1 Corinthians 16:13
Light, space, zest – that’s God! So, with him on my side I’m fearless, afraid of no one and nothing.
Sunday the 27th of July 2014 is a day I will never forget. It was a day like no other. It was the day I learned how to swim. One would think that swimming is something that one has to go through hours of learning. I did it in a second, well maybe 5 but no more than that. It was just a matter of me listening, trusting myself and the person who was telling me (my husband of course) to just believe in myself and then do what I had to. I hesitated at first but got a bit of inspiration from my children especially my 4 year old. Everyone in the family can swim, except me. Can you imagine me “killing their joy” every time we went to the beach which was pretty often. I would be ready to go in 30 minutes because it really was no fun sitting on the sand or simply wading. I cannot even say when I decided to just do. That is the key to getting over our fears, we need to just let go and do at the same time. So I did let go of the fear I had, the end result being me the last to leave the water.
In Isaiah 41:10 ESV we are told Fear not, for I am with you; be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you, and I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.
In our journey there is always some kind of fear holding us back preventing us from experiencing Joy and Fulfillment in our lives. It is the tool that the enemy uses to keep us in his bondage. I could not believe how simple this matter of swimming was, the very thing that we sometimes think is difficult is oftentimes the easiest thing.
How many times have we said no out of fear. How many times have we witnessed persons who are seemingly braver just take a leap of faith and do something and made it seem effortless? We who fear can do the same.
We have God right beside us, encouraging us to let go and believe in him to do the things that we consider hard such as:
- Ending an abusive relationship or a relationship going nowhere. There are times women or men will stay in a relationship for the face of it, for fear they cannot survive on their own. For fear even when the very relationship they are holding on to may kill them.
- Even the matter of tithing, we fear tithing, thinking we may not be able to meet our expenses. Even though we know in the back of our minds we are not our own providers.
- Or letting go of our fear of flying, swimming, taking a cruise on the open waters.
God is telling us he will be our significant other, our provider, and our chief navigator. God is saying that if we trust him he will enhance the joy in our lives. That he will be with us through it all. God is telling us that if only we would listen, trust and just do we will experience life in a more fulfilling way.
It might not be swimming for you but it may be something else. Whatever it is just believe, trust and just do.
God wants you to experience a complete life. If it’s a door you should not go through, trust that he will close it. Let us let go of our fears and experience the awesome life God wants us to have. A life free of fear. A life that allows us to live each day in joy and gladness.
