I did a wonderful lesson this week in Beth Moore's study of Esther on facing our fears (week 5, p.107-108 if you have the book). It's about when Esther decides to approach the king (Esther 4:12-5:2) and says "If I perish, I perish".
Beth reminds us that Satan has no authority to destroy us but he will threaten to destroy us. Both "the enemy and our own self-destructive natures combine to taunt us with "what ifs"".
Satan knows our fears and areas that we have trouble trusting God. He wants to cause us to doubt God's faithfulness and purposes. Just believing our situation is hopeless makes it more hopeless. Beth reminds us of Prov. 23:7-"as a man thinks, so is he".
Beth said "The most critical breakthrough of faith you and I could ever experience is to let God bring us to a place where we trust Him--period. We don't just trust Him to let us avoid what we fear most. We determine to trust Him no matter what, even if our worst nightmare befalls us. "
She acknowledges that this is not easy, no one welcomes suffering, but living with constant fear is harder. She teaches that our best defense against life's uncertainty is "unconditional trust in a Savior who loves us more than His own life".
I thank Beth Moore for such a timely lesson and I now determine to trust God no matter what.
Judy

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to His purpose. Romans 8:27-29