Catchy phrase. One I’ve said to myself many times. A phrase I’ve made as a statement in an attempt to will myself out of fear into Faith. At times I’ve said these three words with barely a whisper of strength in some of the most dire circumstances. The circumstances that punch you in the gut and take your breath away. The hollow ache in my chest has created a tremor with each failed attempt at inhalation.
Three simple words.
Logo. Slogan. Hashtag. Sticker. T-shirt. Coffee Mug.
We do that a lot these days. Market a slogan as a hashtag watching it trend on social media. Make cute bumper stickers. Put it on the front of t-shirts. And, chant it to others and ourselves as we rally behind the cause.
Oversimplify.
In order to choose, Faith over fear, there are a couple foundational concepts we must grab a hold of.
First, we alone, are unable to will ourselves to Faith over fear. We, must, allow ourselves to walk through the fear holding onto Faith, with the strength only Jesus can give. Fear is one of the greatest weapons the enemy uses to destroy us. Fear will paralyze our ability to actively engage in the battle within which we fight. Make no mistake, we are at war, on the battlefield of this world for souls. Our soul. The soul of those we love. And the souls of others we may not yet know. We are at war. Fear will cripple our ability to suit up, pray up, praise up, and slay the enemy. Not by our might will we accomplish what we try to achieve in the slogan. We will only accomplish the altruism of Faith over fear by the Spirit of the Lord. (Zechariah 4:6)
Second, we must, acknowledge and submit the fear. First we have to acknowledge what we fear before we can submit it. We have to acknowledge its presence, respect that we fear, and then submit it. Personally, this has been the most difficult task for me to work through. I have felt as though I am betraying Faith when I pause to acknowledge, respect, and then submit the fear. Denying fear only causes it to be pushed further beneath the surface protecting the fear from submission on the altar of Almighty God where he alone defeats it. (Proverbs 3:5-6; 1 John 4:18; Isaiah 41:10)
Third, and most importantly, we have to know Jesus personally to choose Faith with any level of confidence. Otherwise, we are unsure of what we are choosing and the fear will overpower our ability to choose Faith. One cannot merely choose to believe in the solid rock if they are standing in sand. One cannot merely choose to believe in the sovereignty of God if they do not know beyond a shadow of doubt; He is Sovereign. We cannot merely, on our own merit, choose to believe in someone we do not know. Not for any length of time as the grip of our hands become tired, blistered, and worn from holding tightly to the rope as we watch it fray in front of our very eyes. (Hebrews 11)
We forget, the hem of his garment was enough to pass healing virtue through for the woman with the issue of blood. (Matthew 9:20-22)
We forget, his sweet name, is the name above all names when we can only muster barely a whisper. (Philippians 2:9)
We forget, the goodness of God when we stand in the barren land as the heat of the sun scorches our skin with no water for our thirst or the cool of the shade in sight. (Psalm 107:6; Psalm 23; Mark 10:18)
We forget, the manna of mercy that rains from heaven with exactly what we need covered in grace when we starve for nourishment with depleted bodies in the thick of the war. (Exodus 16)
We forget, because we do not know the Master with enough intimate knowledge of who He is to sustain us on the journey as we choose between walking in Faith or crawling in fear. (Hebrews 4:12; Colossians 3:10; 1 John 1:1-3)
Friend, beyond the slogan, have you allowed yourself to acknowledge, respect, and submit the fear? Have you sought after Jesus enough to know WHO you are choosing in Faith?
Take the steps today. Allow vulnerability with reassurance that you are held in the very hands of the Creator, who knit you together, in your Mother’s womb. (Psalm 139)
Bobbie