There is much in the world to make us afraid. There is much more in our faith to make us unafraid. ~Frederick W. Cropp
Fear expresses itself differently in each person. We are fearful about different things. But always…fear will keep you from receiving all that God has for you. Fear causes us to live tucked in. Live life in reserve. Live in survivor mode. And when we do, we miss so much.
Yet still, we hide. Saul hid in baggage. Gideon hid in a wine press. The Israelites feared entering the Promised Land. They were content to live in the desert (survival mode) because they feared what lie ahead even though it was the Promised Land! What I’ve discovered is that people prefer the miser they know to the mystery they do not know.
Choosing to live by faith and not by our fears, will take you to a place beyond yourself. It won’t be easy. To the contrary, in the Bible God almost always asks people to do something they can’t handle–on their own. Their initial response is almost always that they’re scared to death. If you are facing a challenge beyond yourself. Be real careful about saying no, because there’s a real good chance that God is in this challenge.
I have never known anybody who had a deep, risky, bold faith in God that led an easy, comfortable, challenge-avoiding life. Comfort never made anybody feel alive. Never. Because living tucked in does not build a faith that’s worth having.
It doesn’t lead you into a life that’s worth living.
Walking by faith is hard. It requires more of us than we are usually willing to give. It takes us places we have never been before. It requires of us abilities we do not have…but it is the place of blessing. It’s the place where our souls expand.
Those who never take risks, never experience the fullness of God’s power and mercy. Only those who say “yes” to the challenge ever feel fully alive. I decided years ago to never make a decision based on fear. It’s made all the difference.
2 Tim. 1:7 – “God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity but of power, love, and a sound mind.”
Ps. 27:1 – “The Lord is my light and my salvation…whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life…of whom shall I be afraid?
Every day you wake up, you have no idea what the day may hold or what obstacles or detours lie ahead. That’s okay. You’re job isn’t to manipulate it or fix it. You job is to hold the hand of God and find out what he is up to. Most often, it’s something he wants to do in your life. That’s where joy comes from. It always involves delight in what God is doing.
Life is too short to play it safe. God has so much more. You have to idea what God is up to but don’t miss it because you are afraid. Do it scared. Don’t miss the great adventure. You were made for something more than comfort. Transformation only takes place outside our comfort zones.
“Don’t be afraid your life will end; be afraid it will never begin.”
Gail Johnsen 