Get up, pick up your pallet and walk.” —John 5:8

I have this theory: I think most of us struggle with at least one big thing in life. For me, it’s fear. Fear trips me up over and over. It’s weird. If I allow even one pip-squeak of fear to tiptoe through my thoughts, it stirs up others. What if my mind goes blank when I’m speaking in front of a crowd of people? What if this mole isn’t just a mole? What if…? What if…? What if…?

Fear has been my enemy for as long as I can remember. When I’m really honest with myself, I have to admit that it feels more natural to worry and be afraid. Maybe I get charged on the energy. Who knows? Sometimes—many times—I’ll write in my prayer journal, “Jesus, I know I must be wearing You out with this same old, same old.” And I sense Him smiling at me, laughing in a kind, relaxed sort of way.

As I read these words from John 5:8, I can almost hear Him say: “Get up, pick up your pallet, and walk, Julie. You don’t have to stay in fear, all huddled under the sheets today. You’ve been stuck here on your pallet before, remember? Get up, girl. Get out of that sickbed. You have a life to live. There’s freedom, if you want it.”

When I choose to take Jesus’s hand and let Him lead me, the fear scrams. Every single time.

Maybe Jesus is reaching for your hand today, what is it that is keeping you in the stronghold of fear? Why not let it go in 2018 and be set free. Trust Jesus, He’s your Savior, He’s your Lord, let Him handle all those things and issues that are trying to choke the fricking life out of you, come right now and be quick about it, don’t be slow if you want in on what Jesus wants to do in 2018…Say this easy and quick prayer, Dear Jesus, today, I’m reaching for Your hand. Let’s dance again. I wanna trust You Jesus, it’s hard, cause so much comes at me, and so much tries to bring me down, and human conditions when there appears to be oh, so little help tries to strangle me and cause me to be fearful. But you dear Jesus, you’re Lord of the seas, Lord of the world, Lord of the air, come and rescue me now, help pull me up and out of this swampland of depression, oppression, and dejection, help me breathe again, help me love again, help me enjoy again, HELP me dear Jesus and help me now, not tomorrow, not next week, but help me now dear Jesus, I am tired and I need some help right now. Don’t let fear swallow me whole when I have placed my hope and trust in you dear Jesus, come in my life and take control, fix my thoughts, my mind and my outlook and my lagging energy, in your name I ask and pray, Amen!

Is there something you return to again and again? Jealousy, perhaps, or anger? Visualize it at the foot of the cross, and leave it there. Trust that Jesus really does have control and He will deal with it and fix it according to His timing.

-Julie Garmon and the “WIN International Ministries team”