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All of
us are afraid of something or the other. When we face a
challenge, fear is the first thing that most of us
encounter. However, when all is over we usually end up
thinking, why did I ever fear? For some, fear is the way
of life. They are fearful of everything and tend to coil
themselves in a shell and try to escape it rather than
to face it! Facing the fear and conquering it again and
again is a huge challenge to all of us, especially
youngsters who look towards the future. The God of the
Bible constantly reminds us not to fear! 'Fear not', He
says 'for I am with you'! Even though it is very easy t o
read it and walk away, understanding the reality and
facing the everyday challenges are not very easy but is
definitely not impossible!
Encounter with God was a scary incident for Moses, God
had to introduce Himself and assure him. He told Moses
not to fear and to take up the huge challenge of facing
the Pharaoh. He dreaded not just facing the Pharaoh but
his own people. But God told him to go and at the right
time, God had to make His move through Moses. Moses was
chosen to face, not just his own fears but the fear of
the whole community of Israelites. He faced challenge
after challenge; some came from enemies, some from
nature, some from his own people, and some from his own
family. Moses yielded to God's plan, God enabled him to
face and conquer the challenges and come out
victoriously doing the purpose of God. His fears could
not stop him!
God sent His Angel to meet Gideon, Gideon was scared!
Gideon and his people were already scared because of
their enemies; fear gripped him when an angel told him
that God wanted to use him and addressed him as a
'mighty warrior'. He just could not believe it. He made
all excuses and tried to show why it was not possible.
But he was given reasons why he should go ahead. God,
through his angel proved to him that God was with him.
Gideon believed, Gideon moved, Gideon mobilized, Gideon
fought and Gideon won. God's will prevailed and peace
was restored. God's name was glorified.
The unworthy little son of Jesse was given no great job.
He was just taking care for the few sheep of His father.
He was just a boy and when he was sent to see his
powerfully built, combat fit brothers in war and to give
them some food. He found all the smart, experienced,
well built, battle hardened, heavily armed guys of
Israel shivering and waiting not knowing what to do.
David chose to face the fear; He faced the challenger
Goliath and faced him in the name of God of Israel.
David won and delivered the nation! He was no more
unworthy but was made worthy enough to become a King of
Israel.
All the above characters faced their fears with the help
of God. They chose to challenge the limit of their
abilities. In God's time, with God's help, they could
achieve things that we remember even today. Imagine the
fear in the hearts of the disciples of Jesus after He
was crucified. The most outspoken and daring Peter
denied, ran for his life and hid. Songwriter Don
Fransisco, in his song 'He is alive' beautifully
portrays the scene and the feelings of Peter.
'The gates and doors were barred and all the windows
fastened down I spent the night in sleeplessness and
rose at every sound Half in hopeless sorrow and half in
fear the day Would find the soldiers breakin' through to
drag us all away And just before the sunrise I heard
something at the wall The gate began to rattle and a
voice began to call I hurried to the window looked down
into the street Expecting swords and torches and the
sound of soldiers' feet But there was no one there but
Mary so I went down to let her in John stood there
beside me as she told me where she'd been She said they
might have moved Him in the night and none of us knows
where The stone's been rolled away and now His body
isn't there We both ran toward the garden then John ran
on ahead We found the stone and empty tomb just the way
that Mary said But the winding sheet they wrapped Him in
was just an empty shell And how or where they'd taken
Him was more than I could tell Oh something strange had
happened there just what I did not know John believed a
miracle but I just turned to go Circumstance and
speculation couldn't lift me very high.
'Cause I'd seen them crucify him, then I saw him die
Back inside the house again the guilt and anguish came
Everything I'd promised Him just added to my shame When
at last it came to choices I denied I knew His name And
even if He was alive it wouldn't be the same…'
And it was this Peter who went on boldly to change
history, when he conquered his fear. An encounter with
the resurrected Lord changed him. All of us can identify
ourselves with the failures of Peter. However, when he
knew that Christ was alive his fears evaporated.
Friends! Do not fear, ask God's help and face it! God
will do supernatural things through you in His time.
Just don't give up! He is alive and is willing to
demonstrate it in your lives!
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