God Will Take Away Your Fear, But You Have to Let it Go

We need a Hero to save us from ourselves. We don't make very good choices sometimes. Sometimes we pass up a really good thing in favor of something that has let us down in the past, something that we know isn't good for us, or some way of thinking that we know is damaging. We always think that the grass is greener somewhere else. We think the grass is greener everywhere else actually, everywhere besides where we are. Whether it is or not in truth is another question because sometimes our perceptions are skewed. And whether we move on to what we think are greener pastures or not, we have trouble being at peace because we live in fear.

Sometimes we are more comfortable with pain than peace. We go back to where we suffered because it comforts us. I know! It doesn't make sense that we would go back to a situation that really wasn't right, or a situation where we were not treated right, but sometimes it is familiar and we go back to it because it is. We do not like new, scary things, things where we may have to learn and grow, where we have to work. We would rather struggle with something that we know rather than venture out where we do not know what to expect. Proverbs 26:11 says, "As a dog returns to its vomit, so a fool repeats his folly."

Many times the "right" thing is more frightening than the wrong thing. In one of my favorite movies, "Father of the Bride" with Steve Martin, he says, "First you worry about her (your daughter) going out with the wrong kind of guy. Then you worry about her meeting the right guy." Sometimes the right thing means a commitment you are not sure you are ready to make. Sometimes we just don't want to have to make that decision right now...Sometimes it means losing something, perhaps our freedom, perhaps part of ourselves. And we are afraid...

Jesus said, "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more important than food, and the body more important than clothes? Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they?Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? And why do you worry about clothes? See how the lilies of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you, O you of little faith? So do not worry, saying, 'What shall we eat?' or 'What shall we drink?' or 'What shall we wear?' For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." Matthew 6:25-34 (NIV)

"In that day you will say: 'I will praise you, O LORD. Although you were angry with me, your anger has turned away and you have comforted me. Surely God is my salvation; I will trust and not be afraid. The LORD, the LORD, is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation.' With joy you will draw water from the wells of salvation. In that day you will say: 'Give thanks to the LORD, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done, and proclaim that his name is exalted. Sing to the LORD, for he has done glorious things; let this be known to all the world. Shout aloud and sing for joy, people of Zion, for great is the Holy One of Israel among you.'" Isaiah 12:1-6 (NIV)

"You are my hiding place; you will protect me from trouble and surround me with songs of deliverance. Selah" Psalm 32:7 (NIV)

"But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ's power may rest on me. That is why, for Christ's sake, I delight in weaknesses, in insults, in hardships, in persecutions, in difficulties. For when I am weak, then I am strong." 2 Corinthians 12:9-10 (NIV)

We are a people full of weaknesses! And if we are willing to step out in faith even when we are afraid, a whole new world of opportunity will open up to us. God desires to use us, with all our weaknesses, fears, sorrows. "But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong." 1 Corinthians 1:27 (NIV) Embrace His grace. Rise above your fears and stand firm in the face of every possible distress. "What, then, shall we say in response to this? If God is for us, who can be against us?" Romans 8:31 (NIV)

God will take away your fear, but you have to let it go...

Dear Lord, Thank you that You have not given us a spirit of fear but of power and love and discipline. Teach us to step out in faith when You lead us, knowing that Your grace is sufficient for us. Help us not to go back to old ways, old places, old situations that were not "right". Give us Your strength and Your power to live in Your victory.