Redemptive Ramblings

Fear… it has gripped my heart at times, making me feel helpless and hopeless. I remember the day that my husband of 21 years told me he was leaving me. I remember the knot in my stomach, the shallow breathing that was all I could do, as though my lungs had collapsed under the weight of his decision. The horror I felt as I left the table at the restaurant and hid, ashamed to be seen having my very first panic attack. 

I had a list of things I was scared of: how this would affect our children, not having enough money, being alone and lonely, and what people would think and say. Overarching all of it was the idea that this was the end of God’s call on my life. I would be a divorced single mom–not ministry material anymore. And what would I do? I loved ministry and had never wanted to do anything else. 

This was one of the major fear moments of my life, but it’s far from being the only one. Many times, I have faced fear. And that’s common. Over 60% of Americans admit to having at least one unreasonable fear, and every person has felt fear in their lives. God’s Word, however, stands ready to challenge our quick descent into the shadows of fear.

For you did not receive the spirit of slavery to fall back into fear, but you have received the Spirit of adoption as sons, by whom we cry, “Abba! Father!” Romans 8:15 (ESV)

But what if we choose faith instead of fear? What if we keep believing in who God is and who He calls us to be? What happens when we step out of the shadows of fear into the light of God’s Word?

Because the truth is, there will always be obstacles to the promised plan that God has for you. Giving up and giving in to fear will never get you to the result that God wants for you. Let’s think back to the spies in Numbers 12–their fear led them to reject the plan of God, to reject the land that He had first promised them and then brought them to! 

Forty years later, when the next generation got back to the Promised Land, Joshua didn’t send spies. He didn’t even give them the chance to discourage themselves with fear like they had the first time. After the death of Moses, his friend and mentor, God appeared to Joshua, commanding him to finish the work Moses had begun. 

Be strong and courageous, for you are the one who will lead these people to possess all the land I swore to their ancestors I would give them. Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do. This is my command, be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the LORD your God is with you wherever you go. Joshua 1:6-9 (NLT)

The greatest nemesis of your destiny is your fear. Fear will whisper to your heart that it would be better to quit trying now. It will say that if God wanted you to do it, it wouldn’t be so hard. It will disguise itself as insecurity, concern, worry, comparison,  self-doubt, and more. Its list of aliases is long, but they all say the same thing: it’s foolish to trust and prudent to quit trying to do what God has called you to. 

The LORD is my light and my salvation, so why should I be afraid? The LORD is my fortress, protecting me from danger, so why should I tremble? Psalm 27:1(NLT)

Here’s the thing: trusting God unlocks the courage we need to persist in following Him in the face of whatever obstacles come our way. Too often, we feel as though stepping out courageously requires that we trust ourselves. But a God-given courage comes from a deep confidence in who God is, not who I am! 
Courage allows us to step out boldly, like Noah building an ark on dry land. It also allows us to get up and keep walking when we fall or make a mistake, which we inevitably will. Because we know it was never really about our ability or goodness in the first place. It was always about Him. 

Don’t be afraid, for I am with you. Don’t be discouraged, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you. I will hold you up with my victorious right hand. Isaiah 41:10 (NLT)

In 2 Kings 6, the nation of Israel was at war with the Arameans. God kept tipping the Israelites off through Elisha as to where the Aramean army was, which was not received well by the king of Aram. He sent troops to arrest Elisha. 

When the servant of the man of God rose early in the morning and went out, behold, an army with horses and chariots was all around the city. And the servant said, “Alas, my master! What shall we do?” He said, “Do not be afraid, for those who are with us are more than those who are with them.” Then Elisha prayed and said, “O LORD, please open his eyes that he may see.” So the LORD opened the eyes of the young man, and he saw, and behold, the mountain was full of horses and chariots of fire all around Elisha. 2 Kings 6:15-17 (NIV)

This passage illustrates how differently we see situations when we look through the eyes of courageous faith rather than through the lens of our natural fear. Elisha looked to God for deliverance, not his own strength, wisdom, or goodness. 

Maybe there’s a situation in your life where fear is the natural response. A financial difficulty, divorce, or diagnosis that has your heart beating double time as your eyes scan the what-ifs. But what if you choose faith over fear? Because when you look to God, you’ll find He’s been looking out for you all along.

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