We are on a beauitful trip to Ireland. This year my parents celebrated their 50th anniversary and invited my brother, sisters and our families to go to Ireland with them.

To get here though was a bit of a hurdle. I am a homebody, and the thought of traveling can send a wave of panic through my body.

Yet I did it.

With the help of God through prayer, asking friends to pray for me and trying anxiety meds for the first time for the flight, I conquered the fear and arrived in Ireland, where my grandmother is from.

I share this with you today because I know I am not the only one who has fears that can paralyze them at times. If you do too, I invite you to join me to…

pause. breathe. pray.

May we not allow fear to stop us from living and loving. Instead may we lean hard into God and trust that He will help us through the fear, whether that is through prayer alone and/or by providing us support to help us through, so we get to experience what is in the other side of the fear; which for me this time is being with my whole family in Ireland to celebrate my parents and our family’s history.

With love and hope,

Shawn

“I sought the Lord, and he answered me and delivered me from all my fears.” - Psalm 34:4