I have been thinking a bit about our ‘beasts’ and ‘fear’ recently in my ‘chilling with God’ times over the last few days.

I think we all have our personal beasts (By ‘beasts’ I mean those hang ups I have, or the issues I can’t get away from, the things I keep finding myself doing and really wish I could stop.); things that try to devour us, things that we try to run from, things that we try to ignore. The problem with that approach of ignoring and pretending, I have found, is that all the time I try to ignore my beasts they have more power over me to intimidate me, to frighten me, to control me and back me into corners. I sit and cower, they drool and laugh, I cower more, they laugh more … and we do not get very far!

I have started to confront some of this stuff. I am finding that if I stand up to the beasts, if I name them and define them, that they are easier to deal with and start to back into corners themselves.

I am starting, now, to wonder whether these beasts, these things that concern me, worry me and hold me back are not real beasts after all. I think they are just bullies. Bullies that try to intimidate with the fear of ‘what might happen’ rather than the what will, or is, going to happen. The great thing about bullies in my experience is that if you keep standing against them, you may will get bruised in the short term, but they soon run and cower themselves in search of easier ‘prey’.

Their power is in the grip of fear over you, the fear of the ‘what might happen’. Once they realise that fear is diminishing they have no power, no hold, no influence. I’m trying to confront my personal bullies – and actually I think thinking of them in that way means the battle is already half done!

Psalm 91

Those who live in the shelter of the Most High
will find rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
This I declare of the LORD:
He alone is my refuge, my place of safety;
he is my God, and I am trusting him.
For he will rescue you from every trap
and protect you from the fatal plague.
He will shield you with his wings.
He will shelter you with his feathers.
His faithful promises are your armor and protection.
Do not be afraid of the terrors of the night,
nor fear the dangers of the day,
nor dread the plague that stalks in darkness,
nor the disaster that strikes at midday.
Though a thousand fall at your side,
though ten thousand are dying around you,
these evils will not touch you.
But you will see it with your eyes;
you will see how the wicked are punished.
If you make the LORD your refuge,
if you make the Most High your shelter,
no evil will conquer you;
no plague will come near your dwelling.
For he orders his angels
to protect you wherever you go.
They will hold you with their hands
to keep you from striking your foot on a stone.
You will trample down lions and poisonous snakes;
you will crush fierce lions and serpents under your feet!
The LORD says, “I will rescue those who love me.
I will protect those who trust in my name.
When they call on me, I will answer;
I will be with them in trouble.
I will rescue them and honor them.
I will satisfy them with a long life
and give them my salvation.”