Fear...It is Black & White

So, I had a thought this morning about fear. I'll just get right to it. How many of us are living in fear? How many of us resemble or even portray the people of the Bible such as Moses, Joseph, Jeremiah, Jonah, and so many others? All of these people were commanded by God to do something - Moses, lead the people, Joseph, take Mary as his wife, Jeremiah, prophesy to the people, Jonah, preach to the people - and each one of these people, initially told God He was nuts. They either said that there was no way they could possibly do that, because they weren't ready or good enough, or they explained to God how everyone would react and so He couldn't possibly expect them to put themselves in that situation. Some of them (maybe even all of them) used both of these complaints. They were afraid that they weren't good enough or able enough and/or they were afraid of the reactions of others - of displeasing them.

Doesn't that sound like so many of us today. We know God is calling us in a certain direction, whether it be a vocation, a relationship, or something else, but wer're so afraid that we give God excuses to explain to Him why He must be mistaken. God mistaken - I don't think so. We have got to stop living in fear and therefore, doubting and disobeying God. We are to listen to only Him. Yes, He can use other people to teach us or show us things, but His will for our life is only shown to us. We have to stop listening to the chaotic world around us and put our focus on Him. Stop listening to our own fears or even the fears of others in their trying to protect us that prohibit us from fully following Christ. He is our one and only master - and our friend. He is in control.

Back to the Bible now. Isn't it cool that despite all these people's fears God still worked out a way in which the people eventually chose to do it His way (yes, God allows us to choose - His way, or ours). Ultimately God won out, and guess what, His way was the right way!! Sure, God had to use some drastic measures to get ahold of some of them (remember the Big Fish story and Jonah) but they listened after that. They followed Christ. I'm sure they were still afraid but they chose to trust in God. To trust that God was bigger than the people they feared and that He was bigger than them so their deficiencies wouldn't matter. In fact, their deficiencies would allow God to work and to shine through.

I don't know about you, but I'm ready to stop living in fear. I'm ready to set my eyes on Christ and obey Him, even if what He is telling me seems impossible. Nothing is impossible with Christ. I want to learn to live that, not just know it. If God is telling me this is the way something is going to go, this is my will for you and it seems against all odds, I still want to trust Him and know that's the direction my life is headed - no matter how afraid I am, or how hostile the people might be, or how inadequate I seem to be. This is what I want for my life. Do you want it for yours?

We are to set our eyes on Christ, follow, and obey, no matter what the cost or the seeming impossiblities. Read up in your Bible and you'll see just how God works in these situations. Personally, I think they're His favorite situations (impossible ones) to work with because His glory shines through so much.