Fear Has to Leave

Our dog is four years old. She has suffered from fear and terrible anxiety for the better part of 2 1/2 years. Before she was a year old, her mother was killed and she was shot and wounded. She was never the same. She became afraid of everything, even us.

Jacey was on track to be a fine dog. Her mother was a hunter and tracker and Jacey would’ve been great too. After her ordeal, she was extremely timid and cowered at everyone. She never left home and never barked. To tell the truth, she would pee everywhere and every time she was nervous, even in the house when we would try to bring her in during storms or cold weather.

Something happened about a year or so ago and she began to be less afraid of the family and started following me everywhere I went. If I went to the barn, on foot or even in a vehicle, she followed. She became my shadow.

Over the past year, she started barking at vehicles and people she didn’t recognize. She would run and hide at first if they came towards her, but she barked and attempted to warn and protect.

In the last 3 to 4 months she has decided she is no longer afraid of the cattle. We have a couple of escape artist heifers in the pasture in front of the house. Everyday, sometimes several times as day, one or more of those girls decide to wade into the pond and walk around the fence and enjoy my front yard. The grass is still dry and dead there too but for whatever reason they think it’s fun everyday.

Jacey had gotten to where she would bark at the cows in an attempt to chase but she would hide behind the four wheeler or if she followed me to the pasture she would even hide under. Now, she is barking and chasing these heifers back into the pasture every day!

She is no longer afraid!

Amazon shows up, quite often, and a lot of times they are scared to get out of their car because of her. Recently, a man came to replace a windshield and was extremely cautious getting out because of Jacey growling.

Fear is gone! Anxiety is gone!

You don’t have to live in fear either. I know she is a dog. But God speaks through his creation. We didn’t do anything different. Jacey frustrated us. Husband wanted to give her away. She was useless as a farm dog and sometimes downright aggravating.

But one day, she began to realize we were on her side and her fear of us stopped. One day, she trusted us enough to follow us to the barn. She enjoyed the time and she realized it was ok. One day she chased a cow and enjoyed the rubbing and “good girls” that she got.

One day. One day turned into another and another, until now, there is very little sign of fear in her. We loved her and we loved her through it all.

One day. Keep praying. Keep trusting. He is with you. God has got you. He loves you and He will love you through this.

Fear is a very real thing. Anxiety isn’t a joke. But God is stronger. Your weapon against fear is not natural. It is spiritual. Fight fear and anxiety with spiritual weapons.

Fear has no choice but to bow and leave. Fear and anxiety are spiritual chains that are binding this generation and even Christians. We don’t have to live in fear. We don’t have to live with anxiety. Fear has to leave.

If you are struggling with fear today, I am praying with you. “Fear not” is in the Bible 365 times I have been told. That’s not a coincidence. Jesus said, “In this life, you will have trouble, but be of good cheer, for I have overcome the world.” John 16:33 He knew we would be afraid. He knew we would have opportunities to lose our joy. But He is the way, the truth and the life.

He is the answer. I am praying that the Lord would send his Angel armies. That the Lord of Sabaoth (1 Samuel 17:45) would come and fight the spiritual battle for your mind. Just as he did for me through my mothers prayers all those many years ago. I’m praying that the Lord of Hosts would send his host of angels, to wage war for you so that you win the battle over fear today!