Fear 

 

People often focus too much on where they’ve been. Where they are from, the manner in which they grew up. The poor choices they’ve made, and the setbacks that they’ve experienced. But life isn’t about where you’ve been, it’s about where you’re going. The person I was isn’t the person I am, nor is it the person that I hope to become.

 

God wants your attention to be focused on the present. He wants you to look straight ahead, because what He has for you is not behind you, but in front of you. Reminding yourself of your past mistakes does nothing for today. It doesn’t help you. People get so stuck looking back at the storms they’ve weathered and created that they don’t notice where their ship is headed. They look at their flaws and faults when they should be looking forward to the greatness that God has planned for them. They’re too focused on what the enemy is up to, and not focused on what God is doing in their lives right now!

 

Looking back is the same thing as dropping anchor. It is choosing to sit still, to do nothing. Don’t drop anchor when God is telling you to open up the sails. Don’t let yourself focus on the negative when the positive is just within reach. Your best days are not to be left in the past. 

 

Faith is the light that shines through the tunnel. It is the compass that points north when you get off course. Faith is what you have left when everything else seems so far away. It isn’t always easy to have faith, but it is always necessary. Faith is what gives us as Christians the strength to carry on despite our circumstances.

 

Faith is easy to find when you have calm waters and clear skies. It’s when the clouds come in that Christians begin to struggle with their faith, such as now. It is when the water begins to get choppy and the wind starts blowing that faith starts to falter.

 

Have unwavering faith! Know that whatever is going on in your life has already been planned out. God has you covered.

 

Psalms 107

Then they cry unto the Lord in their trouble, and he bringeth them out of their distresses.

He maketh the storm calm, so that the waves, therefore, are still.

Then are they glad because they be quiet; so he bringeth them unto their desired haven. 

Oh, that men would praise the Lord for his goodness, and for his wonderful works to the children of men!

 

But how do we keep faith in the middle of a storm?

 

It’s easy to say that our faith won’t falter when life is going smoothly, but it’s harder to say so when you’re in the midst of a storm. Sometimes all you can do is stand tall and push straight through.

 

This is something that has come up quite recently, the coronavirus is causing much fear in the world's population. People pray to God that the coronavirus will stop and people will be healed, but I fear that those prayers have little faith to back them up. In times of trouble people find it best to say “bless you” or “I’ll pray for you” but those prayers are empty. Empty prayers are left unanswered. People believe in God when it is most convenient for them. God provides all good and bad things in the world so why not keep faith every day. Your prayers will be answered.

 

The best thing to do to overcome a difficult time is to keep on pushing through, whether you believe in God or not. There is a difference between standing still and staying stagnant. Choosing to stand firm against your opposition is still a decision. Staying the course is a choice.

 

You can always give up. You can always quit. You can always turn your back on what you’re doing. Standing firm in your faith is often the most difficult decision that there is. It is also the best decision there is.

 

There was an old phrase used among sailors back when most ships relied on sails; stand fast. This phrase would be shouted over the sound of thunder or of a battle from one sailor to the other.

 

When this phrase was used, it meant to stay at your position. To remain tightly secured in the face of adversity. When a storm is going over your boat, and the going gets tough, stand firm, and stand fast!

 

Life is full of waves. Sometimes you emerge unscathed, and other times you aren’t as lucky. The way I see it is that you are a survivor of every single storm so far. You have emerged victorious in every single hardship that you have been through up until this point.

 

Ephesians 6

Wherefore take unto you the whole armor of God, that ye may be able to withstand in the evil day, and having done all, to stand.

 

The biggest reason why people give up, why people slow down, or why people don’t reach their potential is fear.

 

Fear that they aren’t good enough.

 

Fear that they will fail.

 

Fear that they aren’t qualified.

 

But God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies those who are called. You see this in the story of Moses.  David. Saul. Noah.

 

These stories in the Bible speak of people who were fearful. People who lacked faith. People who sinned. People who were nobodies that became somebodies because of God’s plan. Luckily for us, God uses sinners and people who are fearful.

 

Sometimes, life is tough. Sometimes we feel like Noah on day twenty. We’re stuck in the middle of the biggest storm of our life. We don’t know what else to do, so we hold onto the wheel and try to navigate to shore. When we place God outside of our circumstances, or we focus on what we want to do, we find ourselves in trouble. When God isn’t in our circumstances, then things just don’t operate properly. The mechanisms don’t work.

 

But when God gets in the middle of it, it’s like pouring oil on a chain. Things begin to flow again, we begin to gain control of our ship, and the storm begins to clear up. When we have faith over fear, then fear is no longer an issue.

 

Faith is the backbone of belief. Faith is what keeps you going. Noah reached day forty as a result of his faith. Saul became Paul through faith. Moses led the Israelites from Egypt because of his faith. David’s faith helped him defeat a giant.

 

Imagine the fear that these people felt. The fear of danger, the fear of failure, the fear of change. God doesn’t call you when you’re ready to be called, He calls you when it is time. It isn’t always ideal for you, but it’s what’s necessary.

 

John 14

Peace I leave with you, my peace I give unto you; not as the world giveth, give I unto you. Let not your heart be troubled, neither let it be afraid.

 

We cannot allow our fears of failing to keep us from reaching our full potential.

 

Too often do we allow fear to paralyze us. We sit and wait until we are no longer afraid when we could have acted long before. God has a plan in place for you, and it may require you to step out of the realm of your comfort zone. You may be uncomfortable. You may be scared. You may not feel that you are ready, but you will be when it’s time.

 

Fear is nothing. It’s a temporary emotion based on a temporary situation. A tool that the enemy uses to keep us stagnant. Fear is a natural response to the unknown, but you can’t allow fear to control your life.

 

Often, fear is what comes before change, and change is necessary for growth. Your want for success and happiness must be stronger than your fear of failure.

 

Your faith must triumph over your fear. God puts us in situations of difficulty for a reason.

 

2 Timothy 1:7 says: 

For God hath not given us the spirit of fear; but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Know that in everything you do in His name, you will be prosperous. Failure is a stepping stone on the journey to success. It is not to be feared, but to be learned from. Fear is only a setback if you allow it to be so.

 

God is greater than your fear of failure. 

 

Lord, thank You that You promise to deliver us from all our fears. Thank You for promising to never leave us or forsake us. We seek You above everything else and praise You for who You are. Fill us with Your peace, Lord.

 

In Jesus’ name, Amen.