When I fear…

I have a lot of fears? Does anyone relate?

Some of my fears include having something in my teeth all day, my tire popping on my car, and spiders (seriously I freak out)!

I also have serious fears… like loneliness, bad health, or someone I love passing away.

Life seems to always take twists and turns, and with these, fear often tags along.

For me, life is changing drastically, and to be honest I AM TERIFFIED! There are so many unknowns and changes that I don’t quite know how to handle it all. God has called my family to step out in faith and church plant, and though my heart wants to say “Yes, Lord” my mind wants to cry out “But God… (input excuse).”

I often feel like Moses, giving God excuses because I am too afraid of what He has called me to.

In Exodus 3, God told Moses to go to Pharaoh and bring God’s people out of Egypt (vs. 10). Moses responded to God with, “Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt (vs. 11).”
The Lord told him that He would be with Moses, and promised to bring His people out of their affliction in Egypt, but this didn’t change Moses mind. Moses again gives God an excuse, “But, behold, they will not believe me or listen to my voice (4:1).”

Do you get the picture… Moses was afraid.

Moses feared the Israelites and Pharaoh more than he feared God, and because of that, God was angered.

Thankfully, Moses story doesn’t stop with his excuses. Moses goes on to lead the people out of Egypt. But what changed?

Moses put his faith in God.

“By faith he left Egypt, not being afraid of the anger of the king, for he endured as seeing him who is invisible.” Hebrews 11:27

Moses fixed his eyes on Christ, and recognized that it was He who was to be feared and trusted.

As I look toward the journey God has given me, I realize that the only way I can face the things that may come, is to so fix my eyes on Him and who He is, that anything else seems miniscule in light of Him.

This means that my fears of raising enough support, moving to a new place, experiencing loneliness, or failing at church planting, should seem so small compared to the faithful, steadfast, omniscient, great God I serve.

So this is my challenge…

I must replace my many fears with ONE fear, the fear of God.

“The fear of the Lord leads to life, and whoever has it rests satisfied.”
Proverbs 19:23