The Heart of Life is Good

Recently, I’ve been thinking about these words from a John Mayer song, “Fear is a friend who’s misunderstood.” Life often requires us to take a step out of our comfort zone in order to progress. I will be the first to admit that I naturally tend to put up resistance whenever I feel my comfort zone is threatened. Then I fall into denial mode. And then, eventually, I give myself a good kick in the pants. A friend once told me, “A kick in the pants is still a step forward.” However, that’s not always very comforting when you’re knocked on the ground with a sore behind. Anyways, today I was taking a stomp through the snow. Literally, stomping. Don’t get me wrong, I truly appreciated the beauty of the white winter wonderland. However, due to present circumstances in my life, I feel my comfort zone is being threatened. I’m now at the part where I give myself a kick in the pants, and stomping through the snow seemed to make it feel better. I arrived on an unplowed section of road which nobody had walked through yet. As I took a few steps into this undefined territory, I thought to myself, “Self, why do you fear certain aspects of the future so much? The future is unknown! It doesn’t even exist yet!” Then all these “yes, but…” statements surfaced. Instead of denying them, like I have before, I acknowledged each one as a real fear for me. Then as I continued to walk, I befriended each fear, by attaching it to my faith. Faith in God’s unique plan for me. I am so grateful for the gentle guidance He abundantly gives me upon my humility and willingness to listen. His ways are always more simple and more efficient than anything I could ever construct on my own. Without Him, I am just a girl…with lots of fears.