Use F.E.A.R. To Fight Back
Taking on challenges builds the core of who you are, even if it’s not done perfectly. Your greatest fears can be a threshold to God’s greatest transitions in life. The next time life throws a scary situation your way, use F.E.A.R. to fight back.
We use God’s mighty weapons, not worldly weapons, to knock down the strongholds of human reasoning and to destroy false arguments. 2 Corinthians 10:4 NLT
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Filter your fear through God’s truth to equip your mind with a bold spirit and to expose the enemy’s lies. Feed your spirit daily with God’s encouraging Truth. Surround yourself with uplifting music and positive people. This will push your fears out of mind and replace your thoughts with His thoughts. You are more than your feelings. You are a powerful, wise, beloved child of God, and you can do whatever you need to do in life through Christ, who is your strength.
Fear says ‘what if… what if… what if…’ Faith says, “Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life…” Psalm 23:6 NIV
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Expect God to work for your good and ultimately, His glory. Expect Him to show up, to step in, and to act with justice and mercy. Increase your determination and be willing to fail, then use failure as a teacher. When we live expecting God to intervene, we must be careful not to limit our confidence by our own agenda or understanding.
Shadrach, Meshach, and Abednego refused to bow down to the king’s image. These three Hebrew boys expected their God to come through. And He did, in the furnace.
When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames shall not set you ablaze… Do not be afraid for I will be with you. Isaiah 43:2-3, 5 NIV
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Act with courage. Live willing and available to move, to reach out, to speak up. For someone who wrestles with worry and doubt and yet still obeys, trembling but trusting- that is true courage.
C.S. Lewis reminded us that courage is not the absence of fear but acting in spite of it. Everyday ordinary people take steps to accomplish extraordinary things while they still feel the fear.
Sometimes we see heroes of faith and think they have it all figured out. Brave people don’t stop hearing the whispers of fear. They hear the whispers and take action anyway. God asks us to do things afraid so that we will lean into Him with faith.
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Remember God’s faithfulness. Recount the stories in scripture and in your own life where God has come through before. This is what David did when faced with the giant, Goliath. In 1 Samuel 17, David remembers God‘s faithfulness when the enemy looked like a lion and a bear. David concludes if God rescued him before, He will surely do it again.
So we can confidently say, “The Lord is my helper; I will not fear; what can man do to me?” Hebrews 13:6 ESV
Be assured that the same God, the same power available to you is the same one that raised Christ from the dead.
He will never leave you nor forsake you.
LORD, you are my God; I will exalt you and praise your name, for in perfect faithfulness you have done wonderful things, things planned long ago. Isaiah 25:1 NIV
The only way to live a fearless life is to live looking to God.
The next time you are taunted with the flames of fear, use F.E.A.R. to refocus. When you filter fear through God’s Truth, expect Him to work for your good, act with courage, and remember God’s faithfulness, you will have the confidence to stand strong. Be willing to feel the fear and do what you need to do anyway because facing fear will help your faith grow.
Finally, brothers and sisters, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable–if anything is excellent or praiseworthy–think about such things. Philippians 4:8 NIV
The bottom offers a new beginning with God
God will let you get to the bottom, maybe lose something important, or even become desperate just so you and I can experience Him all the more. The Almighty waits for our hands to surrender so we can see His sufficiency is all we ever need.
Our Creator God cares about having a relationship with His children. He holds the keys to life and is championing every effort to discover Him more.
Instead of complaining or stressing out about a situation, this is the time to say, God, you have created an opportunity for me to see your power, to experience your hand, to go deeper in my relationship with You by seeing You like I have never witnessed your grace, your favor, or your strength before.
“Only God.” This is the beginning of every God-glorifying story.
Any temporary loss has an eternal gain if you can change your perspective on the problem. Our promise-keeping God never asks us to give up anything without offering something far greater in its place.
Faith is more than a feeling
You can’t get confused if you refuse to get into reasoning. Faith trusts God and doesn’t need to know why. Our faith thrives when we don’t have the answers.
The Bible reminds us that we don’t lean on our own understanding but live our lives guided by God’s instructions.
God never intended us to know why things happen the way they do. Be careful that you don’t allow your desire for answers keep you straining and struggling in a sea of confusion. He created us to be devoted to Him. Faith is standing firm with a focus on His Word. Faith is persevering in praise to Him when adversity strikes. When the voice of the enemy comes to fight, faith rests in the all-sufficiency of Christ.
It takes greater faith to be denied what you want and love the Author, our Creator, just as much. 
How To Have Faith When Prayers Are Not Answered
Therefore is my spirit overwhelmed within me; my heart within me is desolate. Psalm 143:4 KJV
When it seems life is falling apart, we might throw a hail mary prayer request in hopes God will fix the situation. But what happens when our prayers go unanswered or things don’t turn out the way we had hoped? We might get angry, have doubts about God’s motives, or take matters into our own hands.
It’s always a mistake to wrap our faith and confidence in God around the fulfillment of our dreams or the answers to our prayer.
The foundation of our faith is not answered prayer. The foundation of faith is not everything going our way or happily ever after endings either.
We live from a place of peace and rest that God has got this. Whether or not it looks the way you wanted, you can still trust has your best in mind.
Dreams that don’t come true and prayers that don’t get answered say nothing about the presence, the goodness, or the faithfulness of God.
Through the highs and lows, and all the ups and downs, God is still with you. – Andy Stanley
What would your second chance look like?
Today is a second chance.
While you can’t change the past, you can change the present.
The crushing convictions you may have experienced in the aftermath of your past are not lost. That burden of conviction on your heart is a guilt between you and God, and He is a God of second chances; it’s called today.
Then the word of the Lord came to Jonah the second time, saying, “Arise, go to Nineveh, that great city, and call out against it the message I tell you.” So Jonah arose and went to Nineveh, according to the word of the Lord. – Jonah 3:1-3 ESV
Today is your second chance.
You can change how you respond to frustration. You can set new boundaries and protect what you have left. You can get help. You can walk away from that addiction. You can honor your loved ones by putting new priorities in place.
There’s still time to pick up the phone, text, reach out, show up. Perhaps for you it’s not picking up more but putting down what you already have; the pain, the blame, the worry.
Conviction is between you and God, the Author and Creator of your soul. He uses this kind of remorse and guilt on your conscious to change the course of your days ahead. He’s guiding you with a hand on your heart to steer your steps into more blessings, more favor, higher places with more responsibility.
If you are faithful in little things, you will be faithful in large ones. But if you are dishonest in little things, you won’t be honest with greater responsibilities. – Luke 16:10 NLT
Your Father will not give you more work or more burden than you can bear. He gives you and I a choice every day as He waits for change to reveal your growth, your strength, your resilience.
There is no shame changing who you used to be into the person you want to be, the person you know you can be.
Here is an opportunity to respect failed attempts yesterday by taking the second chance to change today.
If you don’t know how to begin again, a good place to start is with “I’m sorry.”
The past carries casualties of our ignored convictions. May your present be the change God is calling you to be.
What does faith look like to you?
Every day the steps you take, the words you choose, the way you feel says a lot about what faith looks like to you. When worries come your way or fear knocks at the door, your response is a reflection of what you believe about Jesus and your place in His story.
It is easy to live uptight, distressed about finances, tormented with thoughts, questioning a relationship, or even wondering if a loved one will ever come back to the Lord. Living discouraged in our circumstance speaks volumes to a world taking notes of our testimony.
Choosing an attitude that puts all its burdens in Jesus’ basket, now that’s a story of faith.
What will your life say about your faith today?
What words will He pour out of your spirit and leave on the parchment of someone else’s heart?
Your mess is only part of God’s message through your life. His redemption is the rest of the story. God gave you a story to tell of His grace and forgiveness.
I pray that you find the time today to document His faithfulness and spill the ink with wholehearted sincerity in thanksgiving for answers to prayers you have yet to ask.
4 Ways To Face Your Fears
Run Towards the ROAR
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!
Patience is the staying power of love
Love is patient.
Love is patient… 1 Corinthians 13:4 ESV
It is no mistake patience is listed first. We could punctuate love here. Every other attribute of affection falls under a patient umbrella. When we are patient, we have self-control in the troubles and endure through the hard times.
Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer. Romans 12:12 ESV
When we come to the table with a calm spirit, we are not hasty with making decisions. The self-control in patience holds back a racing mind from mixing in any fearful conclusions. Diligence doesn’t give up on tenderness because, well, it is patient.
With all humility and gentleness, with patience, bearing with one another in love. Ephesians 4:2 ESV
Patience bears all things and looks for understanding in the situation, in others, in God.
Patience is kind – anger has a tendency to lose its composure and restraint.
And we urge you, brothers, admonish the idle, encourage the fainthearted, help the weak, be patient with them all. 1 Thessalonians 5:14 ESV
Though it may appear passive, patience actually places a relentless trust in God.
His work is perfect, for all his ways are justice. A God of faithfulness and without iniquity just and upright is he. Deuteronomy 32:4 ESV
Everything He plans will come to pass, He will accomplish all of his purposes. Isaiah 46:10 ESV
Patience rejects resentment and rests in God’s promise.
Be careful to think that patience is somehow permissive with sin or injustice. We are called to reprove, rebuke, and encourage with every form of patient instruction. (2 Timothy 4:2 ESV)
Patience keeps believing the best, keeps searching for Truth, keeps Hope close through the trials because it knows something beautiful is on the other side. The reflection of Jesus is unfailing love and constant patience with people, pain, sin, and God. Patience holds grace closely and gives it away generously.
Patience is not wanting anything outside the will of God. In faith, we can be content when things go differently than we had wished. We choose to believe “God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his purpose for them” (Romans 8:28). Patience is “being confident of this, that he who began a good work in you will carry it on to completion until the day of Christ Jesus” (Philippians 1:6).
It’s no mistake that patience is also a fruit of the spirit (Galatians 5:22). Patience is dying to selfishness. It is quick to listen, slow to speak, and slow to anger (James 1:19). When we allow patience to have its perfect work in us, we can praise a compassionate Father who is a good teacher in the trade. “The LORD is merciful and gracious, slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love” (Psalm 103:8).
Waiting is not wasted time because you know that the testing of your faith produces perseverance (James 1:3). Patience has a purpose. It is without worry. There’s no discouragement or sadness when the purpose of patience includes bringing our Father more glory in the wait than in the rush, the rash, or the reckless.
Patience has staying power. In the stillness, our resolve strengthens through the refining work of a wait.
These trials will show that your faith is genuine. It is being tested as fire tests and purifies gold–though your faith is far more precious than mere gold. So when your faith remains strong through many trials, it will bring you much praise and glory and honor on the day when Jesus Christ is revealed to the whole world. 1 Peter 1:7 ESV
Learning to love begins with patience. Patience is persistent for beginnings and restoration. Patience has no end.
When we fall short of long-suffering, when our weaknesses take center stage and our frustrations steal the show, we can freely come to the feet of Jesus and confess every coward act without fear of condemnation. (Romans 8:1)
We can climb to our feet with rejoicing that these failings have also been covered.
His forgiveness and mercy encourage our hands and feet to press on and grow in giving the same kind of grace that is His patient, persevering love.
When we are tempted to be impatient, this is our invitation to love.
Love is patient.
How to give grace when life doesn’t make sense
If we don’t guard our hearts and minds, we begin to think God is so good to us because we have done something right.
We might conclude that escaping tragedies like divorce, depression, or addiction is a sign of dignity. We may determine healthy kids and a wealthy household is based more on merit than on God’s mercy.
Truly God is compassionate.
Not a tear falls without Him knowing, collecting and reaching out with comfort.
Listen, we will never be able to figure out why God responds the way He does. We can’t know why this devastation was ‘allowed’ and ‘that’ life was spared.
Be careful with any desire to have the answers. We might rob today with skepticism. We may waste this moment searching for reasons that go deeper than what we can see. We could potentially strip an innocent heart of its integrity and worth if we’re continually waiting for the shoe to drop or for the flaw that’s going to break it all. Sometimes the answer is simply timing.
The questions can stir up doubt that God even cares about our concerns. Confusion can shake the foundation of faith that God is even in control here.
Beneath the waves of questions is this Rock of Truth: God is always good, always right, and always loving.
If you’re brave enough to stand up in the storm on this bedrock of Truth, you’ll find the strength inside to love, to forgive, to extend grace in a sea of what doesn’t make sense. Your character is what is left when the bottom falls out.
My flesh and my heart may fail, but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever. Psalm 73:26 NIV