I am Afraid that I Should Not Be Afraid
Fear
is one of my biggest battles right now. God has gotten me through so many
things, but this is one thing I have struggled with for a long time. I get
frustrated with myself because I know the bible says I was not given a spirit
of fear (2 Timothy 1:7). Still, I face many things as a wife, a parent, a
women, and a follower of Christ that I am afraid of.
One
of my biggest fears is that I do not hear from God. There I said it. This has
been a big deal for me because there have been times when God has asked me to
do things in obedience, and I have done them. So far they haven’t been anything
too crazy, but it’s scary nonetheless, and I know that crazy things are coming.
I
have had people ask me, “How do you know that it’s God and not you?” In those
moments, I am filled with the Spirit, and I speak confidently. I know that it’s
God speaking to me because He gives me revelation. I know because He tells me
something and then it happens. I know because He speaks truth to me. I know
because when I read the scriptures that same part of me comes alive and begins
to rise up in me. “It’s Him, it’s Him. I know that it’s Him.”
Recently,
in my battle with fear the Lord has given me two things. Alright, a lot of
things but two things that stood out the most.
I
had begun a fast and was really trying to focus on my struggle with fear. As I
was in the kitchen that morning, I asked Jesus, “How did you know that you
weren’t crazy, when the Father told you that you were His son and that you were
the Messiah?”
His
reply, “I had the Spirit of Truth. It confirmed to me that this was true. You
have that same Spirit as well. You can know the truth.”
I
cried when he revealed that to me. It was a moment of suddenly realizing that I
could tell the difference between the truth and a lie. Guys, there are so many
lies but only one truth. Did you ever play telephone as a kid? The first person
says something in the ear of the next person, and that person whispers what
they heard to the next person. By the time it gets around to the last person in
line, it is usually nothing like the first statement. The truth is vital, and
we need to know what it is. The enemy is a liar. Jesus said that when he lies
he speaks his native tongue. He is such a liar that lies are his language!
(John 8:44)
Another
time when I was speaking to God about my apprehension he sat down, put his arm
around me, and said, “You know, having faith, like being courageous, does not
mean that you are not scared. It means that your conviction of the truth is
greater than your fear.”
The
word that is often used in the bible and translated into faith is emunah (I have added this in to help explain the Hebrew translation and background of
the word. I have read over most of it but have not been able to do enough study
on the other things on this sight to say that I fully trust it as a theological
teacher. Please read with caution.) Emunah, more accurately translated, has to
do with one’s own deep conviction. I love that God showed me this word in my
time with Him and then used it again in encouraging me about my struggle.
Our
faith is something that can be grown. As we walk with God and seek Him out, He
will give us opportunities and moments that will grow our emunah. He continued
to tell me that the goal is to grow my faith to the point that I no longer
struggle with the fears that I am struggling with now.
We
all struggle with fear at one point or another, but seek the truth. Speak the
truth. You can know the truth. The Spirit of Truth is in you and can give you a
greater conviction than the lies of fear. (John 16:13)
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