Held Captive by the Fear of my Peers

"The fear of man is a snare,

But the one who trusts in the Lord is protected" (Proverbs 29:25).

This verse stuck out like bold print in my Bible this morning. I began to think about how much the fear of what my peers think or how they will react or treat me if I do this or that, or think this way, or if I stand up for my beliefs, holds me CAPTIVE. My worry and fear of my peers reaction can become a snare, a trap that changes me; I am HELD CAPTIVE to the world.

You may be thinking "changes me?... na" but it absolutely does. When I have worried about (wo)man's reaction to me, I have ended up saying, doing, and thinking things that I didn't believe. The more that I do, think, and behave in ways to please my peers, the more I lose who God designed me to be, the more I do and think things I don't believe. The consequences of my behavior and choices to please man, are never healthy for me or my future.

The opposite is true when I completely trust the Lord with my life, my consequences, and to provide and protect me. It is so hard when the world is screeming so loudly at me, but I have to constantly remind myself that the world doesn't know me, the world doesn't care about what is best for me... but God ABSOLUTELY does!

God knows me better than anyone else, better than I even know me. He has told me in His word that "[He] created my inward parts; [He] knit me together in my mother's womb...I have have been remarkably and wonderfully made...[His] eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in [His] book and planned before a single one of them began" (Psalm 139:13,16).

God does have a plan for me and does care about my life, "For I know the plans I have for you --this is the Lord's declaration -- plans for your welfare, not for disaster, to give you a future and a hope" (Jeremiah 29:11).

When I fully trust God and His promises, I am SET FREE to be and do all that He has for me and my life.

I pray that you will think about this for your life and how you can communicate this to your children. Give them a really great start to honoring God with all that they are. Rather than being held CAPTIVE, guide you and your children to be SET FREE from the world, to become what God has planned for you and them.

May God bless you and keep you.

Pamela

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