The rough wooden boardwalk is cool beneath my feet as I make my way to the sand. The sky is still the thick, deep blue of night, and gray shadows sway in the salty wind. I’m not a morning person, but I’m at the beach, and I’m determined to see the sun climb like a rising warrior above the waves at least once.

As I get closer to the shore, I can see more people who have decided to forsake pillows for flip-flops along with me. They sit on huge pieces of stranded driftwood, stroll along the edge of the water with cameras in hand, or sip from coffee cups with dazed looks on their faces. I notice one woman lifting her eyes to the still-night sky, and I am curious. What does she see?

When I follow her example, I am greeted by diamonds thrown out on velvet. One star in particular winks brilliantly back at me. I find out later it’s actually the planet Venus, otherwise known as the morning star. Here is its mystery and beauty: Venus is known for rising in the darkest part of the night, just before dawn.

“I, Jesus, have sent my angel to give you this testimony for the churches. I am the Root and the Offspring of David, and the bright Morning Star.” – Revelation 22:16

Did you catch that? Jesus said, “I am the . . . bright Morning Star”

This means, among other things, he is not afraid of the deepest dark. He is not frightened by the secret places in our hearts. The ones that haven’t seen daylight for years. The kind with the locks on the doors. The sort we don’t say out loud or even fully admit to ourselves.

He is not running scared from the tragedies in our lives. He is not backing away from the brokenness, the bitterness, and the shattered dreams. He is not intimidated by the monsters under our beds or inside our minds. He is not avoiding the struggles or the addictions. He is not waving his hands in surrender to the enemies of our souls. He is not saying, “This is too much for me.”

He is not afraid to step right into the night. Not afraid to even dwell in the middle of it. Because he is light, and in him there is no darkness at all. This means darkness can surround him and he cannot be defeated or diminished by it.

He came as a baby into a midnight world and announced his arrival with a shining star. He conquered death in a dark tomb and rolled the stone away, making a way into the brightness for all of us. In the thickest gloom, the Morning Star rose.

Because of the Lord’s great love we are not consumed, for his compassions never fail. They are new every morning; great is your faithfulness. – Lamentations 3:22-23

“The LORD’S mercies . . . are new every morning”. As I watch the sun slip into the morning sky and fill it with gold and flame, I bear witness that these words are true.

Venus, the morning star that foreshadowed all this light and blazing glory, seems to be more than just a planet; it suddenly also seems to be a promise. A daily reminder from the heart of our Creator that even the deepest night will lead to dawn. Fear and darkness cannot win; the light will never be overcome.

I hold a list filled with words written in black ink on cream paper. The page is small but the sentences scrawled on it feel big, more than I can handle.

I’m part of a group and our assignment for this week is to write down our fears. The facilitator says, “Okay, we’re all going to read our lists out loud.” I panic for a moment. Read them out loud? Where people can hear? For a second I consider running out the door. But then I think, “No, I want to be free.”

My heart pounds as I begin…

• I’m afraid of not being good enough.
• I’m afraid of disappointing God and others.
• I’m afraid of rejection, failure, conflict, disapproval, inadequacy.

What fears would be on your list?

When we’re afraid, our natural tendency is to hide. We physically or emotionally retreat to where it feels safer. We may hide under the covers in our bedroom, or we might cover our hurt with a smiling face.

God knows this tendency we have as humans, and he doesn’t tell us never to hide. We aren’t in trouble for this instinct. What God does want to change is where and how we hide. God himself wants to be our “hiding place.”

You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you. Do not be like the horse or the mule, which have no understanding but must be controlled by bit and bridle or they will not come to you. Many are the woes of the wicked, but the Lord’s unfailing love surrounds the one who trusts in him. Rejoice in the Lord and be glad, you righteous; sing, all you who are upright in heart! – Psalms 32:7-11

I used to think I had to get rid of my fears before I came to God–that he wanted me to be strong all the time. Instead I’m learning God invites us to come to him when we’re afraid. We don’t have to be alone when we’re scared. We have a loving God willing to be our help and hiding place.

When I looked at my list of fears I wanted to run from them. But instead, perhaps fully for the first time, I realized I can run to God with them. After I got home from my study, I got on my knees and read my list again.

“I prayed to the Lord, and He answered me. He freed me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

I will face fears again in this life, and so will you. But that moment felt like a breakthrough. Whatever we’re facing, we can come to God with it. He is our strength and security. He gives us courage and makes us brave. His love and truth are bigger and stronger than anything we fear.

The phone call comes with hard news. Someone I love is in a difficult situation. By the time I hang up, I feel a weight on my shoulders, like it all depends on me.

I begin to worry. This is what I can do, isn’t it? I can carry my worry around like a dog with an old bone. I can gnaw and twist, bury it and dig it up again. Surely this will be helpful, certainly this will save the day.

But into that place of fear, it seems I hear a gentle whisper in my heart, “Your worry cannot change the world, only God can.”

Luke 12:25 says, “Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to your life?” Who of us by worrying can make the prodigal come home, the marriage be restored, the meeting go well, the pressure come off, the lights come on, the kids stay safe, the wrong be undone, the project turn out right?

Worry can be seductive because it feels like control. If we are worrying, then we must be helping. But Jesus, in all his gentleness and kindness, his extravagant mercy and care, takes the weight of worry from our hands.

Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?

So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. -Matthew 6:25-34

Isn’t that what we really want? We long to know someone is taking care of the people we love, the situation we don’t understand, whatever makes our pillow soggy with salty tears. God watches over the sparrows with their wispy feathers and fragile bones. He will do even more for us, with our tender hearts and breakable lives.

After the call I sit on the edge of my bed and listen to a song, headphones in my ears, hands folded on my lap. I whisper, “God, I release this person I love to You.” I add more words, requests, and hopes. I will say this again in the kitchen. In the car. As I sit in a coffee shop. Releasing worry isn’t an instant event, it’s an imperfect process.

I’m learning what frees our hearts isn’t worry; it’s worship. In other words, taking all the hard things to Someone who cares for us. Choosing to trust and let go. Believing he will mysteriously work it all together for good, that the story isn’t finished yet.

Here’s what we can rest in today: The only One who has ever been able to bear the weight of the world on his shoulders is still strong and loving enough to carry all that concerns us too.

Do you have faith and yet experience fear? For so long I didn’t understand why God tells us, “Do not be afraid” and yet gives us bodies that are physically wired to experience fear.

Our nervous system triggers our flight-or-fight response. It’s automatic and always involves fear. This protects us and helps us survive. If a bear comes charging through the door, we need to feel fear. So if we’re “wonderfully made” like the psalmist says, then how do we reconcile what God seems to tell us to do with how he’s created us to feel?

As someone who has wrestled with fear for most of my life, I’ve asked that question often. And as I looked closer at what God says, I finally found my answer. Verses that say, “Do not be afraid” are almost always spoken to or for someone who is already afraid.

Israelite armies about to go into battle.

Mary being startled by an unexpected angel.

The apostle Paul facing a serious storm.

In other words, when God says, “Do not be afraid,” it is most often offered as a reassurance, not issued as a command. He’s not saying, “Don’t ever feel fear.” He’s saying, “Here’s why you don’t have to stay afraid.” Do not fear, for I am with you, be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand. – Isaiah 41:10

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. – Isaiah 41:13

But now, this is what the Lord says— he who created you, Jacob, he who formed you, Israel: “Do not fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by your name; you are Mine. – Isaiah 43:1

It’s the kind of language a loving parent would use to comfort a child who’s afraid of the dark. A compassionate mom or dad knows their little one is going to be okay, but they give words that soothe hearts and calm minds anyway. And most beautiful of all, their love defeats the fear.

If we wait to do God’s will until we don’t ever feel fear, then we will stay stuck. He’s okay with our trembling hands, knocking knees, and pounding hearts. After all, he designed the bodies that experience them—and he spent thirty-three years in one.

When we struggle with anxiety or fear, the enemy can try to use it as an opportunity to make us feel guilt or shame. That’s when we can pause and ask God for help, knowing he understands and never condemns us.

God will come alongside us in our uncertain moments and give us the reassurance we need. Then he’ll lead us out of fear and into holy courage.

If Jesus’s invitation “Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest” (Matthew 11:28 NIV) sounds like an empty promise to you, there’s a good chance one last obstacle to your freedom is standing in the way—control.

Maybe you (like me) tend to turn God into a vending machine. Where you decide you’ll put in a certain number of songs worshipping or hours praying and, in return, God will move in the exact way you want him to.

Maybe you figured at this point you wouldn’t have any questions left about faith or struggle with any doubts, but you still do. So you try to control those thoughts by pushing them into a back room in your soul and locking the door.

Maybe you’ve become impatient with the long work of God and have started scouring the internet for those quick-fix solutions. You still show up to church and read your Bible and all that, but if you’re honest, you’re way more interested in practices where you can be at the center.

The challenge of control has existed ever since Adam and Eve ran, hid, blamed, and sewed together fig leaves in the garden. If that reminds you of you, try a new perspective.

Imagine yourself standing with King David and staring up at a starry night sky, contemplating the God who created the whole universe. David prays,

When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is mankind that you are mindful of them, human beings that you care for them? (Psalm 8:3-4 NIV)

The One who hangs constellations in the night sky is mindful of you. He cares for you. Not some future version of you who better reflects his image—the you right here and now.

Trust in the Lord with all your heart, and do not lean on your own understanding. In all your ways acknowledge him, and he will make straight your paths. – Proverbs 3:5-6 ESV

You don’t have to get stuck in your insecurities. You don’t have to perform. You don’t have to get caught in the comparison trap. You don’t have to run away from the present moment. You don’t have to try to control any of it.

You can be free from you, enjoying the scandalous freedom of trusting God. And it finally will feel like rest for your weary soul.

Today’s Truth Statement: I am created in the image of a self-giving God.

We hope you are encouraged by this reading plan. To learn more about FREE ME FROM ME by Ryan Wekenman, click here.

Now this I say and testify in the Lord, that you must no longer walk as the Gentiles do, in the futility of their minds. They are darkened in their understanding, alienated from the life of God because of the ignorance that is in them, due to their hardness of heart. They have become callous and have given themselves up to sensuality, greedy to practice every kind of impurity. But that is not the way you learned Christ!— assuming that you have heard about him and were taught in him, as the truth is in Jesus, to put off your old self, which belongs to your former manner of life and is corrupt through deceitful desires, and to be renewed in the spirit of your minds, and to put on the new self, created after the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.

Therefore, having put away falsehood, let each one of you speak the truth with his neighbor, for we are members one of another. Be angry and do not sin; do not let the sun go down on your anger, and give no opportunity to the devil. Let the thief no longer steal, but rather let him labor, doing honest work with his own hands, so that he may have something to share with anyone in need. Let no corrupting talk come out of your mouths, but only such as is good for building up, as fits the occasion, that it may give grace to those who hear. And do not grieve the Holy Spirit of God, by whom you were sealed for the day of redemption. Let all bitterness and wrath and anger and clamor and slander be put away from you, along with all malice. Be kind to one another, tenderhearted, forgiving one another, as God in Christ forgave you. – Ephesians 4:17-32 ESV

We’ve looked at performance and comparison. Avoiding is another way to keep self at the center. It tends to happen in one of two ways.

First, on those rare occasions when we actually feel like we’re doing and saying all the right things, we avoid our inner brokenness by thinking too highly of ourselves.

The second (and more common for me) way we avoid is through the deflated self. The moment we fixate on just how imperfect we are instead of participating in life, we get down on ourselves and look for ways to avoid it altogether.

Whether you’re puffed up or deflated, you’re making the same mistake. You’re placing yourself at the center of this story, thus inheriting the unrelenting pressure that comes with it.

The apostle Paul said, “You have taken off your old self with its practices and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator” (Colossians 3:9-10 NIV).

Self-reliance, or what Paul elsewhere called living according to “the flesh,” puts an enormous weight on your shoulders. Because the problem with being the one in charge is you are the one in charge.

Do you know what’s a lot better than self-help? God’s help.

And that takes us to one of the wildest things Jesus said. On the night he was betrayed, he told his disciples, “It is to your advantage that I go away, for if I do not go away, the Helper will not come to you. But if I go, I will send him to you” (John 16:7 ESV).

Jesus called the Holy Spirit the Helper. And he basically told the disciples, “As great as it’s been to have me here in person these last few years, the Helper is the better option now.”

We know that Christ, being raised from the dead, will never die again; death no longer has dominion over him. For the death he died he died to sin, once for all, but the life he lives he lives to God. So you also must consider yourselves dead to sin and alive to God in Christ Jesus. Let not sin therefore reign in your mortal body, to make you obey its passions. Do not present your members to sin as instruments for unrighteousness, but present yourselves to God as those who have been brought from death to life, and your members to God as instruments for righteousness. For sin will have no dominion over you, since you are not under law but under grace. – Romans 6:9-14 ESV

The same is true for us today. We’ve got a much better option than self-help; we’ve got God’s help. It’s time to let the Helper do what the Helper does best.

Today’s Truth Statement: I am created in the image of a self-surrendering God.