Faith or Fear
We men struggle with living out what we say we believe, especially in a crisis. In the normal course of life, we have our theology in order. However, in the midst of a trial, when the pain is acute and we’re confronted with situations that try men’s souls, the trauma of life leaves men suffering from anxiety and from post traumatic stress disorder. How do you become a man of faith instead of a man of fear?
God never honors fear. He always honors faith. The most frequent commandment of God is, “fear not.” The thing that impressed Jesus most was the Roman centurion’s believing faith. He said, “Lord, just say the word, and my servant will be healed.” Jesus said, “I have not found such faith, no not in Israel.” Faith based decisions are doing what God has commanded. The number one command is, “Fear not.”
How do we turn from fear to faith? Men often listen to the devil’s accusations. Satan is the “deceiver” and the Devil is the “accuser.” His barrage of lies and deceit says, “you’re not good enough, you don’t measure up, you’re a sinner, and you are not deserving of God’s mercy and grace.” He reminds us that we constantly miss the mark of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus and that in my flesh dwelleth no good thing.
The key to turning from fear to faith is to turn from the devil’s lies unto the truth of the Word of God. Isaiah 41:10 says, “Fear thou not; for I am with thee: be not dismayed; for I am thy God: I will strengthen thee; yea, I will help thee; yea, I will uphold thee with the right hand of my righteousness.” Philipians 4 says, “Don’t be anxious for anything, but in everything by prayer and supplication with thanksgiving let your requests be made known unto God.” Anxiousness and fear is a choice. To turn away from anxiousness, we must turn our hearts toward God in prayer and thankfulness. When God called Moses with a voice from the burning bush to deliver the children of Israel from bondage in Egypt, Moses said, “Who, Me? They won’t believe me and that the Lord has sent me. And even if they did believe, I can’t speak in public.” One of the greatest fears of most people is speaking in public. The Lord said to Moses, “Don’t be afraid for I am with you. It’s not by your might or your spirit or your intellect or eloquence of speech. It’s only in my power”, says the Lord. God says, “I am with you, I’ve got this… I will give you my words to say.”
Is God bigger than your problem du jour? Is God all powerful and all knowing? Is God really able to deliver? Is the Lord always faithful to deliver? When the crisis comes and courage is required, God expects his men to be the reliable ones who have built their lives upon the solid rock, not on the shifting sands of fear and anxiety. In the times of crisis and in the heat of the spiritual battle, when we come to the limits of our own understanding and our own weakness… turn your eyes upon Jesus, look full in his wonderful face, for the Lord thy God is with you… surely he will uphold you with the power of his mighty right hand.
Are your decisions based on faith or fear? What is the root cause of your problem? Fear based decisions are always the root cause. You never solve a problem by focusing on the problem. Problems are solved by focusing on the solution to the problem. The solution to the problem is faith in the Lord and in his Word. Shall I lift up mine eyes unto the hills? From whence cometh my help? My help cometh from the Lord who made heaven and earth. Therefore, Trust in the Lord with all thine heart and lean not unto thine own understanding. In all thy ways acknowledge him and he shall direct thy paths.
How do you know if you’re making a fear based or a faith based decision? Make the decision that requires the greatest amount of faith in God. The challenge is whether or not I really believe that God says that he is able to deliver, that God is at work within me to will and too do of his good pleasure. Like Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego said, “even if God allows us to burn in the fiery furnace, we will not disobey God by bowing down to your idol.” For the Lord says I will uphold thee. I will deliver thee with the power of my mighty right hand.
Allow God to prove his power in my weakness. Faith says, “I can’t wait to see what God has in store for me.” We’re not sufficient to meet the crisis… our sufficiency is only in him. Therefore, be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed, for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest.”
May God richly bless you,
Your brother in Christ,
Michael