

How many times have we entertained fear like a guest we are scrambling around the house to prepare the most extravagant of feasts?  Instead of waging war against every fear-filled lie with the very life giving words of God (the Bible), we listen…and listen to them…the conniving whispers and tricks of the enemy.

LIES.  That’s all that fear is…lie after lie. 

Speaking of the devil...John 8:44… “When he lies, he speaks his native language, for he is a liar and the father of lies.” 

The word of God reminds us that every single word that goes against his very life-giving words is a lie…and even more, that those words come directly from the devil.  That is enough for me to stop listening, stop entertaining, and stop feeding those lies.  

I’ve learned in the most depressing, the most lonely, the most rejected of moments, that God’s word is my ONLY lifeline.  

I am so grateful for the moments when I sense fear, and run to God for help. Call it a crutch if you want…I don’t care. I need Him every single second of my desperate days. I need Him in the very celebratory moments, and in the not so famous ones. 

God makes me more brave.  I am convinced of that!  Daily, I am learning how to become completely reliant on the mighty God that I serve…and I don’t care how weak that makes me seem.  I can feel his very life strengthening me when I call on His name.  

When He calls us… we have NOTHING to fear..EVER.

I don’t know if there is much more I can say.. so I will leave you with some lyrics (and link to a video) to one of my new favorite songs by BETHEL, called “You Make Me Brave."

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6Hi-VMxT6fc

You make me brave

You call me out beyond the shore 

Into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now 

the love that made a way

You make me brave

you make me brave

you call me out beyond the shore 

Into the waves

You make me brave

You make me brave

No fear can hinder now

The you’ve made

BRAVE

brāv/

adjective

1. 
   ready to face and endure danger or pain; showing courage.
   "a brave soldier"

synonyms:

courageous, valiant, valorous, intrepid, heroic, lionhearted, bold,fearless, gallant, daring, plucky, audacious; More

FEAR, WHAT?!

My parents are some of the most incredible people on the planet, hands down…and if you try to tell me yours are better, I’ll probably fight you (with a smile on my face, of course). 

My parents were always careful to monitor what us kids watched on television and in movies.  I specifically remember not being allowed to watch certain cartoons because some of the material encouraged evil and sorcery.  As a child, you can’t possibly understand this kind of thing, so you just go along with it...and sometimes you argue with your parents until you get into trouble. 

Even though I grew up in a safe, healthy environment, I still struggled with intense nightmares as a child.  There is no way that I could have made up some of the things I saw in my nightmares...they were intense. I remember countless nights of feeling “frozen” with fear.  

But every time I would wake up crying out for my mom and dad to come rescue me, one of them would come rushing in and immediately hold me close.  Without fail, they would pray the sweetest, most tender, and yet powerful prayer over my mind and heart. There was no greater feeling than the feeling of safety that would overwhelm me after they prayed.  It was very clear to me at that time that prayer worked, that Jesus loved me, and that the devil hated me. 

Fear is a very real thing.  It can be incredibly debilitating. Fear tells us lies about who we are, what we can and can’t do, who loves us, and who doesn’t.  Sometimes fear will creep in through the most unexpected ways, like through a friend trying to offer advice. Maybe it comes in the form of a rejection from a position you were applying for at work.   

Sometimes it looks like “jealousy” because everyone else is dating and you’re not..but really it’s just fear of not ever meeting the right person. It’s fear that God doesn’t have the best for you…I know that one all too well.

When I was walking through some of my darkest days last year, I learned something that I couldn’t have learned as a child. I had to learn this on my own..I had to make it real for myself, as an adult.

I learned how powerful prayer is over fear.

Yes, fear is a real thing…and it comes ONLY from a very real enemy (satan).  BUT, God is even more REAL than that.  He REALLY won, and He will continue to REALLY win forevermore.

The truth is, there will be good days, and there will be days that you wished never happened. And sometimes those days that you never wished happened lead to fears about the future.  Then, if we don’t allow God to help us address those fears, they can become so deeply rooted in us. I’ve even been so discouraged by my failures in relationships or past jobs, that I didn’t even want to talk to God about it.  I was so scared to let him into that part of my life, because I was afraid of failing again. Meanwhile, I imagine this patient and wonderful creator of the universe, just waiting for me to call upon Him for help.  He was waiting for me to trust Him to take care of the very things that paralyzed me with fear.

But let’s not forget the most powerful weapon that we have access to all the time!  A weapon that doesn’t actually need an introduction or proof.  This weapon has been said to be sharper than any two edged sword. (Hebrews 4:12)

This is THE WORD OF GOD.  This is the Bible. 

When we speak the words of God we combat fears.  Fear only has the power we give it in our lives.  So if we continue to feed fears by listening to everyone’s opinions all of the time, instead of going to God’s word for validation, then that fear grows.  

What if we decided that every time a fear of rejection, failure, or stepping out in faith comes into our mind - that we immediately open up the word of God (Bible), and search fervently for a scripture that combats that lie? Imagine how that would alter the course of our day! 

For example.  FEAR: “What if I never find the right man/woman for my life? What if I always screw relationships up?”  

SCRIPTURE: Ephesians 3:20 “Now to Him who is ABLE to do immeasurably more than what we can ask or imagine, according to His power that is at work in us.”

So…if your fear is that you won’t get a job that is the desire of your heart.  If you fear that your past failed relationships will be your pattern for life, remember that God is able to do IMMEASURABLY more than what we can ask or imagine.  He is able.

I’m not sure there is much more to say about why we shouldn’t fear…and what I have learned from allowing fear into my life.  But I will leave you with a list of scriptures that have helped me along the way.  

I want to encourage you to dig into the word of God for yourself.  Find scriptures that will combat those fears.  I can promise you that your heart will be strengthened in speaking out the words of God over your life.  Let God into your life long enough to help you deal with those fears.  He wants us to be free of them!  Just like my parents rushed to my side when I cried out in fear, God comes rushing in to our side, holds us, and speaks life over us. 

Disclaimer: Once you open up the bible and realize how good it is, you might not want to put it down.  It will bring you life, hope, peace, and strengthen you. Just so you know…ENOY forever. 

Psalm 23 - ALL OF IT. :)

Psalm 27:1 “the Lord is my light and my salvation, whom shall I fear?  The Lord is the stronghold of my life. Whom shall I fear?” 

Psalm 118:6 “The Lord is with me; I will not be afraid.”

2 Timothy 1:7 “For God did not give us a spirit of timidity, but a spirit of power, love, and self discipline.”

Psalm 56:3-4 “When I am afraid, I will trust in you. In God, whose word I praise, In God I trust; I will not be afraid.”

Isaiah 41:10 “So do not fea, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will uphold you with my gracious right hand.”

Isaiah 41:13 “For I am the Lord you God, who takes hold o four right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”

1 Corinthians 16:13 “Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage, be strong.”

1 John 4:18 “There is no fear in love. But perfect love drives out fear..”