(Linking up with Holley Gerth & her community of God-Sized Dreamers today... addressing fear...)
“Fear hangs out right next to whatever it is you’re most called to do. That means the closer you get to your calling, the louder fear sounds. Keep going–fear is a chihuahua that sounds like a Doberman.” —You’re Made for a God-sized Dream, Chapter Five
“Dear Chihuahua of Fear,
I have some things I’d like to say to you…”
Oh yes... you have been yipping and yapping at me since my toddler years!
You, with your annoying whiney bark and pretend fierceness!
You, with your circling my feet - trying to intimidate me and slow my steps, from way down there! Even back when I was first learning to walk - you snapped at me and attempted to push me around.
Oh yes... you have ALWAYS wanted to be the Boss of me.
For years, I let you. I let loose of your leash and forgot I was bigger. I let your constant anger work on my every nerve and I allowed your whining to become the melody that played in the back of my mind... all day, every day. For years.
Yes. Oh so often, I'd forget who was really in charge.
Every once in awhile - I'd find you strangely silent... maybe napping or attacking at someone elses' ankles. It felt unsettling to have quiet... to walk with a long stride... to make what felt remarkably like forward motion!
But you were never gone for long... you, with your tiny little self - attempting to be puffed up and larger than life.
You, with your bark that is so much larger than your bite...
You, who too many times have tipped your hand and jumped up as high as you can. It was one of those times, that I first really noticed that you're only smoke and mirrors... just a shadow of a threat.
There came a defining moment when I realized how powerful I am... how powerful HE is in me... and that I didn't really have to take your lame attacks anymore! I didn't have to cower at your running towards me. I didn't need to be afraid... but I also realized that merely ignoring your presence was not enough!
In fact, I posted about you recently here... where I wrote about how 'Fear is tricky... he can wiggle his way back in to the back of your thoughts, to the corner of your decision making and not even make a sound. But just hosting his presence back there in the dark invites him in to whisper loud, to cause to hesitate and question, to shrink back rather than to lean in."
In fact, I posted about you recently here... where I wrote about how 'Fear is tricky... he can wiggle his way back in to the back of your thoughts, to the corner of your decision making and not even make a sound. But just hosting his presence back there in the dark invites him in to whisper loud, to cause to hesitate and question, to shrink back rather than to lean in."
The good news is that once I realized you packed no punch and all you are is hot air (dog breath) and lies - I found I couldn't hear you yapping so loudly.
Eventually - I decided to kick you out completely... you are no longer an 'inside dog'... you're not even welcome within my yard to 'guard' and 'protect'.
No - I am on to you... the way you guard and protect brings seclusion and destruction and it locks me in. I have grown restless of simply wishing away what might be. I refuse to sit inside - dreaming out the window... watching what might have been pass me by!
You - my not so friendly 'friend' - have been banished! I am over you and your relentless ways... all your yapping lies and doubts, your why-even-try's and what-if's at me!
I have realized that when I replace your noisy annoying snapping with the Truth that is bigger than fear, I can't hear the yapping anymore. I find myself breathing relief, and standing taller. I find irritations cease and hope arises. I feel a pull to walk with purpose... with long Dreamy steps forward, enjoying the view!
It's as if when Truth walks in the door... you cower and with your tail between your legs, you scurry away - back into the darkness! The Truth of who I am, and Whose I am is just too much for you. All your barking and begging will not lure me back to play with you. No - I have decided I will entertain Truth... in all His glory... and allow Him to lead me!
Oh look... who's the Alpha (Dog) NOW?
{insert whining and running away here!}
A playful look at how the 'chihuahua of fear' affects us and how Truth comes in and fear cowers; how we actually have a choice...
Choose Life. Choose Love. Choose Light.
(Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On.)
~Karrilee~
No - I am on to you... the way you guard and protect brings seclusion and destruction and it locks me in. I have grown restless of simply wishing away what might be. I refuse to sit inside - dreaming out the window... watching what might have been pass me by!
You - my not so friendly 'friend' - have been banished! I am over you and your relentless ways... all your yapping lies and doubts, your why-even-try's and what-if's at me!
I have realized that when I replace your noisy annoying snapping with the Truth that is bigger than fear, I can't hear the yapping anymore. I find myself breathing relief, and standing taller. I find irritations cease and hope arises. I feel a pull to walk with purpose... with long Dreamy steps forward, enjoying the view!
It's as if when Truth walks in the door... you cower and with your tail between your legs, you scurry away - back into the darkness! The Truth of who I am, and Whose I am is just too much for you. All your barking and begging will not lure me back to play with you. No - I have decided I will entertain Truth... in all His glory... and allow Him to lead me!
Oh look... who's the Alpha (Dog) NOW?
{insert whining and running away here!}
A playful look at how the 'chihuahua of fear' affects us and how Truth comes in and fear cowers; how we actually have a choice...
Choose Life. Choose Love. Choose Light.
(Speak Life. Be Love. Shine On.)
~Karrilee~
Kerilee, this post is SO good. Really, really good. I love the subtle, powerful truth you brought up about how we feel uncomfortable when our oft-loud fear gets quiet. It's so much a part of us, it's hard to let it go. Keep kicking out that pup, sister!
ReplyDeleteLove it girl! You kick that doggie to the curb.
ReplyDeleteIt's so true. How it seems so much bigger than it is. Stupid annoying dog. I remember going to a house with a yippy little dog and my son was terrified of him because he was so hyper and barking and I had to hold him but he had teeny tiny little teeth and when my son finally calmed down and the dog was playing with him, he wasn't a threat at all. I wonder if that's how God feels when He sees us running scared and we just need to crawl up on His lap for a bit before getting down and facing it up close. I love how Holley made me think with this prompt and it's been fun reading other people's.
ReplyDeleteI love your image of the Alpha Dog. I agree that it feels strange to hear silence instead of that yapping, but that is the time to best hear that still, small voice of God.
ReplyDeleteYeah! Truth is so powerful! The fear is nipping at your heels and you just kick him out of your way!
ReplyDeleteGreat post!
This is a great way to look at it. Love this post!!
ReplyDelete