Faith or Fear

It’s hard to look around these days and not be exposed to fear, panic, and confusion. Whether it be from the media, others or even ourselves.

Grant it, there is so much going on in the world today that can reasonably, insight fear. However, seeing so many run around in a panic, in a constant state of fear troubles my soul.
I can’t shake just how oxymoronic it is for us as Christians. 
How we claim a God of peace, a God of power, a God with complete Sovereignty, and yet our minds are in a pretty consistent state of uncertainty.

Lately, this question keeps pressing hard in my mind of faith or fear? 

Are we going to trust God or worry?

Are we going to trust God or panic?

Are we going to trust God or question?

When are we going to get to the point of actually living what we preach?

Living what we say we believe?

I completely understand that life can feel scary and feel extremely hard and at times even confusing. I get that times can seem dark and lonely. I get that things can look so grim, so beyond repair that we can become discouraged.

These feelings are real, and most times they even feel warranted.

But what we feel and what we know need to be looked at as two completely different things.
We can feel alone and still know that God is for us.
We can feel confused and know that God is not the author of confusion.
We can feel overwhelmed and know that God’s yoke and light and His burdens are easy.
We can feel like there is nothing we can possibly do to fix this situation and still know that with Christ in us all things become possible and He works all things out for those who love Him.

Fear has been something I’ve struggled with my whole life and still struggle with it to some degree today. I know what it’s like to be so close to a situation that you don’t truly see the full scope of it. But my prayer has been for God to fill me with His wisdom and teach me to discern every situation according to His Word.

My daughter struggles with fear in a different way than I do and honestly being able to see her struggle with fear truly has helped me put fear in its proper place, beneath God. She has helped me to realize that when I am afraid I am not truly trusting God. I am fearing the world more, or the enemy more, or my own thoughts more than the Creator of ALL THINGS, more than God’s Word which is truth and never changing.

I have realized these last couple years that it is in the reading and studying of God’s Word that carries us in our hardships and it is also in the remembering of His goodness that strengthens us to keep trusting.

God’s Word is essential to the Christian life. I don’t believe you can have a successful, faith-filled life without His Word. It is His Word that sustains us, that strengthens us, that fills us with peace, that gives us reassurance, that brings us closer to a holy life.

It is in His Word that we discover His character, His plans, His promises.

It is in His Word that He shows us and speaks to us and guides us in this life.

I pray that God would put a fire inside of each of us to want to read His Word, to want to know Him deeper, to want to give Him our time freely.

God has graciously been teaching me that it is not about whether or not you will feel fear, it is about knowing what to do once it shows up.

“My child, don’t lose sight of common sense and discernment. Hang on to them, for they will refresh your soul. They are like jewels on a necklace. They keep you safe on your way, and your feet will not stumble. You can go to bed without fear; you will lie down and sleep soundly. You need not be afraid of sudden disaster or the destruction that comes upon the wicked, for the Lord is your security. He will keep your foot from being caught in a trap.”
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭3:21-26‬ ‭

“Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the instructions Moses gave you. Do not deviate from them, turning either to the right or to the left. Then you will be successful in everything you do. Study this Book of Instruction continually. Meditate on it day and night so you will be sure to obey everything written in it. Only then will you prosper and succeed in all you do.”
‭‭Joshua‬ ‭1:7-8‬