Wednesday, April 6, 2011

Confession 176: Fear What?

My oldest got a new bike this Christmas--a big boy bike with a helmet and training wheels.  He was hesitant at first, but got the hang of it quickly.  We rode as much as we could as weather permitted, and Garrett flew.  He was fearless.  It was exhilarating.  Then came "the fall".  On an uneven bit of pavement, Garrett toppled to the ground and skinned his bony little knee.  Enter fear.  Where was there was joy and freedom, now there is fear and frustration.  Garrett is convinced if he rides his bike he will fall and get hurt.  Nothing Chris or I say or do makes a difference.  He's stuck in a fear block.

It occurs to me that we, as adults, can run into the fear block when it comes to living out our lives.  Fear has got to be one of the greatest weapons Satan uses against us.  Fear immobilizes us, takes away our freedom and robs us of our joy.  It worms its way into our minds, telling us we can't, we're not good enough, we don't know how, we'll get hurt.  Satan uses fear to keep us from doing the work that God has for us to do.

Yet here's the truth I've found in my own life.  God asks us to take our fear head-on and plow through.  God tells us to get back up on that bike and keep going.  When Elijah was hiding out in a cave because Jezebel wanted his head (literally) God found him and told him to head back down the mountain.  God wants us to take a leap of faith so he can show us his power and his love.  God doesn't want us to live bound up in fear, but rather, to live a life of freedom in him.  And to live freely in him, we must learn to become fearless.

My memory verse for the week is from Exodus 14:13-14.  Priscilla Shirer used it in her "Going Beyond" event last week and I am taking it to heart.

"And Moses said to the people, 'Do not be afraid!  Stand firm and see the deliverance the Lord is bringing to you TODAY!  The Lord WILL fight for you; you need only to BE STILL!!'"

Blessings and Peace,
Sara
 

1 comment:

  1. Great verse! I need to memorize it, because fear is my biggest problem. Seriously, it seems so silly, until that moment when it grips my heart and paralyzes me. I become utterly useless, exactly Satan's plan.
    -FringeGirl

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