For the month of November, my church started a message series called “No Fear November”. I think we can all agree that we live in a world filled with fear. I don’t even need to start listing them. I’m sure you already thought of 5 fears (rational or irrational) before this sentence even ended. It is proven that most of the fears we face are actually learned. We aren’t born with them. I personally have struggled with many fears. Many of you know I’m going on this thing called the World Race. And let me tell you, it freaks me out. It has become a learned fear of mine. I probably would have gone on the WR years ago if it wasn’t for my fears. As I sat in church a couple Sunday ago, I was overwhelmed by that fact that for so long my fears have been bigger than my faith. I was so overcome with emotions. Good and bad. It was fear that kept me. And when I fear, I’m giving that fear control of my life. Who we fear we also serve. I let my fears paralyze me.
As a kid who grew up in a strong faith based culture it was pretty much imbedded in my head how with God we have nothing to fear. And He doesn’t just say it once. Through out the entire bible the phase “fear not”, “do not be afraid” or something along the same line is mentioned at least 365 times. (disclaimer…I didn’t actually count them. Google is responsible for that fun fact!) One of the popular “fear” verses is Isaiah 41:10. Which says “So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”
So why do I still struggle with fears when I know full well that God commands us to fear not? Well, God gave me some answers while I sat in church sipping my delicious iced coffee.
The first reason is I lack trust in God. There it is. For years, I’ve chosen to stay in my own little comfort zone. Because it was nice, safe and mainly pretty easy. Not allowing, not trusting God to use me in ways greater than I could imagine. I basically gave my fears control of my life.
“Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track” Proverbs 3:5,6.
And the second is I forgot how faithful that the Lord has been in my past and all that He has brought me through. Through remembering his faithfulness, I’m reminded of his goodness and his promises to never leave me.
“The more I acknowledge God’s footprints across my yesterdays, the more I see His hand upon my today.”
SO WHAT AM I GOING TO DO??
I AM going on the World Race. I am not going to try to be fear free. But I am going to look at my fears as an opportunity to trust God more. Because fearing less is about trusting God more. I am stepping out of my little comfort zone. Taking that leap. Jumping out of the boat. Simply because God says so. I must trust this. I must trust God. And I must try to more often remember his faithfulness in my past so that I can walk into the future. I will not give fear control of my story. I’m putting my story in His hands. Knowing that my faith must be bigger than my fears.
On an ending side note, I’ve been so encouraged by this message series because it has been so applicable to the journey the Lord is taking me on. Please feel free to check it out via the link: https://aclz.org/messages/fear-of-the-future/
Much Love,
Haley
