What I found at the root of my captivity was
fear. It was not that I was too tired, too old, or too sick. I was just plain
afraid. I was afraid to engage, afraid to commit, and afraid to finish. Then I
was gently reminded that I “did not need legs to walk with the Lord” and I
realized being “gripped with fear” is not a new concept and has never been a
viable excuse for intentional disobedience. Joshua trusted God and stepped out
in faith in his battle and we can do the same.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Wednesday, February 4, 2015
Fear Not
“Where can we go up? Our
brethren have made our hearts melt, saying, ‘The people are bigger and taller
than we; the cities are large and fortified to heaven. And besides, we saw the
sons of the Anakim there’” (Deuteronomy 1:28). Ten of the twelve spies lacked the faith needed to
trust that God would give them this land.
Fear can drown even the most powerful of men. Solomon and Elijah were two great men who felt this despair when they feared the thing most central to their identity as human beings was lost. For the Israelites, and most people today, the first effort must be faith in the power of God to do what He said He would do. Comfort ultimately comes through the one and only son of God, who was born and died so that all who believe will be saved, proving again that God is faithful.
Sidney Smith once said, “A great deal of talent
is lost to the world for want of a little courage. Every day sends to their
graves obscure men whose timidity prevented them from making the first effort.”
Fear can drown even the most powerful of men. Solomon and Elijah were two great men who felt this despair when they feared the thing most central to their identity as human beings was lost. For the Israelites, and most people today, the first effort must be faith in the power of God to do what He said He would do. Comfort ultimately comes through the one and only son of God, who was born and died so that all who believe will be saved, proving again that God is faithful.