Fear Not by Caryl McAdoo

Author Caryl McAdoo

Fear Not

       by Caryl McAdoo  

“Fear not, YOUR NAME, I am your shield and your exceeding great reward!" Genesis 15:1

Iniquity of the fathers are visited upon their children up to the fourth generation. I’d suppose that works for mothers, too. I came by being abnormally afraid legally according to scripture. Mama lived in so much fear, so I grew up thinking—being taught by example—that being scared was perfectly normal.

            As a teen, some man in our neighborhood came to our house at night. My bedroom was on the front, and I’d awake to our dog growling and see him silhouetted against my curtained windows. As a young wife, my fireman husband worked twenty-four shifts at the station, I woke up alone one night to someone at my window again. I called my neighbor who came and checked, but no one was there. However, tracks were the next morning.

            In that same house, when Ron went to the firehouse, I would get my firstborn, a pillow, blanket, and butcher knife and sleep the night in the little space under our big desk where your knees go. Though my experiences might explain why, and people lean toward giving me a by for being afraid, fear is still a sin.

            Fear is the opposite of faith. When fear operates in our life, it usually comes in the form of a lie. We run with all the lies flooding our brains and making our hearts beat faster. It’s a slap in the face to God. Fear says, “You aren’t big enough, Lord.” It says, “Nothing can save you.” And “You’re going to die.” Or “Your child doesn’t love you.”

But God’s Word says He did not give us a spirit of fear, but of love, power, and a sound mind. (II Timothy 1:7)

So, the world’s biggest scaredy cat got delivered from fear when God revealed that I could trust Him. Completely, totally, and without reservation. He caused me to know that He constantly watches over me, and that nothing touches me without His permission. His love for me is so great! He has good plans for me! He’ll never leave me or forsake me—all His promises in His Living Word are mine! He put them there for me, for my benefit.

I can live in peace without fear.

Life changed for me that day, and I really didn’t have any fear issues for a long while—other than in a ladies’ Bible study where I semi got into it with the teacher who was saying ‘some’ fear is healthy. I contended, “No. All fear is of the devil. It insults God, and we should not accept any of it. We should deny it and fully reject it.”

In my prayer group, I said one day when fear came up, “I’m not afraid of anything.” I wasn’t trying to be a braggart, only put forth Truth, make a good confession (God creates the fruit of your lips. Isaiah 57:19 and Hebrews 13:15) One lady said, “You have to be afraid of something.” I answered, “No ma’am. I do not, and I will not. God did not give me a Spirit of fear but power, love and a strong mind.”

CFP: Thank you Caryl for this encouraging guest post!

Hearts Stolen by Caryl McAdoo

BIO: With eleven titles released by five publishers, Caryl McAdoo now enjoys being a ‘Simon & Schuster’ author with her historical Christian romance VOW UNBROKEN set in 1832 Texas. Now she’s thrilled to offer book two debuting THIS month HEARTS STOLEN set in 1844 and featuring Levi (the teen in VOW) as its hero Texas Ranger. The novelist also edits, paints, and writes new songs. In 2008, she and her high school sweetheart-husband Ron moved from the Dallas / Ft. Worth Metroplex to the woods of Red River County. Caryl counts four children and fourteen grandchildren life’s biggest blessings believing all good things come from God. She hopes that her books will minister His love, mercy, and grace to all their readers. Caryl and Ron live in Clarksville, the county seat, in the far northeast corner of the Lone Star State.

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Caryl McAdoo

Giveaway: A copy of Caryl’s new novel, Hearts Stolen, to one of our commenters.