We have a neighbor lady who is really quite interesting.  She has worked every job from sales to nursing.  She has terrible mood swings, so I never know which way to approach her.  She is very nice and a good friend, but can also be a challenge.  One day she acts like an old lady and they next she is sporting the latest teen fashion.  She is lots of fun to be around and can always tell a good story about her childhood or life’s accomplishments.

One day she will be working in the flowerbeds on her hands and knees and the next day she is walking with a cane.  A very complicated individual to say the least.  Besides all this, she has a very interesting name, Hyacinth.  I have heard of several girls names that are flowers, but never Hyacinth.  Even her name is unusual.

When she goes in for the night, she carefully locks all the doors and windows because she is afraid that someone might break in her house.  We live in a really safe neighborhood, so I often leave my windows open at night.  Hyacinth is very worrisome and scares easily.  When the neighbors dog barks or she hears police sirens, she panics.  I am so glad that I do not share in her fear.  Most of the things we worry about and are afraid of, never happen.

We waste a lot of time and energy being concerned over things we have no control of.  Worrying about a tree falling on your car, will not decrease the chances of that happening.  Wondering when we will start coughing after we have been near children with the flu, will not change anything.  Locking all the windows and doors will not keep someone out who really wants to get in.  I am so thankful that God has not given me a spirit of fear.

Psalm 27:1 tells us, “The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life; of whom shall I be afraid?”

In II Timothy says, “For God has not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love,and of a sound mind.’

And, Psalm 4:8 assures us that, “I will both lay me down in peace, and sleep: for thous Lord only makest me to dwell in safety.”

God is so good to us and He never wants us to be controlled by fear.  Our peace and safety are in Him.  He will see to it that we are safe.  That doesn’t mean that bad things will never happen to us.  But, it does mean that our Lord will give us the streng