Fear Has No Hold on Me

After having a dentist and then a doctor scream at me while I was in pain, I had a fear of doctors and refused to go to a dentist. Not only that, but when someone yelled, I would cower and even feel physical pain. This lasted many years. Then, one day, I said to myself, Enough! I was sitting in a doctor’s examination room. My son and the nurse had left to get him x-rayed. There I sat a nervous wreck, and I wasn’t even the patient. I was sick of those old events having a hold on me. I was so ready to be free that I sent a text to some friends. It read: “Do you know of any Scriptures to help with PTSD?” 

You see, I’d been through counseling. I’d forgiven them. Yet I still needed God to heal me. I needed to be free. I needed God’s Word, the Bible! Those friends came through! They sent verses that encouraged me. The last friend to respond sent me Romans 8. Yes, the whole chapter. Sitting there, looking at my cell phone, I read the whole chapter. I thought, What in the world? This is about me being free from sin! However, I trusted this friend, so I prayed and read it again, and again, and again. Each time I read it; I saw more than I had before. God did not just want me free from the sins I committed. He wanted me free from the sins committed against me. He wants that for you too. Read with me Romans 8:5-6:

Those who are dominated by the sinful nature think about sinful things, but those who are controlled by the Holy Spirit think about things that please the Spirit. So, letting your sinful nature control your mind leads to death. But letting the Spirit control your mind leads to life and peace. (NLT)

My sinful nature wants to hold that pain. It wants to control me. When I command that memory and pain to die and ask the Spirit of God to heal my mind with life and peace, God does! 

Notice, I had to read, and read, and read it. I started carrying a little Bible with me when I’d go to the doctor. When I’d feel that panic, I’d start reading Romans 8. When a verse or two stood out to me, I’d read it repeatedly until I had peace. Soon, I no longer needed to have a Bible with me. I had learned, not just in my head but also in my heart, that I was free! The panic and fear were gone! This worked because the Bible says it will in John 8:32:

“And you will know the truth, and the truth will set you free.”

Once I really knew it. I became free! Now I understood Romans 8:38-39:

And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.

If you are hurting or fearful, consider reading Romans 8 and praying for God to show you verses in His Word that you need to know to be free.

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Scripture quotations are taken from the Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004, 2007 by Tyndale House Foundation. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Carol Stream, Illinois 60188. All rights reserved.