A quick google search of the word "safe" will come up with this definition: protected from or not exposed to danger or risk. Not likely to be harmed or lost. Fear is absolutely a tool used by the enemy to turn our focus away from God and towards our own perception. I learned back when I used to play golf that there were two types of fears: Rational and Irrational. Rational fear is a legitimate fear, for example: If I am swimming in the ocean and sharks are circling me....that is a rational legitimate fear. Irrational fear is one that has no merit or even reason to be there, for example: If I'm scared to go for a run in my neighborhood because a plane could crash on top of me. One of the fears has a place, but the other doesn't....That is if you are only seeing the situations from the context of the human perspective. Let's change the context to the supernatural power of God!
There are countless stories in the Bible in which fear crippled the believer and God consistently reminded His people that there is nothing to fear. Take the Israelites…..God delivered them out of Egypt (mind you He did this with multiple miracles such as using a tornado of fire to hold off an army, splitting the Red Sea, and making bread through the morning dew on the ground!). Even after God delivered His people out of Egypt and promised them safety, they still questioned Him. After all that they had been through. What about David and his fear of Saul? or Peter and his fear of drowning even though he was with Jesus (who was walking on water).
Dr. Michael Youssef said it best a few years ago: "You are safer in the will of God in the middle of a warzone, than being outside the will of God in the comfort of your living room." Wow....doesn't that change the narrative? From the human perspective, yes, things are scary. My bones could be ripped apart, my flesh could be burned, my loved ones could be harmed, but what will be of my soul? What will happen to my soul that longs and loves God? I love the story in Acts chapter 16-When Paul is chained in the bottom of the prison, literally being drenched in prison poop, and yet his is singing. Then an earthquake hit as the jailer was asleep and upon waking up the jailer drew his sword in fear because he thought that Paul had escaped for which he would of course be reprimanded. The jailer was about to take his life when Paul screamed: "Do not harm yourself! We are all here!"
So many times, I am the jailer. I sometimes think that the situation is too big for me and forget that God has it under control. So many people today will not say it.....but I know from deep conversations we all long to rid our lives of fear. Whether that fear is the fear of failure, or the fear of not being enough, or the fear of not being accepted by the world.....Whatever it is, do not be like the soldier and draw your sword! Instead draw to the Lord that is there when you think He isn't. In my prayer time this week a consistent sentence kept coming into my head because my mind has been wondering on many things as of late. That sentence is my challenge for you this week. God is saying: I'm right here with you, where are you?
Where are you? Where is your trust? Who do you turn to? The presence of God through prayer and reading His word is where you will find ultimate joy and comfort by conquering all fear! Rational fear and irrational fear are actually the same....there is nothing and NO-THING that you should fear when you are in the presence of God. He has already proven that to us through His son Jesus.
Have a wonderful week!
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