Loneliness, something no one likes to experience. We try to set up our lives to safeguard against feeling or being lonely. That's why so many fill their days with endless activities or spend the better part of their lives on social media. We want to be a part of something. We want to feel connected or a connection with others. We don't want to be alone. Fear of loneliness can lead to a lot of different struggles or fears. Fear of singleness or inadequacy or failure. We don't want to be alone. While working on writing about this fear and how faith in Christ can lead to freedom from this fear, I found a great article on Desiring God by Jon Bloom. It's called Jesus Understands Loneliness. We will all experience seasons where we feel lonely, but Jesus understands that feeling, and He is a great comfort. We don't have to fear loneliness, because even when we are alone, we aren't truly alone. God is always near to His children. From the article: But Jesus doesn’t just understand your loneliness; he’s destroying it. Because he died on your behalf, you are no longer truly a stranger or alien, but you are a fellow citizen with the saints and a member of God’s family (Ephesians 2:19). Because Jesus was alienated from God and man, you will enjoy the full family fellowship of God and all of his redeemed saints forever. Check it out here. This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. You can read all of the posts in the series here.
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Every Sunday during this series, we're focusing on a specific Scripture that will lead into the series posts for the week. This Sunday's passage of Scripture comes from Matthew 14: 22 Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go before him to the other side, while he dismissed the crowds. 23 And after he had dismissed the crowds, he went up on the mountain by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone, 24 but the boat by this time was a long way from the land,beaten by the waves, for the wind was against them. 25 And in the fourth watch of the night he came to them, walking on the sea. 26 But when the disciples saw him walking on the sea, they were terrified, and said, “It is a ghost!” and they cried out in fear. 27 But immediately Jesus spoke to them, saying, “Take heart; it is I. Do not be afraid.” 28 And Peter answered him, “Lord, if it is you, command me to come to you on the water.”29 He said, “Come.” So Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water and came to Jesus. 30 But when he saw the wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out,“Lord, save me.” 31 Jesus immediately reached out his hand and took hold of him, saying to him, “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” 32 And when they got into the boat, the wind ceased. 33 And those in the boat worshiped him, saying, “Truly you are the Son of God.” After hearing a co-laborer for Christ give a sermon on this passage, I thought it was an appropriate passage for this series. I'm excited to dive into it with you all tomorrow. This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. You can read all of the posts here.
Links to encourage you as we go through this series. Epidemic Worry Challenging article by Tim Lane. Promises of Provision Struggling to believe that God will provide? This is a post from when I was raising support to go to Poland. Freedom From the Fear of Artistic Failure A post from last year's 31 day series. When You Fear the Future An encouraging article that focuses on God's faithfulness in the midst of unknown futures. Have No FOMO Another great article that tackles the fear of mission out (FOMO). Fear: Our Clear and Present Danger Article by Paul Tripp that answers in four tips the question "What do we do about fear?" This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. You can read the rest of the posts here.
Weakness. That word just keeps coming back. I've written about weakness twice in the past few months: Power in Weakness and Anecdotes From a Faithful Wuss. And I guess I'm writing about it again. There is so much we can talk or write about when it comes to weakness. The Bible has a lot to say about it, and we experience it everyday. We're weak. We can't live up. We aren't perfect. We aren't immortal. We're fallible. We fail. Our bodies fail. Our minds fail. Our strength fails. Weakness can be tied up with imperfection and failure, but weakness is also something we often don't have control over. Just like I keep coming back to weakness, I'm coming back to Moses too. A few days ago I wrote about Moses and his encounter with God at the burning bush, and I want to revisit that, because there's always more to glean from Scripture. Exodus 4:1-17 Take the time to read it, think about it and come back. Did you read it? God tells Moses to go. He gives Moses a mission and he wants to send Moses, but Moses offers up excuses and inadequacies that he believes disqualify him from God's task. But God does not answer those fears or doubts of inadequacy. Instead, he continues to tell Moses that He will be with Moses in the task. But Moses continues: Oh, my Lord, I am not eloquent, either in the past or since you have spoken to your servant, but I am slow of speech and of tongue. Exodus 4:10 Moses' weakness is his speech, and he presents this weakness as an obstacle that will keep him from accomplishing what he has been called to. How does God respond? Who has made man's mouth? Who makes him mute, or deaf, or seeing, or blind? Is it not I, the Lord? Now therefore go, and I will be with your mouth and teach you what you shall speak. Exodus 4:11 God plans on using Moses despite his weakness because God is God, and He has power over speech. Pretty cool, huh? The God of the universe made man's mouth. He makes people mute, but he also makes people eloquent. And he promises to be with Moses' mouth. The God of the universe with all the power of the universe will also teach Moses what he should speak. Moses' response? Oh, my Lord, please send someone else. Exodus 4:13 Moses' weakness makes him fearful, and he doesn't trust that God can use his weakness. I'm like Moses. I look at all of my weaknesses, and I become fearful. My weaknesses keep me from taking steps of faith. I'm a verbal processor so sometimes I'm not very articulate in what I say and I ramble on, so it makes me fearful to share my thoughts in groups. I also struggle with people pleasing. It's a weakness, and it often keeps me from boldly taking steps of faith like speaking the truth in love. I'm fearful of my weaknesses, and like Moses I don't believe that God can use my weaknesses, but He can and He does. And He often calls me to boldly trust Him in the midst of my weaknesses and fears, like Moses. God tells Moses that He will be with him and that He will use him, but Moses lets his fear be greater than his faith. When I let my weaknesses dictate my actions, I'm also letting my fear be greater than my faith in God. But God is still greater. He uses our weaknesses despite ourselves. God ultimately used Moses to lead His people, despite his fears and weaknesses. God had Moses speak through his brother Aaron, but Moses still accomplished God's task. God can and will use our weaknesses for His glory. We don't have to be fearful of our weaknesses or allow them to keep us from taking steps of faith. God is bigger than our weaknesses and our fears. So what about you? Are there weaknesses that you have that make you fearful? And will you take a step of faith and trust that God is bigger than your weaknesses and can use them for His glory? This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. You can read all of the posts in the series here.
A year ago, I wrote a post on fear of failure in creative work. I thought it was funny that one of my posts from last year's 31 day series coincided with this year's 31 day series, so I thought I would share it again on this throwback Thursday. You can read the post here: Freedom From the Fear of Artistic Failure I still struggle with feeling like a failure when it comes to art and creative content as well as the broader scope of life. I constantly fail and that's not an understatement. I fail at waking up in the morning at the time that I want to get up. I fail at making time for exercise each day. I fail at getting the things done that I need to get done. I fail at even basic life functions. I still don't know how to properly boil an egg, and within the past week, I messed up a batch of cookies made from a store bought mix. But there is hope in the midst of failure. We're going to fail. We're already failing. But there is one who did not fail. One who was victorious and now rules and reigns. His name is Jesus, and I talk about him a lot. I'm going to keep talking about him a lot. Because of Jesus and his victory over sin and death, we are free to be failures. We can not not fail in this broken world. It's impossible. But even when we fail in this life, we are still counted as victors if we believe that Jesus was victorious for us. I hope you take hold of that today, and I hope that that truth frees you from fearing failure. You're going to fail, but that's okay. There is One that is victorious, and when we have faith in him, we're victors too! Here is another post from a friend that recently wrote about FAILURE. This post is geared towards those that are fundraising for ministry work, but I think it's applicable beyond fundraising. Let's let faith be greater than fear! This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. You can read all of the posts in the series here. (As a side note, I never finished the animation that I mentioned in throwback post, but it wasn't from fearing how it would turn out.)
I was stumped about what fear I wanted to focus on today. There are so many options and so many ideas going through my head, but none of those ideas particularly hit me today. So I prayed about it, and I was stumped. But then I sat down to do prep work for a Bible study that I'm a part of on the verbs of God. Exodus 3:1-15. Boom. Take a minute. Click on the link, and read the passage. It's the passage where the voice of God speaks to Moses out of a burning bush. When you think about it, that's a pretty awesome situation! But was also pretty terrifying for Moses. In fact, as God spoke to Moses, Moses hid his face because he was afraid to look at God. But why did God speak to Moses? He had a mission for Him. God had compassion on His people and wanted to set them free from slavery, and He was sending Moses to accomplish His purposes. He wanted Moses to be the one that He used to set His people free from the Egyptians and from Pharaoh. But how does Moses respond to this mission? Who am I that I should go to Pharaoh and bring the children of Israel out of Egypt? Exodus 3:11 Moses felt inadequate for the task that God had for him. I can relate to Moses. I often feel inadequate for the tasks that God has for me. I often ask "Who am I?" or "Why me?" I'm fearful and afraid, and I often don't think I can live up to the tasks and mission I have been given. I might be making an assumption, but I think we all have moments where we fear being inadequate. We ask questions like "Who am I to be a mom?" or "Who am I to be a wife?", "Who am I to share Jesus with people I don't know?" "Who am I to start a blog that allows me to share my faith, thoughts, or struggles?" "Who am I to speak the truth into that situation?" "Who am I to tell that person that they're wrong?" and so many more. We often ask the question (maybe in slightly different wording but ultimately the same), "Who am I?" But the better question is "Who is God?" God responds to Moses' fear of inadequacy. He said, “But I will be with you, and this shall be the sign for you, that I have sent you: when you have brought the people out of Egypt, you shall serve God on this mountain.” Exodus 3:12 God isn't sending Moses alone. He will be with Moses. He is sending Moses to take care of His purposes, but He will be with Moses in the midst of it. The God of the universe, the Great I AM, was with Moses in the task He called Moses to. And He's with us in the tasks that He calls us to. We might not feel up to the task, but if God calls us to something, we are not alone. God goes before us and He is with us, enabling us to accomplish the task He has called us to. We may very well be inadequate, but if God calls us to something, He's the one that makes us adequate and helps us perform the tasks and missions He calls us to. Moses was not a very good speaker, but God used Moses to lead the Israelites out of Egypt. Moses was fearful, and even though he complained to God at times, he had faith in God, and God used Him mightily. So what has God called us to, and are we fearful that we're inadequate for the task? But ultimately, do we have faith that God can use us, like Moses, despite our fears and inadequacies? This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith>Fear. You can read all of the posts in the series here.
There have been many times over the past four years where I've been in a situation in which Matthew 6:25-34 has ministered deeply to my soul. Most of those times I've been knee deep in raising support for different ministry opportunities (previous post: Promises of Provision). But many times, I've read the words of this passage in the midst of seasons where I was worrying about the future. In this passage we're told not to worry about two main things:
Two essential things of life and the passage commands us not to worry about them. These are our basic needs. Internet isn't a need. Netflix isn't a need. Phones aren't a need. The basic things we need in order to live and survive are sustenance, clothes, and shelter. That's it. And yet, God promises to provide those things for us in this passage. Jesus uses two examples to back up that promise. God feeds and takes care of the birds, and he clothes the grass of the field. If God provides sustenance for the birds and clothes for the field, what makes us think that he won't provide for our needs (Matthew 6:30). When we're worrying or fearful of the future, we're not believing that God can and will provide and meet our needs. Like Jesus says in this passage, we are of little faith. The God of the universe loves his creation. He wants to provide and show that he can provide. This is the God that provides for the birds of the air and clothes the fields. This is the God that has everyday of our lives written in his book (Psalm 139:16). There are many reasons why people are fearful of the future, but my bet is that one big reason is that we're afraid that God won't provide. We worry that He won't provide a myriad of things: food, shelter, clothing, a job, children, a relationship. In our worry, we grow fearful, and we forget the character of the God of the universe. God knows what we need and wants to give us those things. We do not have to worry or be fearful. Worry and fear doesn't add an hour to our lives. But if we know God and His character and have faith in Him, we can be set free from fear about the future and whether God will meet our needs. I need to remember this all the time, especially as the Lord has me in a season where there's so many unknowns and I'm completely dependent upon Him to meet my physical needs. What about you? Are you fearful of the future? Are you afraid that God won't provide or meet your needs? There is a promise in this passage, one that we can hold onto in the midst of worry and fear. Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you. Matthew 6:33 Seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness and just watch. God will provide and meet all of your needs. We don't have to be fearful of the future when we have a God that is more than willing to show that if he can provide abundantly for the birds, he can provide abundantly for us. This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. You can read all of the posts here.
Also, how is this series going? Its it helpful? Is it encouraging? Or are there ways this series can improve? I would love to hear your feedback. Feel free to comment below. When I was sixteen, I spent hours researching colleges. At the time, I wanted to be a fashion designer, and I knew that in order to make it in the fashion industry, I needed to go to a top notch school. So as a sixteen year old, I spent hours pouring over websites looking for what schools would give me an education that would launch me into a career in fashion. A little known fact, I ended up studying Filmmaking at Penn State. I spent hours researching and preparing for a future career that I wasn't meant to pursue. The funny thing is that the same thing happened when I decided to study film. I spent hours researching top notch schools that would propel me into a career in the film industry. I wanted to be the next big director, and I needed to find the perfect school to get me there. I researched and worried. Would attending this school lead to success? Would this program prepare me for the future I wanted? A little known fact, I work for a campus ministry. I spent hours researching and worrying about what school I would attend that would prepare me to be a film director, but God had other plans. The same thing happened when I started praying about the desire God placed in my heart to minister to college students. I spent hours worrying and thinking about support raising and God calling me out of the boat to walk on water towards him. If you haven't noticed, there's a pattern. I'm a worrier. And I believe a lie that worrying and anxiously thinking about things helps me. I'm going to let you in on a secret, it doesn't. I believe the lie that worry will give me peace or a sense of control. In my anxiety and worry, I'm actually fearful of the future, so I try to gather as much information about the "future" as possible to feel like I have control. But I don't have control, so I spin. Have you ever felt like this? Like life is out of your hands, that there's so many unknowns about your future, and you have no control? How do you respond in seasons or times when you're fearful of the unknown of the future? Yesterday's Scripture was Matthew 8: 25-34 - a pretty popular passage. There's a reason it's popular, and I think it's because everyone at some point in their life will struggle with anxiety and worry and a general fear of the future. But this passage of Scripture offers hope in the midst of worry, anxiety, and fear of the future, and we'll take a look at that tomorrow. This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. You can read all of the posts in this series here.
Sunday, our day of rest for this series. Today's Scripture to read, pray over, and contemplate is the popular Matthew 6: 25-34. 25 “Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat or drink; or about your body, what you will wear. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothes?26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life? 28 “And why do you worry about clothes? See how the flowers of the field grow. They do not labor or spin. 29 Yet I tell you that not even Solomon in all his splendor was dressed like one of these. 30 If that is how God clothes the grass of the field, which is here today and tomorrow is thrown into the fire, will he not much more clothe you—you of little faith?31 So do not worry, saying, ‘What shall we eat?’ or ‘What shall we drink?’ or ‘What shall we wear?’ 32 For the pagans run after all these things, and your heavenly Father knows that you need them. 33 But seek first his kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. 34 Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own. Take some time to read and just soak up this passage. We're talking about it tomorrow. This post is part of a 31 day series called Faith > Fear. Read all of the posts in the series here.
Links that inspire or encourage as we learn about a faith greater than fear My Fight Song
An encouraging post by a dear friend about overcoming fear by remembering and knowing God's character. When Fear Seizes You Seven things to remember when fear seizes you. Pull the Mask Off of Fear A friend sent this article to me a while back while struggling with fear. Helpful post! Quiet the Fear, Do the Work An encouraging post about doing what you're called to do despite feeling fearful. |
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