Fear and anxiety have a way of creeping in when life feels uncertain. Some days, it feels like my heart is racing faster than my faith. I always thought giving your fears to God meant that you would no longer feel fear. This is not true. God doesn't ask me to pretend I'm fearless. Instead, He invites me to bring my fears to Him. Having faith isn't the absence of fear, it's the choice to trust that God is bigger than your fears. Little by little, God teaches me to trade panic for peace, not by my strength, but by His presence.

Jesus is the only person who was part God and part human. It's important to note that because he was part human, he felt human emotions. In the garden of Gethsemane, before Jesus was captured by the Romans, he fell to the ground praying to God. In Matthew 26:38-39 he says. "My soul is crushed with grief to the point of death. My Father, if it is possible, let this cup pass from me yet, not as I will, but as You will." This is proof that Jesus felt fear and was overwhelmed with emotions, just like you and I. He was betrayed by friends, left abandon, and was heading into his darkest hour and he was overwhelmed. Emotions make us human and we will feel them all of the time.

I believe it's important to allow ourselves time to process our feelings, but we also have to learn to let them go. I have felt overwhelming fear throughout my diagnosis. I typically give myself one day to process and research new fears that arise with unexpected lab results or a new questionable spot on a scan. It’s what I do after this time that really matters. Will I continue to go to God for strength and peace or will I crumble to pieces? Do I ask God to continue to be with me and calm the storm in my heart and mind or do I deal with it on my own? I know for certain that I am not equipped to deal with it on my own without God.

On days when fear and anxiety creep into my heart and mind more than usual, I engage in activities that help me feel God's presence. Some of the things I do to feel God include listening to my favorite inspirational songs, reading the bible, praying, watching the sunrise or sunset, counting my blessings, spending time with my kids, and laying in a quiet place, breathing deeply, and repeating “God in, Bad out”. Take time to explore different activities to deal with your fear and anxiety and practice them more on days that seems hard to process.