“Mom, I don’t want to go outside and get the present out of the car.”
My son resisted. It was dark. Taking this action felt scary. Who knows what looms outside in the middle of the night? Who knows if he could see? Who knows if it’s safe?
“Son,” I essentially said, “It’s morning time. You’re safe. The son is coming up.”
Many of us feel afraid to take action because — we don’t know what is “out there”. What is on the other side of our current situation. We don’t know if we’re safe, or if we’ll get hurt, or if bad things loom ahead. We resist change because we fear what may be on the other side. Some, stay in bad because they fear worse.
What action has God called you to take? Does He want you to change a bad habit? Are you called to move somewhere or start something? Is there a relationship that needs a new approach?
Faith is evidenced by actions, or works. These things are the proof in our pudding.
“…Show me your faith apart from your works, and I will show you my faith by my works.” (James 2:18)
I want people to know me as a person of great faith, don’t you?
People see our faith by what we do, not what we say.
I have talked a lot of talk, but, friends — may I tell you? I’ve been scared in past years. I haven’t pushed into all God has for me. Some days I’ve felt His Word or His heart nudge me a direction, but I’ve resisted, I’ve questioned, I’ve discounted, I’ve delayed. Frankly, I’ve rebelled. Fear stopped me. I repent of all this.
There’s a new day dawning…
And, if I’ve learned one thing it is — we can’t defeat fear or inaction on our own. Just as my son knew that the light was greater than the dark, we must also know that our God is greater than anything that looms beyond us…
Here, we can help ourselves to take action — or to make movement — by:
- Remembering the size of our God.
Great is our Lord and mighty in power; his understanding has no limit. (Ps. 147:5) - Knowing God’s strength and leading is enough to help us.
“Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.” (Is. 41:10) - We can and should lean on Him as we go.
“O my God, I trust, lean on, rely on, and am confident in You. Let me not be put to shame or [my hope in You] be disappointed; let not my enemies triumph over me.” (Ps. 25:2 AMPC) - Declaring & depending on Christ’s victory.
For [a]everyone born of God is victorious and overcomes the world; and this is the victory that has conquered and overcome the world—our [continuing, persistent] faith [in Jesus the Son of God]. (1 Jo. 5:4 AMP)
We cannot work without God. We cannot go without His help and power. We cannot walk in courage without His power. God is the God who saves, heals, helps, leads, loves — it is not us at work, but Christ at work in and through us.
Prayer: Father, many of us have been called and there is a portion of us who are scared. Give us courage. Give us hope. Give us strength to persevere. We need you more than we need this life itself. We ask for all the power and the strength we need to rely on you, to lean on you, to trust in you. Equip us for every good work and help us to see it through. In Jesus’ mighty name. Amen.
