That is the question I get most often when I tell someone about how I am about to leave on the World Race. I think it is not only a fair question but a natural one given the current global climate. It has become such a routine inquiry in my life, I have been forced to think a lot about fear in general, and its impact in my life.
I think the instinct of fear is not necessarily a bad thing. Fear of getting run over by a car, for instance, causes us to look both ways before crossing a street. It can keep us from avoiding unnecessary danger. However, fear can also paralyze and make us ineffective, so my question is: where does fear cross the line of being a deterrent from pointless risk to a debilitating force in our life?
I believe that line is where fear conflicts with our calling.
If we’re taking Jesus Christ as our example, then we will undoubtedly be led into situations in our life where fear wants to takeover, where every natural instinct will tell us to get out. Fear at its core will always tell us to look after ourselves first; whereas, the life we are offered in Jesus will always tell us to deny ourselves and follow Him.
But why would we not listen to our fears? Why would we openly walk into potential risk and loss? Is it ignorant stupidity? Is it possible for there to be any logical reasoning behind it?
I think the Lord so beautifully answers these questions in Isaiah 41, when He says “fear not, for I am with you”. At first glance that might not seem like the answer we want. I mean if I’m being honest, sometimes I just want God to say “fear not, for I will smite anyone who comes against you”. But I think that just reveals my short-sightedness. I mean come on! The almighty God of the universe has promised to never make us face anything without Him!
How then can fear be my natural reaction to any circumstance in this world? How can we logically fear even losing our own life when the one who gives life and has conquered death is for us? Paul tells us that in everything we are “more than conquerors” because nothing can separate us from the love of God.
Living in fear then is not the result of being more aware of the realities of the world but rather less aware of who is with you and who is for you.
It is easy to say I believe that. Yet, I’ll often find myself refusing to have tough conversations because I am afraid of what it might do to my relationships or avoiding people because I am terrified to let them in the middle of my mess. In fact, it seems like more often than not, fear controls me, and I am unable to will it away. There is a disconnect between the truth I accept in my mind and the actions of my life.
Something must be missing.
How often do we pray, “Lord, give me faith” and just kind of sit back and hope that our doubt and fears go away? What if the Lord is waiting for us to take a risk, however big or small, just to get us out of our comfort zone? To push us into a position of trust. What if our faith wasn’t a blind faith but actually a track record of the Lord’s fulfilled promises in our life? What if our fears were overcome not because in our head we knew God was all-powerful but because we had seen Him show up over and over again in our life?
So my challenge to myself and everyone reading this is to step out—today. Fear wins when we do nothing. So, take a risk, however small at first, and embrace your fears but do it knowing you’re not alone. Then do it again. Allow the Lord to pull back the mask on your fears and realize they are nothing compared to Him.
There is no template for what this needs to look like. For me, a big part of this is giving up my next 11 months and going on the World Race, but I think the Lord asks us all in a wide variety of ways to trust Him over our fears. It might be as simple as picking up the phone or buying someone a warm meal who wouldn’t otherwise have one. The important thing is to allow ourselves be stretched outside of the comfortable and the known.
If we begin to make risk our status quo, little by little, we will know, not just in our heads but in our hearts, the implications of our God choosing to always be with us and the power that comes as a result. Our risks will become greater and greater. Fear will start to take a back seat to our desire to see the Lord move, and the world will take notice.
Fearlessness is a powerful thing. It is what initially advanced the Gospel so quickly. A group of men and women that couldn’t be scared away even by the threat and reality of death. People want that. They desperately want to have a reason not to be afraid, and we have it.
It’s time we start living like it.
**************************FUNDRAISING UPDATE****************************
Thank you for your generous donations and support towards my journey! Thanks to you I have met my goal and have raised 75% of the funds needed for my trip before launch! I cannot thank you enough for allowing me the opportunity to serve the way I will get the chance to these next 11 months. I am absolutely blown away by the support and encouragement I have been shown thus far. If you would still like to financially partner with me to help me become fully funded, you can can make tax-deductible donations from the homepage of my blog. Once I reach 100% of my goal, any donations will go to the Adventures General Fund to support the ministries of Adventures in Missions. You can check my current support status on the homepage of my blog or just ask me! Thank you again for your support and partnership with me!
God bless,
Drew
