Fear & Faith

I love the life of faith God has called us to live. It’s a life of trusting Him and stepping out in faith into the unknown and uncertainty, knowing all the while He holds you in the palm of His hand.

It’s a daily adventure full of twists and turns, up and downs, and decisions that we can only make when we lean on him for guidance. Oh, how sweet it is to feel His breath while He gently whispers answers to spoken prayers.

It’s a constant exchange of known for the unknown, comfortable for the uncomfortable, and the explainable for the inexplicable.
As we fix our eyes on Him, He strengthens us. Psalm 27:1 says, “The Lord is my light and salvation, whom shall I fear? The Lord is the stronghold of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?” God frees us from the constraints that would otherwise bind us in fear.

When we understand this and walk in this faith, we stretch the possibilities for the extraordinary. He takes us to places we never imagined! He gives us life so sweet and full of favor.

When we take a step in faith and say YES to God, what once terrified us ends up being part of something phenomenal. The Bible says, “What no eye has seen, nor ear heard, nor the heart of man imagined, what God has prepared for those who love him.”

He only asks our hearts to have faith in Him.

If fear is keeping you from encountering the wondrous miracles, remember that God will give you the courage to dare and press beyond doubt to go where He has called you to move.

Here are 5 scriptures to help you overcome fear:

Romans 8:28 “And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.”
This verse is gold! This scripture helps remind me of two things. The first part tells me that because I love God, He is working for my good. Through this scripture, I know that everything is going to be just fine. The second thing I grasp from this verse is that God must call you, and the works must be His works completed to His purpose. He must appoint my actions for them to work out. If I have spent my time praying and asking for direction and I followed His instructions, then all is well, and I can move forward in peace knowing everything is sound. I also know that if I wander on my own, it will be difficult and may not work out because God did not appoint my endeavor, and it was just something I wanted to do on my own. We need to be responsible for our actions too.

Deuteronomy 31:8 “He will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”
If you’ve ever had a person encourage you, then you know that part of their pep talk was saying they are going to stand behind you the whole way. They are not only suggesting a boat for your destination, but they will help with the preparation and get in the boat with you. There is nothing better than knowing you are not alone. The knowledge that when things get hard, and you need a push, they will be there to give that gentle nudge. That is how Jesus is. He is in the boat with us. Your savior will be there to calm the seas and hold your hand if you start to sink. He will rescue you.

Isaiah 43:1 “Don’t fear, for I have redeemed you; I have called you by name; you are Mine.”
“Don’t worry. I got you! If anyone tries anything, tell them you belong to me”. Aren’t those the very words we want to hear out of someone’s mouth when we are treading in new territory, and yet there they are. He is telling us as clearly as He can that we don’t have to be afraid because our maker knows precisely the person we are and who He created us to be. He knows that deep inside our beings, we will find the love, courage, faith, wisdom, and hope to move forward without fear.

1 John 4:18 “Perfect Love Casts Out All Fear”
Can you imagine having a friend or relative that is always there at a moment’s notice to listen to your worries, your dreams, your hopes, and challenges without ridicule or judgment? There is nothing you can do to make God love you more or less. That is perfect love. There is no room for fear, knowing he is always there for you with love and affection when you ask for it, and even when you don’t. That is Gods’ love, a joyful kind of love.

Psalm 18:2, “The LORD is my rock, my fortress, and my deliverer.”
You have nothing to fear when you have a solid foundation- a God who allows you to rest from the outside world any time you choose. He can save you from all things evil. You may still experience bad things, but it means he will see you through them victoriously on the other side.

The Bible tells us to “Fear Not” at least 365 times.

Jesus knew that fear could leave someone paralyzed, too scared to move in any direction. Without progress, we die and wither away from deprivation of knowledge, growth, or development because we were too afraid to try.

Don’t let fear keep you from encountering the wondrous revelations of God. Have faith in God and he will give you the courage to dare and press beyond doubt to go where He has called you to move.