Scared? Do It Afraid.

I’ve heard that if God is leading you or putting a dream on your heart and you’re afraid, you should do it.  For in those moments of fear, God will give us the strength we need to persevere.  We'll be able to fight off the enemy’s pull if we keep our eyes on Him.  It won’t be easy, but it will be worth it.

God equips His children for the task at hand.  If He’s leading you to it, He will give you the strength and wisdom to keep going.  But rest assured, the enemy doesn’t want us doing anything for God, so he will try to knock us off course or lead us to believe we can’t handle it or we shouldn’t do it.  That’s why it’s so important that we stand firm as followers of Christ.

Hebrews 10:23-25, 35-39

Let us hold tightly without wavering to the hope we affirm, for God can be trusted to keep his promise. Let us think of ways to motivate one another to acts of love and good works.  And let us not neglect our meeting together, as some people do, but encourage one another, especially now that the day of his return is drawing near.

So do not throw away this confident trust in the Lord. Remember the great reward it brings you! Patient endurance is what you need now, so that you will continue to do God’s will. Then you will receive all that he has promised.

“For in just a little while, the Coming One will come and not delay.
And my righteous ones will live by faith. But I will take no pleasure in anyone who turns away.”

But we are not like those who turn away from God to their own destruction. We are the faithful ones, whose souls will be saved.

I love the book of Hebrews.  It focuses so much on perseverance and standing strong in your faith for the ultimate purpose of giving all glory to God.  I’m sure most of us are familiar with the famous faith chapter.  Highlighting those saints who have gone before us.  Those individuals who placed their trust in God to accomplish the goals set before them.  I’m sure it wasn’t always easy.

Abraham - He almost sacrificed his own son, but God brought a lamb at just the right time because Abraham was faithful.

The Israelites being brought out of Egypt - The Lord used Moses to split the Red Sea so they could escape on dry ground.  The Egyptians were killed.

Noah - He worked for years constructing an ark in the middle of a drought because he followed God’s guidance.  He was ridiculed, but he saved his family and began the next generation.

Sarah - Abraham’s wife couldn't have children.  In the early days, women were expected to bear children, and children were needed to carry on the family name. Women who suffered from infertility were looked down on. God upheld His promise to Sarah, and she delivered Isaac.  Scholars believe she was in her 90s when she had him.

Each of these heroes (and more) of the faith did so much to pave the way for us.  They did it afraid and overcame difficult times and circumstances because they believed God’s promises were greater.  They trusted God in order to persevere.  

I don’t know what your journey looks like.  If you’re like me, I’m sure there are twists and turns when you feel uncomfortable or nervous because you can’t see the end result.  I once heard a pastor say that if we could see everything that is ahead, we would fuss at God because we still wouldn’t be happy.  We must trust God, for He knows how all the twists and turns will work out for us.

I pray that you will be encouraged today to stand firm in your faith.  Maybe God is calling you to do something that seems scary or overwhelming.  Do the thing you're afraid of.  You have Jesus' power within you.  Don’t let the enemy or anyone else lead you to believe anything different.  You are capable.