Sometimes we find ourselves facing tough situations. We don’t like where we are, yet we are afraid to go forward. God gives us an answer, but we refuse to hearken to His voice.
Has fear ever prevented you from doing what God asked you to do? Are you facing that challenge today?
I want to encourage you that if God says go, just go. He will provide. Things will get better. Don’t let fear prevent you from obeying.
In 2001, Bob was offered a job in Maryland. I was afraid. I was also speechless.
For months I had prayed and prayed the Jabez prayer. I wanted the Lord to send me. I wanted Him to expand my horizons and borders of influence for Him, but I meant the website – Drew’s Animals – not me personally. I didn’t want to go to Maryland, and I knew that at least for a while, we’d have to live in 2 states. The fear was overwhelming.
God impressed upon me that it was His will for us, and I cried as I surrendered to it. I knew only one of us would be making a change of plans, and God was not the one. It had to be me who surrendered.
Just over a year later, we were all back in North Carolina. Maryland had been one big blessing for all of us. I still look fondly on that time, and the fun we all had together exploring Maryland and Washington, D.C. It was a real blessing in many, many ways.
Do you remember when the Israelites came to Canaan and refused to enter the land because of fear? After the fearful died, Joshua, Caleb, and the folks who had been under 20 at the time got to enter the Promised Land. Guess what? God provided. They barely had to work for it.
And as they that bare the ark were come unto Jordan, and the feet of the priests that bare the ark were dipped in the brim of the water, (for Jordan overfloweth all his banks all the time of harvest,) That the waters which came down from above stood and rose up upon an heap very far from the city Adam, that is beside Zaretan: and those that came down toward the sea of the plain, even the salt sea, failed, and were cut off: and the people passed over right against Jericho.
Joshua 3:15-16
Can you believe it? They literally walked across on dry land.
And it came to pass, when all the kings of the Amorites, which were on the side of Jordan westward, and all the kings of the Canaanites, which were by the sea, heard that the LORD had dried up the waters of Jordan from before the children of Israel, until we were passed over, that their heart melted, neither was there spirit in them any more, because of the children of Israel.
Joshua 5:1
Their enemies saw the power of God and were scared. And it came to pass that God handed them Jericho too.
God had been ready to provide for them years prior to that, but they had been too afraid to obey. They missed the blessing.
LIFE APPLICATION
Today’s challenge is to think about what God has asked you to do. Are you afraid? Perhaps you should be more afraid of the consequences of disobedience and of missing the blessing.
Sometimes the job you don’t want, or the task you put off because of fear is both necessary and what God has for you to do. Remember, God blesses obedience.