I’ve often heard fear described as: False Evidence Appearing Real and that is sooo true! I was someone who allowed fear to cripple me to the point of inactivity. It led me to doubt who I was and also what God was capable of in my life. What was I afraid of? Made up scenarios in my head, people I had never met, opinions of people I didn’t know…everything. I was even afraid of how effective or successful I could be. I always found myself asking: “Why would anybody want to hear what I had to say? What if they don’t like it? What if? What if? What if? It can easily cause you to get discouraged and make you quit before you even start trying. And of course, that is what the enemy wants to happen. He wants you to believe that what God has placed in your heart to do is too scary to accomplish and that you’re incapable of doing it. As a result, you remain stagnant and inactive. In my opinion, any stagnation or inactivity towards a goal for the kingdom translates to a victory for the enemy.
Any time you allow fear to choke out the work of God or forward progress towards a vision He gave you, the devil is smiling. It’s as if you are saying that the fear that you have is more powerful than God. If God has called you to a task, whether it be to start a ministry, start an organization, write a book, or start a blog…whatever the vision is that He gave you, know that if He put it in you He can make it come to pass through you. Your fear should not be focused on what could possibly happen if you do it but rather what would happen if you do not do it. The only thing that we should be fearful of is having to provide an explanation to God as to why we didn’t do what He placed in our hearts to do. So what are you going to do tell God? I didn’t do it because I was afraid? Let me know how that works for you.
I am reminded of the call of Joshua. After Moses (the person who was originally supposed to lead the Israelites into The Promised Land) passed away, Joshua (Moses’ aide) was chosen to continue in his footsteps and lead them into the land.
1 After the death of Moses the servant of the Lord, the Lord said to Joshua son of Nun, Moses’ aide: 2 “Moses my servant is dead. Now then, you and all these people, get ready to cross the Jordan River into the land I am about to give to them—to the Israelites. 3 I will give you every place where you set your foot, as I promised Moses.4 Your territory will extend from the desert to Lebanon, and from the great river, the Euphrates—all the Hittite country—to the Mediterranean Sea in the west. 5 No one will be able to stand against you all the days of your life. As I was with Moses, so I will be with you; I will never leave you nor forsake you. 6 Be strong and courageous,because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their ancestors to give them.
7 “Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. 8 Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. 9 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go.”
Throughout Chapter 1 and specifically in verses 6-9, the Lord repeatedly tells Joshua to be strong and courageous and not to be terrified or discouraged. The Lord also reminded him that He would be with him wherever he went. Joshua had a big task to complete but the Lord promised to be with him. We can be encouraged by the call of Joshua. Even if what God has called you to do seems scary or too big to accomplish, the fact that God promises to be with you and lead you through it should help to cast out all fear. Be strong and courageous and tell fear to have a seat!
