It’s not if you face trials, tragedies, and loss—but when. Mourning something you think is over is always premature when Jesus is in the picture. Pain is turned into power in the hands of Christ. Heartbreaks heal. Suffering is temporary.
In his book, Through the Eyes of a Lion, Pastor Levi Lusko explains how in moments of anxiety or worry, the best thing to do is to run toward the fear.
Here are four ways to push through the pain, find light in a dark place, and run toward the ROAR.
Reverse the fear.
Often, the thing we need to do is the opposite of what fear tells us to do. Esther walked into the king’s presence uninvited. Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to King Nebuchadnezzar and were thrown into a fiery furnace. David didn’t just face Goliath, he ran toward the giant.
Old things in a new way.
Sometimes running toward the roar means staying when fear makes us feel like bolting. We might be tempted to quit at work, run out of our relationships, or walk out on the Church. Faith doesn’t always call us to go. Sometimes it says, “Stay.” What masquerades as faith can actually be flakiness.
Accept your mistakes and keep moving.
Regret can paralyze you. One of the most difficult things about moving forward is the condemnation you can feel about your past. 1 John 3:20 NLT says this: Even if we feel guilty, God is greater than our feelings, and he knows everything. God is not scared of what scares you. Surrender what scares you, get back up by the power of His Spirit, and keep moving.
Remember eternity.
The world you live in now is not your home, so there’s no need to get too comfortable here. Keep your eyes on the prize. This life will be over before you know it. Only what’s done for Christ will last.
An element of fear is necessary for there to be faith. In a place of panic, you might mistake destiny for danger and run from the very thing meant to deliver you. The right perspective can put the anxiety and worry to rest.
How do you know the difference?
Ask yourself these questions in moments of doubt:
- What things are you struggling to do now that will be more bearable if you can keep eternity in mind?
- Which of your mistakes do you keep reliving? How is this keeping you from God’s best, and what practical step can you take to move on?
- What is the roar you need to run toward? What fear do you need to face today?
- Is God asking you to stay instead of run away? Does running toward the roar actually mean staying the course?
Where there is impossible pain there is also incredible power. Keep your eye on eternity, and keep running toward the roar!
