The fears I have run deep,
too deep for the untrained eye to see. They are fears I have created,
fears I let make tiny roots within me. They hold me back from running
full throttle ahead toward a choice, a goal that has been set before
me. My heart longs and cries for things, it knows that God has placed
in it….yet my logical brain obsesses over the “maybe’s” and
“what ifs”. What is logic in this world? It’s not
celestial, it’s not of God…..it is trained. Trained by society,
trained by influences, trained by ourselves.
So, we start to head
down the fitting path, but take a slight detour….we step off to
make sure we can do it. But how long do we stay off? How long do we
wait for the “right” time? The path gets overgrown with weeds as
we stand by playing it safe. The problem becomes, that we are
stifling the life that is bubbling within us. We are denying it, not
walking into the freedom that awaits us. How we are used in this life
and the footprint we leave, all depends on our ability to say “yes.”
Yes to the path set before us, yes to doing what we were born to
do…..whatever that may be.
Dreams and ideas are not given to us in
vain. They are a message from our heart, from God; telling us what we
already know. If we choose what we know we should choose, what will
make us happy; we will flourish. We will not allow fear to be in
control. We will live in this chaotic world steady and constant. The
fire within us will be re-lit and our passions will ignite; spreading
to all those around us. We will be who we are supposed to be; and the
beauty of it will be that we will make a difference in this crazy
place. However, if we continue to just be convenient followers, we
might not be living up to our potential. If we only follow Jesus when
it is a good time for us, we may not help those we can help. If we
promise to follow Him tomorrow, but always look back…. are we
really following him? “But Jesus said to him, “No one, after
putting his hand to the plow and looking back, is fit for the kingdom
of God.” Luke 9:62
How many of us commit to do
things tomorrow, next month, or next year? How many of us want to do
things, but don’t; say yes but then take it back? Fears are powerful
and a good inlet for the devil to convince you, you can’t do anything.
Fear is huge…. the English language has a word for every fear you
can think of. Fear of slime: blennophobia; fear of church:
ecclesiophobia; fear of belly buttons: omphalophobia. I mean…
really? Fears are a norm in our society, they are a part of life and we
are taught that it is okay to fear things.
In the bible, “do not be
afraid” is one of the most used phrases; and I’m sure for good
reason. How are we to be who God wants us to be if we are forever
looking back, holding on to the edge, and living by the “what if”
mantra? Media doesn’t help by bombarding us with the threat of fill
in the blank; or the how
to not fall victim to the
whatever. Unfortunately many of us might be lacking enough faith and
we fall victim to fearing the unknown. We fear that something bad
could happen each day, each moment. I personally want to change all
my fears into faith; I want to be the woman God wants me to be. One thing I have
learned is, even if you have deep fears; take a leap of faith.
You might be surprised how the fears start to get uprooted, and you
walk more and more in freedom.
“For I am the Lord,
your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not
fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
“For God gave us not a
spirit of fearfulness; but of power and love and discipline.”
2Timothy 1:7
“So we say with
confidence, The Lord is my helper; I will not be afraid. What can man
do to me?” Hebrews 13:6
“Peace I leave with
you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do
not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” John 14:27
