A young nurse was slowly growing in her career when suddenly she got her dream job in London. She did well in all her exams and tests, now all that remained was the visa application and processing. As the date for her interview for the visa processing approached, she found herself getting increasingly nervous. The thought of coming under scrutiny for any flaws or defects grew into a disturbing noise in her head draining her joy.

She spent time praying and reached out to her friends and family and asked for prayers. Yet the thought of coming this far and this close to what she wanted, made her aware of the possibility of getting rejected.

One day she received information that her interview had been further delayed. Her worry turned to anxiety and her doubt turned to fear. The fear of failure and rejection became more animated, growing into a seething dark cloud with tentacles that hung over her future, trying to grab her into its inky bowels.

Everyone faces this cloud of uncertainty at some point in their life. You may be anticipating an important presentation at work or a classroom activity in front of your eighth grade history teacher. You may be someone who applied to 20 different colleges, for 10 different courses because you don’t know if you want to be an engineer, a doctor or draw comic strips but hoping this will help you decide which tool you hold in your hand for the rest of your career. You may be the heavy gambler who applied to the one dream college for the one dream course and a Plan B to mope around for a year if that doesn’t go so well. You may be the five year old with a weak bladder right before his first poetry recital or the 60 year old with weak knees facing retirement.

Anxiety, fear, worry, and doubt affects people from all walks of life without prejudice. The bible is very clear on its stand against it.

Rejoice in the Lord always. Again I will say, rejoice! Let your gentleness be known to all men. The Lord is at hand. Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus. (Philippians 4:4-8)

Rejoice! God has set His seal of ownership on us and put His Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come. We carry the seal that gets us through the pearly gates of heaven. Then why do we worry about our boarding gates to those dreams we hold so dear? Jesus emptied the cup of God’s wrath, we don’t need to hold on to that empty cup.

The Lord has filled the Bible with a promise for every possible scenario in our life, we don’t need to fear that His goodness won’t extend to us. When faced with great chances or challenges let’s remember to take our eyes off our own imperfections weaknesses and failings and instead get to know Jesus, Christ in us the hope of glory.

No matter what you face, what open door you seek or what outcome you dread, God has one message for you. His grace is sufficient. Come to trust in Him, learn to depend on Him, ask for help each day and start living the fabulous life he dreamed up for you to live.