My Prison of Fear

5 Keys that Help Unlock the Door

I never thought that I would be in a prison but several years ago while on a mission trip to Mexico I had the opportunity to share my

God story at a women’s prison. Met by armed guards that checked our Bible’s and took us into a holding room to pat us down we proceeded through the maze of ‘Get Smart’ (1960’s TV show) like locked doors that opened up to the prison yard where the men of the prison were playing basketball and hanging on the metal fences to get a better look at the three women entering their space.

We made our way to an upper room that was used for worship and we waited for the women of the prison to enter. As I sat therewaiting and reflecting on where I was (in a foreign country, in a prison, with guards and guns) I had to trust the Lord with all my heart to unlock the door of my prison of fear.

It wasn’t easy; as I seemed to be doing the opposite of what Proverbs 3:5-8 instructs us to do:

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding.

In all your ways acknowledge Him, and he will make straight your paths

Be not wise in your own eyes; fear the LORD, and turn away from evil.

It will be healing to your flesh and refreshment to your bones.

I could tell I was in a prison of fear.

As I shared my story with the women about placing my trust in Jesus and encouraging them to do the same, I was acknowledging Him in all my ways and showing them how He was making my path straight. Reading 2 Corinthians 5:14 to them in Spanish (I don’t speak Spanish very well, but I could read the verses to them) that says “the love of Christ controls us”, I wanted them to know I was learning to not be wise in my own eyes.I wanted them to see that because of Christ’s love for me, I was now a new creation (2 Cor. 5:17) and that the fear of the Lord not the fear of my circumstances (my own prison of fears) is what heals our flesh and gives refreshment to our bones. Remembering this prison experience where 17 women gave their life to Christ gives me hope in the face of fear.

•       It reminds me to not lean on my own understanding
•       It reminds me to exercise my faith muscle to let go and let God so He can make straight my path
•      It reminds me that God is good and that He never wants anything other than His good for me
•      It reminds me of His act of love for me in all things
•      It reminds me that His better is better

When I am thinking on those things my flesh is healed and my bones are refreshed. Fear of whatever the circumstance, another car accident, getting behind the wheel to drive again, emotional hurt, rejection, a diagnosis, relational discord, finances, fear of the unknown, you can fill in the blank with the fears that put you in your own prison locking you in to being wise in your own eyes and leaning on your own understanding.

I recognize this is a process and I am learning to stay in the moment trusting God not letting my fear take me where God does not want me to go. I don’t want to miss what God is doing and where He is asking me to go.

Remembering to trust the Lord with ALL my heart and to not lean on my own understanding is the only way that unlocks the doors in my prison of fear.