We live in unusual times! All around us are reports of economic difficulties, illness, the threat of global terrorism, natural disasters and so much more. And privately, we may carry our own secret fears too – fear of failure, fear of rejection, fear of not mattering, fear of losing a loved one, and fear of our own death. Only you know what is it that scares you so much! But here’s a word to encourage you!
“Ye are of God, my little children, and have overcome them: because greater is he that is in you than he that is in the world.”
1 John 4:4 ASV
Fear is not sinful in itself. It is like an internal warning system, alerting us to potential danger. But fear can lead to sin. When it convinces us to put safety and control first, it undermines our faith and trust in God.
What it does to us is even more pathetic. Fear paralyses us, imprisons our spirit, and limits our potential. It stops us from doing what we should do and makes us do things we shouldn’t. Especially when you’ve received a vision from God or a task that you are to fulfill, something you’ve been given the full capacity for, then you hold back, refuse to move foward, you shy away from opportunities because you’re afraid… What ifs and what nots fill your mind.
One day a young man sat on a park bench watching a squirrel in a tree. It was aiming for a branch so high above that it looked like a leap of suicide. Suddenly it jumped, missed and landed on a branch several feet lower down. Immediately, it steadied itself and got ready to jump again.
An old man sitting on the same bench said to him, ‘Funny, I’ve seen hundreds of ‘em jump like that, even with dogs barking at them from the ground. And a lot of them miss. But I’ve never seen one get hurt trying.’ Then he added, ‘I guess they must think it’s better to take a risk than spend your whole life where you don’t want to be.’
What are you aiming for? Does it seem out of your reach? Do you have less nerve than a squirrel? Go ahead, use your faith, take the leap; God will catch you if you fall! Otherwise, where you are today is as far as you’re ever going to get.
The Opening scripture seeks to remind us of who we are and why we should not fear. We are of God, we are made after his very nature. God in us is what makes us strong enough to face all the things that life brings. Your confidence Should be in God’s abilities and not your own, for which reason there is no cause for fear. So have the courage to push through. Your miracle is just around the corner!
You are loved,
Zoe🌟