Do It Afraid

Do It Afraid

At the age of 12, I started singing with our little church youth of 5 people. We would practice every Sunday night before church and sing 1 or 2 songs every Sunday night service. My twin sister and I enjoyed singing very much but we were quite shy and when at practice someone would suggest singing “I Love Him Too Much”, we would feel sick, that awful feeling of dread, churning stomach, dry throat!!  This was because we sang the first verse solo or duet.   We were fine joining in with the group, but to sing a verse was overwhelming!!  Needless to say, we were nervous till the song was sung and done in the service!   We were scared but we never one time said, “No, can’t do it”.  I never said, “I’m too scared to sing”.    I’m so glad that I went ahead and sang that song and eventually many more songs after that, because I’ve been in music ministry for 20 years!   What if I had let fear get the best of me?   What if I had let fear have its way?

Has FEAR ever been a problem for you?  Has fear ever held you back from moving into areas that could enrich your life and lives of others?     The good news is that we have hope and freedom in Jesus Christ!  Let’s take a look at a few scriptures that will bring encouragement and victory!!

2 Timothy 1:7 says:  For God hath not given us the spirit of fear, but of power, and of love, and of a sound mind.

Psalms 56:3 says:  What time I am afraid, I will trust in Thee.

Psalms 56:4 says:  In God I will praise His Word, in God I have put my trust:  I will not fear what flesh can do unto me.

Psalms 27:1 says:  The LORD is my light and my salvation; whom shall I fear, the LORD is the strength of my life;  of whom shall I be afraid.

In Genesis 12, God promised to bless Abram and make him great, but there was one condition.  Abram had to do what God wanted him to do!  This meant leaving his home and friends and traveling to a new land where God promised to build a great nation from Abram’s family.  Abram obeyed, walking away from his home for God’s promise of even greater things in the future.   It had to be a fearful time, but he did it anyway.   He did it…..afraid.   

Hebrews 11:7 says:  By faith, Noah, being warned of God of things not seen as yet, moved with fear, prepared an ark to the saving of his house. 

Noah was afraid, but obeyed God and built the ark!    Everyone thought he was crazy!!   He was mocked and ridiculed!   Yet he didn’t let fear hold him back from fulfilling God’s plan and purpose in his life.

God may be trying to lead you to a place of greater service for Him.  Don’t let the comfort and security of your present position make you miss God’s plan for you!   We all have our own strengths and weaknesses; our individual talents and personalities.   Maybe you are an outgoing person who doesn’t struggle with fear that much.    That’s awesome!  Be an encourager to someone who does struggle with it.    Maybe you’re introverted and you think God can’t and won’t use an introvert.   That’s not true!!   He has a work for all of us to do!! 

  

I read about a missionary named Elisabeth Elliott.   Her husband was killed along with four other missionaries in Ecuador.  After that, she said that her life was completely controlled by fear.  Every time she started to step out to minister, fear stopped her.  Then a friend told her something that set her free. 

She said:   “Why don’t you do it afraid?”

She took that advice and with a friend, went on to evangelize the Indian tribes of Ecuador.

Sometimes we think we should wait to do something when we’re no longer afraid, but if we did that, we’d probably accomplish little for God, for others, or for ourselves.

We must not run from fear but stand firm against it!   If we don’t, it can and will paralyze us and keep us stuck!!

Is God dealing with you to:

*witness to your neighbor, friend, co-worker?

*teach a home Bible study?

*get involved in a ministry?

*break out of your comfort zone in praise and worship?

*something else?

The enemy (satan) uses fear in different forms to keep us from experiencing everything God has for us.  We must pray and seek God!  Even though we may feel fear, we need to focus our attention on God.  He will give us courage and faith to step out and DO IT….AFRAID!

Don’t let fear rule your life!   Recognize it so you can deal with it.   Fear will attack our thoughts, but the Holy Spirit will give us power and authority over the enemy!!

Use the power of God’s Word to do what He wants you to do, even if you’re afraid.  

I John 4:18 says:  There is no fear in love, but perfect love casteth out fear, because fear hath torment.  He that feareth is not made perfect in love.

Each time you feel fear and do it afraid, you will enjoy your new freedom so much that you will soon be totally unwilling to do without it.    Be determined to end your days of slavery to fear!   If and when you fall, get up and keep going!  To feel fear doesn’t mean you are a coward; boldness is taking action in the presence of fear.   It’s not about choosing to move when there are no risks or when you are 100% confident that your decision will work out perfectly.  Uncertainty can often creep back in, but if you continue to step out of your comfort zone by faith, it will get easier!    Fear will challenge you, but the Holy Spirit can help you walk in faith and be victorious! 

I hate spiders!!   My family hates spiders!!   If someone in my house sees a spider, I will hear a scream or whine or moan!   “MOM!! “  Like I said, I hate spiders too, but I’ve tried to teach my kids that if you see one, go ahead and deal with it immediately!  In other words, KILL IT!   If you don’t, you’ll lose it, then you’ll have to worry about where it is all day/night!   Even though you’re afraid, grab some tissue or something and destroy it!   I tell them, “DO IT AFRAID”!   Of course, there are many other situations and examples we could all insert here.   Jesus will never leave us!   He’s got our backs!   He wants us to grow spiritually!   Don’t get stuck in your fear!    He is a deliverer!!

Joshua 1:9 says:  Have not I commanded thee?  Be strong and of a good courage; be not afraid, neither be thou dismayed; for the Lord thy God is with thee whithersoever thou goest. 

We can’t enjoy all God has for us if we run from fear!   Let’s fill our lives with praise and worship unto God for Who He is!!  In Him, we have freedom, real peace, true joy and He will fight our battles!   When God prepares the way, we can trust that whatever happens will turn out for our good, according to His perfect plan for us.   Trust Him and move forward!!   Let Him have His way and will in your life!  Even if you’re afraid, you have what it takes to do it!!  

- Written By Sis. Marilyn Tibbs