Do you know what often tells me that I need to “do something”? (fyi – get ready for a bunch of messy, run-on sentences…)
…If when I feel a hesitancy, and with that hesitancy I take a look at my true reasoning for possibly not doing “that thing”…and so I take a look within my heart…. and if I discover fear and intimidation hiding there, as my only good “reason”, then I know that I must do “that thing” that I don’t want to do– because I recognize that it is fear that is trying to hold me back from doing whatever “that thing” is that God has for me to do.
It’s a least worth considering, right? It’s at least worth asking the Lord about, right? It’s at least worth making sure I don’t have my ears plugged.
And I’m not talking about doing stupid or irresponsible things, I’m talking about when I know that my only reason for not doing something would be simply because of fear or intimidation, and then I see and realize that this fear may be trying to keep me from something God has for me. It could be trying to keep me from being obedient to the Lord.
How many times I have I sensed the fear and intimation there and I chose not to even consider that maybe I should do something…. because having to consider “that thing” is too scary to even look at? Ugh. Takes me back to so many times of this happening in my life.
But I know what is on the other side of fear now. ☀️
What often comes when I listen to fear and I don’t “do that thing” that I kind of don’t want to do (for no good reason other than fear, although fear can come up with some “good reasons” sometimes) that I wonder if maybe I should push through and do?
Regret, guilt, troubling thoughts that start to mess with me. Self-condemnation. Self-hatred…. all of that stuff. Vicious cycles…
What comes when I am able to see and discover that it’s fear hiding there — fear that is just trying to stop me from overcoming, fear that is trying to hinder, fear that is trying to disrupt, fear that keeps me from an opportunity from the Lord — what happens when I face fear and say,
“I see you hiding there. Not today. Intimidation, I’m not looking at you anymore, I’m looking through you and I’m looking at my God, He’s bigger than you! I’m continuing on, and I’m taking my God’s hand, I’m focusing on Him, and I am walking through this and together, we are walking into victory!”
Here comes peace, here comes that “something rising up” to be able to do “that thing”, here comes the victory, here comes the relief, here comes the, “I’m so glad I pushed through”, here comes the joy and celebration, here comes the “Ok, God! What’s next? I’m ready! Let’s do this together!”
This morning the Lord has me zeroing in on this verse,
Isaiah 26:3-4 Amplified Bible (AMP)
“You will keep in perfect and constant peace the one whose mind is steadfast [that is, committed and focused on You—in both inclination and character],
Because he trusts and takes refuge in You [with hope and confident expectation].
“Trust [confidently] in the Lord forever [He is your fortress, your shield, your banner],
For the Lord God is an everlasting Rock [the Rock of Ages].”
What a reminder that I need every. single. day.
Thank you, Father. ?I so desperately need Your reminders each day.
-Heather ?