Fear in the Mind, Faith of the Heart

Remember learning to ride a bike? Your mind was telling you there was no way you would ever learn to balance that bike and you were about to crash any moment. But simultaneously, your heart was also dreaming about sailing down the sidewalk, wind blowing past you, amazed at your new-found freedom. Yeah, you did crash . . . a few times, but it didn’t hurt as bad as you thought it might. So you got up and went at it again. Finally, everything came together, you balanced the bike, the fear subsided, and faith turned to flight. At that moment, something changed forever. The ability to not ride a bike went away and forever you would now be able to ride any bike you wanted, anytime.

But what happens when this same scenario occurs in life in situations where the stakes are much higher? You’re going at something new that you need to learn or you’re giving a new try at something that you failed at before. But it’s not a bike this time, it’s crucial, it matters, people are depending on you. Or when God calls you to something that you’ve never done before. When you get to a crossroads and the direction you take will determine your future.

Fear can quickly overwhelm your mind when what you really want is for faith to overcome your heart. And really, one always wins, doesn’t it? Fear or faith. The two just don’t co-exist.

There are those amazing moments when faith just flies up and takes over, making us feel unstoppable, like God is surrounding us and propelling us forward. But then those times when you can feel that thing in your gut. The questions. The doubts. What-if’s. The fear creeping in to tell us we’re making a mistake . . . again. Where does that come from? Where did that unstoppable guy go?

And then the real question comes . . . God, where did You go? Did You leave and that’s why I feel this way? Like all the hope just got sucked out of my heart? Wait, no, He didn’t move. I think I did. I chose fear over faith. I allowed fear to overcome my mind when I should have let faith overpower my heart.

I really wish I had a cool formula to share with you on this one. A great theological to-do list that creates fast success. I don’t have it. But as a fellow sufferer, I do know Who has. The only One that can bring faith and hope, and also run fear out of the house. His name is Jesus.

God met me more than halfway, he freed me from my anxious fears.

Look at him; give him your warmest smile. Never hide your feelings from him.

When I was desperate, I called out, and God got me out of a tight spot.

God’s angel sets up a circle of protection around us while we pray.

Open your mouth and taste, open your eyes and see—how good God is.

Blessed are you who run to him. -Psalm 34:4-8 MSG

Whether you’re experiencing fear or faith today, running to Him is the best move. . . . Wanna race?

 




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