Do you ever stop to wonder if the thing you fear most actually possesses the promises you’ve prayed for on the other side?
Fear is such a crippling mystery. Fear lives in the dark forest of trees, under the beds of our childhood memories, and stifles us from pursuing our dreams. Fear disables us, at times, from getting from point A to point B. Fear possesses an unseen audience that cheers loudly, distracting you and confusing me.
Moses feared that he wasn’t good enough.
Jonah feared the mission he was given.
Ananias feared the hard conversation.
Peter feared Jesus wasn’t who He said he was.
Gideon feared he was too weak.
I’d challenge you to reflect on a time when fear got in your way. How did it look when you overcame what it was you feared? Maybe you are in a season currently, where fear is occupying more square footage than you’d like to admit in your heart and mind.
The thing is, when we live in a place of fear, faith is really hard to exist—nearly impossible, actually. Yet, God sought out a way to guide Moses, Jonah, Ananias, Peter, and Gideon despite their fears. I believe that God is still as adamant in His pursuit of us now as He was then. His promises for us are good, and His love for us never ceases to exist.
God encouraged Moses and gave him strength.
God was patient with Jonah and didn’t give up on him.
God prepared Ananias with words and wisdom.
God revealed to Peter what he wasn’t seeing clearly.
God gave Gideon faith to see himself differently.
For me personally, fear comes up around the start of the holidays: fear that I won’t be able to make it to every social gathering, fear of the financial burden of gift-giving, and fear of the emotional baggage that comes with every one of our families. Add the height of a very tense political season looming, and BOOM we are thriving on fearing for the future of everything.
It’s all just a little much sometimes, and I’ve reduced my short fuse and stress levels to fear of this time of year.
I’m convinced that the enemy plants seeds of fear. For I know that God is not concerned with social gatherings, gift-giving, or emotional baggage. God wants us to live with joy and feel free, no matter what we are doing, where we are living, or what we are experiencing. Is it too good to be true? From personal experience, it is the only way of living that seems to be working.
Fear will not walk out on its own. It must be approached, addressed, and, most often, escorted out by a strong bouncer with “STAFF” in big yellow letters across his chest.
Once fear has gone, your challenge this week is to practice letting faith in. Open your mind and heart to receiving faith in whatever way God has in store. That is one of my favorite things about our creator! He is creative, and He knows you. He knows about every fear, hesitation, and doubt that you have.
This idea of God already knowing me has helped take the pressure off the times I have no idea where I’m going. The idea that God will be patient with my doubts helps me feel safe when I am questioning. The idea that there is a God in heaven who wants to offer encouragement and strengthen us calms the situations in my life that feel unnerving.
This same fear-defeating, all-knowing, and deeply loving God is waiting patiently for you. He’s waiting for your heart to soften and for you to be open. The fear you fight with only takes one moment to transform into the faith in which you find freedom.
My prayer this week is that you find freedom in whatever it is that you are fearful of. My hope is that the love of God is so specific to your need, and He is unique in His ways of connecting with you.
With love and peace to you and yours.
Makenna Curtis, Local Pulse Staff Writer & Holy Moments Columnist
