I know that everything is in God’s hands, and I can face unafraid the unexpected. I know that in my head, but sometimes my heart starts racing anyway. December was hard, friends. The last 30 days have been so hard I think I developed a bad case of spiritual amnesia. Like George Bailey in It’s a Wonderful Life, I was struggling to see the wonder and worrying about a few too many things out of my control:

• I had surgery. (Got a personal call from my doctor to let me know I was in trouble.)
• Our roof is leaking in some invisible place, and all the kitchen cabinets are damaged.
• My mama had a freakish accident in the kitchen, and her burned hand is wrapped up like a mummy.
• Bruce had all kinds of wonky side effects from a medication that was supposed to help him feel better.

Christmas felt a lot less Ho-Ho-Ho, and a lot more, “Help me, Jesus.” I’m just keeping it real here.

Maybe like me Santa left you some undesirable gifts under the tree, and you wish you could return them. (Does Santa have a return policy on chaos? I’d like to exchange my recent diagnosis for a clean bill of health and a smaller dress size.)

Here’s the thing: God never promised me a Pinterest perfect Christmas. I am reminded that Immanuel was born in a smelly stable, not a bed of luxury with satin sheets. Sometimes, you have to persevere through the stinky stuff to see God show up in a supernatural way.

A few days before Christmas, I was sitting in my car kind of feeling sorry for myself. I decided to just turn the car off and take a moment. (Sometimes, I take 15-minute personal retreats sitting in the minivan in front of my house.). I had the Christmas music playing on the radio, and I was scrolling through Facebook in hopes of finding a lovely picture of someone’s Pinterest Perfect Christmas tree. I wanted to jump into anyone else’s Christmas and forget about mine.

I was seated right there in my car having what I thought was a mindless moment when God met me there.

A woman I have never met shared these words in a Facebook group on goal setting: “I was struck yesterday while singing along with an old Christmas song, ‘Winter Wonderland.’ Through the lyrics ‘We’ll face unafraid the plans that we’ve made,’ I feel like God is sending me a message to relax as I make my plans for the year ahead.”

And as I read her words, that exact line from the song was playing on my car radio.

I felt like Jesus Himself was whispering in my ear the words, “Fear not, little flock, for it is your Father’s good pleasure to give you the kingdom.” (Luke 12:32)

So many years ago, God called Mary to surrender her dreams for the future to labor in a squalid stable. She said yes, and she carried salvation to the whole world.

I want to say a wholehearted yes to my God even in this. I want to step into the next year with a holy confidence that my Abba Father is able to do anything. He still makes miracles out of messes.

Just in case you are working hard to push past fear as you face the new year, here are four simple steps you can take to surrender all and say “Let it be to me according to Your Word” to the God for Whom nothing is impossible:

How to Face Unafraid the Plans That We’ve Made

LISTEN TO GOD’S VOICE ALONE

Stop listening to the crazy voices in your head or your opinionated friends or your favorite guru. Get your nose in the Good Book and arm yourself with Truth.

” …the one who always listens to me will live undisturbed in a heavenly peace. Free from fear, confident and courageous, you will rest unafraid and sheltered from the storms of life.” (Proverb 1:33, TPT)

TRUST IN GOD’s SAVING STRENGTH AND KEEP SINGING

Your problems are not bigger than your God. He can handle whatever makes you feel helpless. Hand it over to His care and choose to worship the Savior who stands in the gap for your every concern.

“Behold—God is my salvation! I am confident, unafraid, and I will trust in you. Yes! The Lord Yah is my might and my melody; He has become my salvation!” (Isaiah 12:2, TPT)

REST SECURE IN HIS CARE

The Creator God who keeps the universe running with precision order knows exactly who you are and what you need. He is always right on time, but He is not on your timetable. Rest in His embrace and remember He died to rescue you and will never let you go.

“Since you are so much more precious to God than a thousand flocks of sparrows, and since God knows you in every detail—down to the number of hairs on your head at this moment—you can be secure and unafraid of any person, and you have nothing to fear from God either.” (Luke 12:7, VOICE)

KEEP SERVING YOUR SAVIOR

Have you considered that maybe you are going through a hard time because you have an adversary who is trying to sideline you? Don’t give him the satisfaction. Stay active and look for opportunities to encourage others along the way. This season of service may look a little different, but you can still report for duty and make a significant difference. Tell your story and pray fervently for others in the struggle.

“…So does He remember the holy agreement He made with them and the oath which He swore to our father Abraham, to make us this gift: that we should be saved from the hands of our enemies, and in His presence should serve Him unafraid in holiness and righteousness all our lives.” (Luke 1:75, PHILLIPS)

To help you face unafraid the plans that you’ve made, I’m sharing a copy of My Pray Big Prayer Calendar with you. Start your year praying each day for God to fill you with a holy confidence that He is at work in your world. Sign up today as a member of the Wildfire Faith Community and grab a copy in our Faith Fuel Library. Print out your copy and start each morning inviting God to give you strength and courage. Let’s #PrayBig and stand on God’s promises in the new year!

No matter what lies ahead, God has you covered. Lean into His Almighty embrace and let Him whisper “Peace, be still” to your soul. Trusting the Lord with all of our personal chaos will help us develop a quiet strength that stands secure even when the enemy tries to knock us off our feet. Our feet will be firmly planted on God’s promises, and we will be positioned to see God show up and do the impossible.

Persevere in faith to face unafraid the plans you have made.

⇓

ARE YOU STUCK IN A SPIRITUAL RUT? I CAN PARTNER WITH YOU TO HELP YOU SPARK A SPIRITUAL TRANSFORMATION IN YOUR LIFE and Face unafraid the year ahead.

CHECK OUT MY COACHING SERVICES TO START WORKING ON A PLAN TO REKINDLE YOUR SPIRITUAL LIFE.

ARE YOU READY TO FIRE UP YOUR FAITH?

SIGN UP TO GET WEEKLY #FAITHFUEL IN YOUR INBOX.

YOU’LL RECEIVE “4 SUREFIRE WAYS TO IGNITE YOUR FAITH” AS MY GIFT TO YOU.

YOU’LL ALSO GET ACCESS TO THE PRACTICAL RESOURCES IN OUR PRIVATE FAITH FUEL LIBRARY.