The Bible quotes “fear not” 365 times.
God wants us reminded EVERY DAY of the year that we should not fear. That we should not worry. That we should lay all our cares aside and trust in His will for our lives.
So why is it that Fear strikes as one of the biggest wedges between us and God?
Fear comes to us at every angle. In every situation. In choices we make, in people we meet, in places we travel, and jobs we do. Fear resides. And isn’t it just like the enemy to come to us in our every day lives? Attacking us in our every day situations? When we would least expect it, because it’s “our EVERY DAY NORM”. ?
A thought occurred to me last night.
I’ll be the first to admit I have fear. I’ve been scared out of my wits. I’ve been terrified out of my mind. I’ve been worried, anxious, nervous, and … fearful. I’ve been all of those things. And as I was thinking about the times I’ve been the most scared--the most glorious and amazing things have happened afterward.
From the ripe ‘ole age of 4 when Dad FINALLY let go of the bike seat and I rolled down the hill without training wheels. I was terrified. But ya know what ? From that day forward, I learned how to ride a bike. A big girl bike.
When I committed to being in Speech and Theater growing up and that terror of going on stage RIGHT before my cue should have called me right back into submission--but relishing in it instead and giving the performance of a lifetime.
When my car was packed, loaded and ready to hit the road to Cali and fear crept so deep inside me that I literally disappeared for 4 hours before the trip. But I somehow got in that car. Made it California. And the true path of my life was paved from that day forward.
When I had to make the decision to stay where I was most comfortable with a familiar world and paying job, or uproot, head east to Nashville, a territory unknown, having to put my career behind me--that anxiety and stress again came back heavy. … I’m still finding out today that it was one of the best decisions of my life.
When I stepped off the plane in a foreign country: disease, death, poverty, sickness, weakness, and hardship I’ve never experienced before surrounding me--I gasped for air. I gasped for Courage. I’d never felt fear so strong, trying to hold me back… but I’ve never come out so far ahead in the end.
See…. in me? God uses my fear. He knows it’s going to come. So that’s when and where He takes me by the reigns, steers me into complete and utter terror, and drives me straight into what He knows best.
And I come out alive. Better than alive.
I’m learning that God is using the evil Fear that is surely intended for ‘bad’, and completely making it Good.
I’m learning that the need to feel alive will bring you to the edge, but Fear will keep you from jumping. God will use your fear to make you fly...
And if we aren’t giving ourselves enough credit to accomplish what God has planned for us, why should we expect Him to?
PSALM 27 inspired me today:
"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?
God wants us reminded EVERY DAY of the year that we should not fear. That we should not worry. That we should lay all our cares aside and trust in His will for our lives.
So why is it that Fear strikes as one of the biggest wedges between us and God?
Fear comes to us at every angle. In every situation. In choices we make, in people we meet, in places we travel, and jobs we do. Fear resides. And isn’t it just like the enemy to come to us in our every day lives? Attacking us in our every day situations? When we would least expect it, because it’s “our EVERY DAY NORM”. ?
A thought occurred to me last night.
I’ll be the first to admit I have fear. I’ve been scared out of my wits. I’ve been terrified out of my mind. I’ve been worried, anxious, nervous, and … fearful. I’ve been all of those things. And as I was thinking about the times I’ve been the most scared--the most glorious and amazing things have happened afterward.
From the ripe ‘ole age of 4 when Dad FINALLY let go of the bike seat and I rolled down the hill without training wheels. I was terrified. But ya know what ? From that day forward, I learned how to ride a bike. A big girl bike.
When I committed to being in Speech and Theater growing up and that terror of going on stage RIGHT before my cue should have called me right back into submission--but relishing in it instead and giving the performance of a lifetime.
When my car was packed, loaded and ready to hit the road to Cali and fear crept so deep inside me that I literally disappeared for 4 hours before the trip. But I somehow got in that car. Made it California. And the true path of my life was paved from that day forward.
When I had to make the decision to stay where I was most comfortable with a familiar world and paying job, or uproot, head east to Nashville, a territory unknown, having to put my career behind me--that anxiety and stress again came back heavy. … I’m still finding out today that it was one of the best decisions of my life.
When I stepped off the plane in a foreign country: disease, death, poverty, sickness, weakness, and hardship I’ve never experienced before surrounding me--I gasped for air. I gasped for Courage. I’d never felt fear so strong, trying to hold me back… but I’ve never come out so far ahead in the end.
See…. in me? God uses my fear. He knows it’s going to come. So that’s when and where He takes me by the reigns, steers me into complete and utter terror, and drives me straight into what He knows best.
And I come out alive. Better than alive.
I’m learning that God is using the evil Fear that is surely intended for ‘bad’, and completely making it Good.
I’m learning that my fear is actually my ammunition.
I’m learning that the need to feel alive will bring you to the edge, but Fear will keep you from jumping. God will use your fear to make you fly...
I’m learning that if I’m not scared, it’s not worth my time.
And if we aren’t giving ourselves enough credit to accomplish what God has planned for us, why should we expect Him to?
PSALM 27 inspired me today:
"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?
2 When the wicked advance against me
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
to devour[a] me,
it is my enemies and my foes
who will stumble and fall.
3 Though an army besiege me,
my heart will not fear;
though war break out against me,
even then I will be confident.
4 One thing I ask from the LORD,
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
this only do I seek:
that I may dwell in the house of the LORD
all the days of my life,
to gaze on the beauty of the LORD
and to seek him in his temple.
5 For in the day of trouble
he will keep me safe in his dwelling;
he will hide me in the shelter of his sacred tent
and set me high upon a rock.
6 Then my head will be exalted
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
above the enemies who surround me;
at his sacred tent I will sacrifice with shouts of joy;
I will sing and make music to the LORD.
7 Hear my voice when I call, LORD;
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
be merciful to me and answer me.
8 My heart says of you, “Seek his face!”
Your face, LORD, I will seek.
9 Do not hide your face from me,
do not turn your servant away in anger;
you have been my helper.
Do not reject me or forsake me,
God my Savior.
10 Though my father and mother forsake me,
the LORD will receive me.
11 Teach me your way, LORD;
lead me in a straight path
because of my oppressors.
12 Do not turn me over to the desire of my foes,
for false witnesses rise up against me,
spouting malicious accusations.
13 I remain confident of this:
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD."
I will see the goodness of the LORD
in the land of the living.
14 Wait for the LORD;
be strong and take heart
and wait for the LORD."
Great post!
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