Faith and Fear

Fear has a way of rearing its ugly head in life. God has a way of changing the outcome. These three things might be helpful to reflect on.

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If you’re reading this, and you’re human, at some point you have had to confront fear. Fear has a way of rearing its ugly head in life. There’s obviously the good kind of fear, the natural in-built fight or flight mechanism that kicks in when confronted with danger.

But I’m talking about the other kind of fear. The fear that can pull the rug from under your feet and make you feel paralyzed. The fear that can stop you moving into the things that God wants to unfold for you. That’s the fear that I’m talking about, which is why at the Stronger conference this year we scheduled a session on the programme entitled: ‘Why fear can(‘t) stop you’, which Sara Clarke delivered brilliantly.

You see what we did there with that title?

The point is that fear can stop us in our tracks sometimes, but God has something to say about that. He wants us to be free from fear. He doesn’t want fear to hold us back. He wants us to be free to run the race market out for us, because the truth is that ‘..there is no fear in love’ and ‘perfect love drives out fear’ (1 John 4.18). Which means if we don’t need to be afraid before God (i.e. we have peace with God through Jesus Christ), then we have nothing to fear at all, because ‘if God is for us, then who can be against us’ (Rom 8.31).

Over the years I have been so struck by the account of Moses in the Old Testament. God called Moses to go and confront Pharaoh so that he might set the Israelites free from slavery. Do you know what Moses’ initial response was?

‘Not me, I’m not a very good speaker’ (Exodus 4.10).
He didn’t feel qualified for the task in front of him.

You can fill in the gap:
‘Not me, I’m not a very good ____’
‘Sorry Lord, not me, I don’t have a degree.’
‘Lord, not me, I’m not married.’
‘Not me, I’ve only been a Christian for a few years’

You get the idea? Moses didn’t think he was very eloquent, he probably had a stutter, and he thought this speech impediment was a calling impediment. He was wrong.

What Moses was lacking, God said he would supply: ‘Now go, I will help you speak and teach you what to say’ (Exodus 4.12). God seemed pretty confident about the situation. Moses seemed very unconfident and almost prevented him from saying ‘yes to God’.

Maybe there are some people reading this who are being prevented from saying yes to God. If so, maybe these practical ideas can help?

1. ’Never let the fear of striking out keep you from swinging the bat’

This was a quote from Babe Ruth the famous baseball player and which the author Neil Cole quotes in his book ‘Organic Church’. The point is that we can be paralysed from giving something a go because we’re worried that we might fail. That we might not do a good job. That we might look foolish or we might not do as good a job as someone else.

But if God is in it, he will make a way. He will supply what you feel you lack. Don’t let fear hold you back and stop you from giving something a go.

Over the years I have found telling a few trusted friends about fears and insecurities such a powerful thing. Not only does it get it out into the open, it prevents you from struggling with it on your own, and it gives you an opportunity to bring it to God together too.

2. ‘A ship in a harbour is safe but that is not what ships are made for’

Again, another line quoted by the brilliant Neil Cole. What a powerful image. Ships aren’t built to stay in the harbour, they’re made to sail the seas.

Moses wasn’t called to tend sheep ultimately, he was called to lead God’s people out of slavery. It’s so much safer tending sheep (not counting the bears, lions and bandits etc). He would have had a comfortable life tending the sheep, but he would have missed the thing God was calling him to do.

God isn’t calling you to be comfortable, he’s calling you on an adventure of trust and faith. Sailing through the storms. Inviting you to come closer and watch his faithfulness unfold.]

Why not remind yourself of the things God has said to you over the years. Note them down in a journal. Revisit them and thank God for them. Perhaps you have a life verse or a particular passion or prayer that God has laid on your heart that you keep coming back to.

What you have there is an invitation to follow the Lord out of the harbour.

3. ‘Every strike brings you closer to the next home run’

Another Babe Ruth quote and in baseball, a strike is when you miss the ball. If you miss the ball three times, then you’re out. His point is not to look at the failure of what’s happened, but look forward to the opportunity in front of you.

There maybe some reading this who are looking backwards, and maybe God is calling you to look forwards. To look at the opportunity in front of you. To take a step forward. To not be afraid.

Moses’ successor, Joshua had the same thing. It appears that he was afraid to lead God’s people but he was up for it. Why else did God say, ‘do not be afraid, do not be terrified’.

But then God said to him, ‘every place where you put your feet I will give you as I promised Moses’ (Joshu 1.3). No matter how tentative that step, no matter how fragile or wavering, if it’s a step forward in faith, God will give you victory.

Don’t look back, look forward to him who leads you forward with the thing that he has been speaking to you about.

You may be confronted by your lack. God will supply.
You may feel comfortable in the harbour. God invites you out.
You may be crying about your failures. God says keep your eyes on me.

 Go for it my friends. He is faithful. Tell me how you get on.