EXPERIENCING FEAR AND FAITH                     Deuteronomy 31:1-8

Be strong and of a good courage, fear not, nor be afraid of them: for the LORD thy God, he it is that doth go with thee; he will not fail thee, nor forsake thee. (V6)

Any time you attempt something for the first time, or something you’ve failed at before, or something you think is too big for you, you’ll experience both fear and faith. They go together. One will win out over the other, but they never go away. Because Israel had no idea what challenges awaited them or what life would be like in the Promised Land, God told them “Be strong and of good courage… for the Lord God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.” And today that’s His purpose to you too! It’s fear of failure that stops us most of the time. Yet as you look back, you realize that most times failure doesn’t do permanent damage at all; you actually grow through it. Dr. Joan Barysenko writes, “When I was admitted to Harvard, I was sure there had been a computer error and I’d be exposed as a fraud. A lawyer friend of mine stops short of terror every time she has to give a final go away. It’s accepting fear as part of the journey instead of running from it, that helps you to conquer it.” To go anywhere, you must launch out from somewhere, or you’ll get nowhere. American essayist Hamilton Wright Mabie said, “The question for each man to settle is not what he would do if he had the means, time, influence, and educational advantages, but what he will do with the things he has.” So confront your fear, step in faith and believe God for success. (TWFT)

PRAYER LINE: Lord, I’m tempted to fear what I cannot understand or control. But my security rests in You and not in, what happens to me or round me. Help me in Your unfailing love.

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Eyes of faith see God at work in everything.