Fear Factor

If fear didn't hold you back, what would you do? Change your career path, speak in front of a group of people, go on a missions trip, share the gospel with a co-worker? If you are like me, there have been moments in your life where fear has held you back from doing something; whether big or small. Many times we don't take that step because we are afraid of failing or perhaps we are afraid of what people will think. What if we speak in front of a large crowd and forget what we were going to say?What if we try to share the gospel with someone and they ask a question that we can't answer? What if we go on that missions trip; who would watch the kids, where would the money come from, how could I take that long off of work?  So we just sit and don't do anything. We let the "what if's" hold us back?

I heard the quote once, "Do it afraid" and I always carry it in the back of my mind. The times in my life that I was most afraid to do something and did it anyway, have proven to be some of the most rewarding experiences I have ever had. When I went back to school to get my credentials, I was terrified! What would people that knew me in my past say? They couldn't possibly take me serious. Where would the money come from? How could I give up the time to travel to class and put in hours of weekly homework? But I did it....afraid! It proved to be a significant step in my life. Or the time that I knew that God was calling me to go on a missions trip to Romania. You better believe I had a lot of fear circulating through my mind; mostly fear of flying that long and that far. But I did it and it was life changing, a time that I will never forget. I did it....afraid! Fear is one of the most popular weapons that the enemy uses against us to keep us silent. To keep us from doing God's work. If he can get us to sit quietly in the pew, if he can keep us controlled by anxiety and fear; then we won't be effective for the kingdom. If I would have let the fear of flying and the fear of leaving my family overtake me, then I never would have stepped on that plane and I would have missed out on ministering and being ministered too. I wouldn't have been able to share the life changing message of Jesus with those sweet gypsy women and children.  

God has the supernatural ability to remove fear from our lives. And we can take comfort in the fact that whatever God asks us to do, He will walk with us. We are told in Isaiah that HE is with us, He will strengthen us and hold us with His righteous right hand! Deuteronomy 31:6 commands us, "Be strong and courageous, do not be in dread of them, the Lord your God goes with you, He will never leave you or forsake you." In the Psalms David cries out to God multiple times and in chapter 27 verse 1, he reminds us, "The Lord is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear? The Lord is the strength of my life, of whom shall I be afraid?" People may have opinions, but being obedient to God is more important than what man says. You may fail once, you may fail twice; but there are so many great lessons to be learned when we fail. I have failed so many times in my life and have learned so much in those seasons where success seemed so far away. So what is it? That thing that holds you back? If God is telling you to volunteer at the church, do it even if you are afraid. If you can't get that person off your mind because you know you need to share Jesus with them, do it even if you are afraid. Remember Who walks with you. There are great rewards for those who follow God's plans and take a step of faith, even when they are afraid.

Sarah