At different phases in life, we all experience the emotion called fear. Fear is a very powerful emotion and can either be the field in which we are buried in or act as the fire through which our character is forged. Fear is such a strong feeling that it can make one abandon all forms of reason and logic in the quest for survival. When confronted with fear, the human mind is presented with two options: fight or flight. A lot of times, in running from fear, we encounter even more troubles along the way.
That
was the case of the children of Israel when a few spies were sent into the
Promised Land and ten of them came back with a negative report (Num. 13:28-29, NKJV): “Nevertheless, the people who dwell in the land are strong; the cities
are fortified and very large; moreover, we saw the descendants of Anak there. The
Amalekites dwell in the land of the South; the Hittites, the Jebusites, and the
Amorites dwell in the mountains; and the Canaanites dwell by the sea and along
the banks of the Jordan.” They were faced with the classic fight or flight scenario
and as the bible told us, they were so afraid that they chose the latter (Num. 14:1-4). As a result of this fear, they spent 40 years wandering the wilderness
(Num. 14:34). All because of fear, 40 years of their lives were lost.
Just
like the children of Israel, you may be facing a situation or mountain so great
that fear has got you frozen in your tracks. Despite the fact that you are
literally a few short steps from entering into the promised land. Let us learn
from the Israelites and be like the Joshua generation, who went in and took the
land. It is ironic that in order to enter into the land filled with milk and
honey, the Israelites had to fight; but just as they did, so would we. In order
to possess the land God has promised, you have to do the work of fighting and
taking control of it. Keep in mind that God has not only commanded us to be
strong and courageous (Joshua 1:9), He has also promised us that He will be
with us throughout the journey (Matt. 28:20).
You
may be reading this and thinking to yourself, yeah Sage “it is easier said than
done”. What would you say if I told you that I recently had to fight after I
had ran away from a particular situation twice! But as God promised, He has been
with me and will continue to be with me throughout the journey. As my pastor
recently said, “even if you’re afraid, do it afraid!” My charge to you is simple:
have faith in God and do it afraid! You will be shocked at what you can achieve
when you take that first step. Step out and watch God show out.
Photo cred: Mark Twain
Sometimes doing it afraid means going all out in faith. With faith , you don't have to see it physically before doing it.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely! It all boils down to a simple question: how much do you trust God?
DeleteThank you for the encouraging message. We must always deal with fear in every situation to go forward. Which means trusting God based on the instructions or His Word He has given us. It is not an easy step to take when God told Abraham to abandon his home country and his relatives for a strange land that he does not even know where, no specific location (Genesis 12:1) and then ten chapters after (Genesis 22:2), God instructed him to go sacrifice his only son whom he loved. As I am writing this, the Missionaries came to mind, they leave all to unknown lands just to take the gospel to unreached people. Hmmmm. May the Lord take us to the place of total obedience in total abandonment in Jesus Name
ReplyDeleteI read through my comment in 2021 and noted the example of Abraham who God instructed to leave his home country and relatives for a strange land. But the thought now came to mind that in the case of Isaac, God instructed him to stay where he is despite the severe famine. Genesis 26:2. It can be scary too when God gives such instructions when the logical thing to do is look for a fertile land to relocate to. But Isaac too did it afraid trusting in the promise of the Lord.
DeleteBottom line is listen to God's leading on what to do at every point in time of our lives in in very difficult situation. And whatever God instructs DO IT EVEN IF YOU ARE AFRAID.
Thanks again Sage for bring this article up to remind us of this.