“Sick and tired of being sick and tired. Had as much of you as I can take. I’m so done, so over being afraid.” This is the opening lyric from the song The Breakup Song by Francesca Battistelli. I have uttered the phrase, “I’m so sick and tired of being sick and tired” to myself so many times. Fear has a way of making us sick to our stomachs and tired of looking in the mirror. It can stop you dead in your tracks and has the ability to transport you back in time. Fear can take on many shapes and sizes and create a variety of reactions. From feeling a quick startled inhale, to feeling like you can’t breathe, and everything in between. Fear is very real and ever present in our lives.
Fear is valuable tool utilized by Satan to create havoc and chaos in our lives. The bible tells us, “Stay alert! Watch out for your great enemy, the devil. He prowls around like a roaring lion, looking for someone to devour.” [1 Peter 5:8 NLT]. Don’t be deceived, Satan is watching for any little crack to form in our armor. He is looking for our doubts and insecurities to show themselves. Any opportunity he can take to creep into our thoughts and our hearts and use them against us, will not be wasted. Paul warns the church of Ephesus, “Put on all of God’s armor so that you will be able to stand firm against all strategies of the devil. For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places.” [Ephesians 6:11-12 NLT]. This is a warning to us all. No one is immune to the devil's schemes and he doesn’t play favorites. He has one goal and one goal only…and that’s to keep as many people from following Christ as possible. He knows his time is limited and he knows how the war will end. That is why he is frantic to take down as many people with him as he possibly can. Fear is a tactic used by Satan to control and manipulate us…all of us. Whether you already call yourself a Christian or you’re just learning about Christ, we need to understand that fear comes from Satan…never from God. “For God has not given us a spirit of fear and timidity, but of power; love, and self-discipline.” [2 Timothy 1:7 NLT]
So, now I ask you, what are you afraid of? What is holding you back from being the person God designed you to be? What is keeping you from trusting in Christ? The fear of rejection? The fear of loneliness? The fear of failing? Maybe you don’t think you’re good enough? Worthy? Too far gone? In the eyes of Christ, we are none of these things and will never be these things. God will never reject us, will never leave us, and never sees us as failures. We are always enough, always worthy and never too far gone for Christ’s love to reach our souls. I know life isn’t always sunshine and unicorns and that we all go through difficult times. Where we choose to center our focus during these hard times is so important. Just like Peter [Matthew 14: 22-33 NLT], when we focus on our fear, we sink below the surface and are left gasping for air. But, when our eyes stay locked on Christ and we grip His hands tightly, we walk on water with Him. He will fill all those tiny cracks and fissures in our armor with His love if we choose to trust Him.
And where His love resides, there’s no room for fear. No room for doubt. No room for insecurities. So, take that risk, step out of your comfort zone. Do the things that you dream of doing. Don’t let fear freeze you in place and stop you from moving forward; from becoming who you’re meant to be. Trust in your Father who knows you and your heart. Your Father who placed those dreams and passions deep within your soul. As the saying goes, “God doesn’t call the qualified, He qualifies the called!” Brush off your fears, take a deep breath, and tell yourself, “But when I am afraid, I will put my trust in you.” [Psalms 56:3 NLT]. Now, get ready to move mountains my dear, because with Christ at our sides, we can’t fail.
If you're at all familiar with my writings, you know I'm often inspired by music. There's just something about a beautifully written chorus that speaks to my soul. As I began to brainstorm this topic, many amazing songs came to mind. I wasn't able to include all of them so I thought I'd give you a list of my findings. I hope you enjoy them as much as I do. I urge you to listen to the lyrics, listen to the truths they sing.
Blessings,
~R~
Fear Is A Liar by: Zack Williams
Oh My Soul by: Casting Crowns
No Longer Slaves by: Bethel Music
Good, Good Father by: Chris Tomlin
God Is Still Here by: JJ Heller
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