Afraid—Maybe, But—Not Paralyzed
Have you ever been afraid?
Yes, that’s right.
REALLY AFRAID.
So AFRAID that your skin tingles.
Fear comes to us in so many ways—-
- We fear being alone, so we never walk away from a relationship with another, even though we know it’s toxic and detrimental to us.
- We fear the prognosis from the tests the doctor wants us to do, even ignoring what we know to be true every time we are honest with ourselves about our health.
- We fear being wrong—AGAIN—so we run the opposite direction from someone God has brought to us to know.
- We fear job loss, so we never leave a job we currently have in order to pursue a new opportunity God has brought us to see.
- We fear the truth about God, fearing that what HE has revealed—That what we have known deep in our being (so long)—That what we have lived and based our beliefs upon—That what those we love may have taught us—Could REALLY be all wrong!
- LET US NOT FEAR THE TRUTH of GOD’S AMAZING GRACE, FOR IT IS—-THE TRUTH.
FEAR.
It’s SCARY.
It’s FRIGHTENING.
It’s NOT a place we wish to be—ALONE, and that’s why we DON’T have to be all alone.
That’s right.
God’s Holy Spirit pursues us, leads us to His truth, brings His salvation to our souls, & then never leaves us, never forces us to walk this journey of life alone.
YES, THAT’S RIGHT.
- EVEN AFRAID.
- EVEN WHEN FACING AN UNBELIEVABLE STRUGGLE.
- EVEN WHEN TAKING AN UNSURE STEP FORWARD in FAITH. &
- EVEN WHEN WE LET GO OF ALL THAT WE HAVE EVER KNOWN & LOOK TO JESUS—THE AUTHOR and FINISHER of EVERYTHING—-EVEN THEN—GOD REQUIRES THAT WE PLACE OUR EYES ON THE PERSON OF JESUS & TAKE A STEP FORWARD IN FAITH.
Please do not believe my words but only believe the Word of God, the truth found within His Word.
The Apostle Paul who persecuted the early church, who denounced the teachings of Jesus, who THOUGHT he knew the truth, realized the REAL TRUTH one day during his life journey.
The day of Paul’s salvation came when he was walking toward Damascus to persecute Christians, and that day, Paul—met Jesus.
Yes, that’s right.
That Paul.
From that day, he devoted his life to Christ, taking the gospel to Europe.
From that day, Paul wrote letters, even during his time of incarceration (for preaching the good news of God). It’s in one of those letters he wrote to the believers living in Colossae.
“For He rescued us from the dominion of darkness, and transferred us to the kingdom of His beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins.
(Colossians 1: 13-16)
He is the image of the invisible God, the firstborn of all creation.
For by Him all things were created, both in the heavens and on earth, visible and invisible, whether thrones or dominions or rulers or authorities—all things have been created through Him and for Him.”
In the Old Testament, David, the king of Israel, also knew the power of fear (before & during his reign). We see in Whom David placed his trust.
“I sought the LORD, and He answered me, and delivered me from all my fears.”
(Psalm 34: 4)
Then there’s the also the prophet Isaiah who was sent to encourage Israel at a time of great anguish and turmoil. Isaiah wrote these words, and we can be encouraged even today.
“You whom I have taken from the ends of the earth, and called from its remotest parts and said to you, “You are My servant, I have chosen you and not rejected you.
(Isaiah 41: 9-10 & 13)
Do not fear, for I am with you;
Do not anxiously look about you, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, surely I will help you,
Surely I will uphold you with My righteous right hand.”. . .
“For I am the LORD your God, who upholds your right hand,
Who says to you, “Do not fear, I will help you.”
- LORD, help us see YOU.
- LORD, help us witness to the lost who are walking in darkness.
- LORD, help us be an influence to the cause for Christ.
- LORD, help us not dwell in fear, despite what trials we may face today—despite what the doctors may say—despite what step in life You lead us to take—&—despite the step toward accepting Christ Jesus, You call us to take.
That’s right. Help us be brave and step.
- Help me, help us—Fully Trust YOU!
- Help us to not allow the fear of “what if” to plague our time we have here on earth.
- Help us to not allow the fear of what we don’t know stop us from following the Light of Jesus Christ.
- Help us to not be too afraid to step out, to step forward, to trust—YOU—And LORD, even if the devil continues to whisper his lies in our ears—
- Help us to do what YOU have called us to do—even if we have to do it afraid!!!
- And LORD, Help us, even if we are Afraid—HELP US—Not Be Paralyzed!
That is right.
We must stand up, and we must just let the world see us move as God’s Spirit leads.
We must stand up, and we must just let the world hear the roar of our LORD!