Unexpected freedom
Psalm 34:4 says: I prayed to the Lord and he answered me. He freed me from all my fears. I admit that I can be a fearful person. It doesn't always look like outright fright like when you get to the top of the hill on a roller coaster and can finally see the way down. No, my fear can disguise itself. It may look like saying no to something that should have been a yes, rejecting something simply because it is new to me, worry and anxiety out of concern for myself or my family, and it can even sometimes come as a wave of depression or a lack of self-esteem. When I reflect on fear, I can justify that it is a response or an emotion that was designed to keep me safe. After all, "healthy" fear might keep us from running out into traffic as a child, driving recklessly as a teenager, or risking our life savings as an adult. But when it comes to fear there is definitely an unhealthy side. As a parent, I see moments where my kids fear. For example, I know they