Walk Fearless
I read somewhere one time, that if you watch a horror movie without the sound, that you drastically reduce the likelihood of jumping and being afraid. It’s something to do with the fact that movies build up to the scare factor with the music they play and the tones that they use. They mentally prepare us for that sudden “BOO!” factor with the instrumentals. I tried it once and low-and-behold, the aspects that I knew I would have jumped at with the sound on, didn’t really phase me.
The enemy works the same way…his noise is what makes us scared.
You see, about a year ago, I felt called to shut down my business and pursue something else. I prayed, and prayed, and prayed that God would give me “proof” that that’s what I needed to do. That financially, my family needed me to work. We needed the second income (what with two kids and a third on the way at that point…) and that there was no way that we could afford for me to shut down my business. The day that I finally got tired of wrestling with God over whether it was the right decision or not, I prayed for God to literally slam the door on whatever he wanted out of my life that was not in his will for me-writing, my blog, my business…whatever it was.
That afternoon, my five year old iMac bit the dust. When I say it “bit the dust” I mean that it died and no amount of work was able to fix it. I sought help from Apple experts and trained Apple professionals and nothing…nada. It was gone.
Sometimes, when fear keeps us still, God has to kick us into gear. The enemy is really good and making us question God and his goodness. He’s been doing it since the beginning. When Eve was in the garden, it was the enemy who planted that first tiny seed of doubt in her heart. “Did God really say…”
Did God really say that you should shut down your business?
Did God really say that your marriage can be healed?
Did God really say that your prodigal child will return?
Did God really say that he has the capacity to heal your sickness?
Did God really say that in all things he is good?
Did God really say that he has taken care of your eternity?
See, the enemy knows that if he can’t make us evil, can’t make us worship him or perform the schemes he has up his sleeve-all he has to do is make us afraid. When we are afraid, we render the power of the Lord useless. We hinder what the Holy Spirit can do in us and through us completely. This isn’t to say that the Lord won’t accomplish his will. Because, he will. One way or another, he will do what he intends to do. His will shall come to pass regardless of our actions. Yet, our fear can prevent us from being a part of what God has intended.
This whole journey we call life is about HIM. It has nothing to do with us. It’s not about my dreams or your dreams; it’s not about our goals. It’s about making the name of Jesus known to everyone we meet…increasing the kingdom and allowing everyone to see the greatness of the Lord. God just invites us to be part of his work…if we aren’t too afraid to trust him.
I wonder sometimes if the late Billy Graham was afraid…or if he just walked blindly into the will of the Lord. Do you ever think what might have been if Reverend Graham had just said, “Nope. I’m not going to do it…I’m not qualified to do this.” Imagine the lives that might not have come to know Christ. I think God would have still reached the ones he intended to reach, but Billy Graham himself might have missed out on the call for his life. What a shame that would have been.
What a shame it will be if we sit by stagnant in our faith and miss out on God’s divine plans for us…simply because we are too afraid to trust him.
FOR DISCUSSION
(feel free to answer in the comments or privately on your own)
- Are there things in your life that God has called you to do that you have been too afraid to do?
- What might you be missing out on if you don’t walk in the will of God-even when you’re afraid?
- Do you see any opportunities in your own life that you have missed because you were too afraid to take the leap?
- What steps can you take in your own life right now to combat fear and conquer what scares you?
FOCUS VERSE
For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of sound mind.
2 Timothy 1:7
