I'm in

I find myself saying the phrase "do not be afraid" frequently. I tell my patients in recovery who are just waking up from anesthesia and are feeling weird and fearful, "do not be afraid." When I am starting an IV or changing a bandage and I see my patients' anxiety level raising and the squirming increases, I tell them "do not be afraid". When someone asks me "What are you and Tyrone doing when you leave the ship?" and my only answer is "I don't know." My pulse starts racing and I tell myself "do not be afraid".

I am reading "The Shack" by William Young and one of the main things I have gotten out of it is that God does not want us to live in the future in worry and fear, He wants us to enjoy the present with Him. He wants us to shut down the lie that we are alone and that He will leave us. He wants us to live in the joy of a relationship with Him. I believe it. I'm in.

John 14:25-27 (the message)

^{25 -27} "I'm telling you these things while I'm still living with you. The Friend, the Holy Spirit whom the Father will send at my request, will make everything plain to you. He will remind you of all the things I have told you. I'm leaving you well and whole. That's my parting gift to you. Peace. I don't leave you the way you're used to being left—feeling abandoned, bereft, alone. So don't be upset. Don't be distraught."