I'm Afraid

            Jim Martin faced a fearful time earlier in his preaching career.  He was diagnosed with a large tumor on his spine and it would involve a major surgery to remove it.  One Sunday morning prior to the procedure, he shared his fears with his church family.  At one point, he said: “I am cautiously optimistic and scared to death.”  Nearly everyone responded supportively.  There was one who called later in the day (a former minister) to admonish him for sharing his fears.  He said this: “You shouldn’t have told the church that you were “scared to death.”  They must not know this.  They need to hear that you trust God.”

            Martin writes of his response this person and I want you to consider his words: “I told him that I do trust God!  I trust that he will be with me through the whole ordeal.  I then told him that nevertheless, my emotions are raw and yes, I am afraid and nervous.  Yet, I was trusting God regardless of these emotions.  What does it mean to move forward in your life?  It means to trust God regardless of what your emotions may be telling you.  It means to trust God when you face the unknown.  It means to trust God even when there are obstacles and hurdles.  Courage is not about putting on a brave face or pretending that nothing fazes you.  Courage is not bravado while you talk about how you’ve “been around the block.”  Courage is daring to trust God – regardless.”*

            When God encourages us not to fear, He isn’t chastising us for experiencing a natural human emotion.  Rather, He is reminding us not to be blinded by that fear, which tends to keep us from putting our full trust in the One Who will walk with us through each and every fear.  “Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I fear no evil, for You are with me; Your rod and Your staff, they comfort me” (Psalms 23:4).

God loves you!

Mike

*http://www.godhungry.org/yes-i-have-been-afraid/