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Fear is such a big thing for many people. I haven't read Afraid of all things yet, but her book, He numbered the pores on my face, is my favourite Christian book ever!
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 I've just returned from a trip to Cambodia to visit our sponsor children. We visited the centre for a week and did lessons with the kids, listened to them read, played frisbee and helped them practice their English. It was hot, we sat on tiny plastic chairs or the tiled floor, we had no electricity for several days but it was such a great time. These kids live in the slums, some of them only eat once a day, they don't have mobile phones, computers and televisions, they don't have access to good health care... They don't have much, but they are grateful for what they have. Even though they are poor, they are rich. Many of these kids love and follow Jesus. Even though they don't have much now, they will inherit eternal life with God and that's worth more than all the money in the world. James 2:5 says, God chose the poor people in the world to be rich in faith. He chose them to receive the kingdom God promised to those who love him.
Imagine if God left you sticky notes... what kind of things would he write to you? The Bible is one way that God speaks to us but he also speaks to us through his Holy Spirit - that voice that you sense in your spirit rather than hear with your ears. Sometimes he uses other Christians to speak to us too. Has God said something to you recently, either through the Bible, via the Holy Spirit or another Christian? Write it on a sticky note and leave it somewhere that you will see it each day. If God said it, it's probably pretty important.  I love to sit in the window seat when I fly. Seeing everything from the air gives you a whole new perspective. Things that look huge on the ground, seem tiny from the air. Sometimes you need to step back and look at things from a different angle. Some of the things that you are facing now seem like huge mountains, but even mountains seem like tiny ant hills from the air. You need to remember that what seems big and difficult now, won't last forever. You may even laugh about it one day.
One of the great things about being a Christian is that the Bible promises that God is looking after us. Romans 8:28 says, "We know that in everything God works for the good of those who love him." Everything will work out ok in the end, even if it's not ok right now. Whether you or someone you care about is facing serious illness, mental health issues, family problems, difficulty at school, friend problems, bullying... things will work out in the end.  I have just returned from a mission trip to Cambodia. I nearly didn't make it onto the plane because I had surgery just before Christmas, then I had post op complications and needed more surgery. I was uncomfortable, in pain and worried about travelling to a third world country while I was recovering. I prayed for wisdom and had the overwhelming sense that God was telling me to do it afraid. It's easy to step out in faith when everything is going ok. It's harder to do when you are not well, in a bad headspace, or when everything around you is going wrong. God doesn't want us to wait until everything is perfect before we do his work - that will never happen. He wants us to be obedient when we're stressed, depressed, afraid... I love 2 Corinthians 12:9 But the Lord said to me, “My grace is enough for you. When you are weak, then my power is made perfect in you.” So I am very happy to brag about my weaknesses. Then Christ’s power can live in me. I was definitely feeling weak but God helped me. I was able to participate in the trip. By the time I got home was almost fully recovered. I was really blessed by being part of the team and my faith has grown from the experience. Don't let fear stop you from doing what you think God is telling you to do - do it afraid.
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