Fear sent me an urgent query
“Who fights a beast this big and live?
Who fights what he can’t beat?”
My nerve quivered in agreement
I willed my heart to hunt for cover
I changed my gear and ran to hide
But alas, the fear I thought I left behind
Caught up with me, right there with me:
Mean and mocking, frightening as ever.
“Faith where are you? Help!” I wailed
I chose to seek and wait for faith
I choose to wait till faith awakes:
Help, I need faith to survive!
Help, I need hope to overcome!
Food For Thought: Those that give up too soon realize too late, the exorbitant consequences of fear and impatience. Whatever we run from always catches up with us. We may run for a while but confrontation is inevitable. If we are running to escape, defeat awaits. If we are running to buy time to prepare and acquire what we need to overcome, then certain confrontation will not catch us unawares. It will meet us even if we are not yet ready to fight. We are at advantage if we have prepared to win even if we don’t feel ready yet. Then we are in position to muster faith and courage to dare what we fear with what we have. When we silence the roaring voices of fear and learn to be still, we find what we need, which is there with us even though it appears hidden from fearful eyes. When challenges are patiently confronted with courage and wisdom, victory is inevitable. When we run from things we have been equipped or need to be prepared to overcome, they will hunt until they catch up with us but when we take a stand and deal with them conclusively, our passport to freedom is secured. Samson decoded the puzzle: out of the eater comes meat and out of the strong comes sweetness. The thing that would have consumed him became meat, his encounter with the strong produced delicious victory, all because he dared to deal with it. Joseph, Esther, Daniel and his three friends summoned courage when death mocked their faith. They approached the monster with, “Perhaps, I feared yesterday but I will face you today by faith. My God is able to deliver but if He chooses not to, so be it. If I perish, I perish!” Those that lay down their lives never lose it. We must personally come to that conclusion to experience lasting deliverance from our fears and register remarkable changes. Such determinations reversed irreversible decrees, saved lives, glorified God and promoted those involved. Those who are afraid to lose their lives lose it anyway. Nothing is ever saved through fear. Those who continually bow where they should stand hardly go beyond their points of compromise but those who are willing to lay down their lives for the truth they believe, truly live to enjoy the awesome deliverance of our mighty Defender. Who and what can kill a man whose defense is the Lord?
Scripture: Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1: 9.
Prayer: Dear Lord, I meet all kinds of troubles as I go about my business on a daily basis, may the voice of my faith always rise above that of fear of failure. Amen.