Facing The Giants

If I had to name the giant that I face most often it's name would be fear. Oh there are other giants that make an appearance but I'm on a first name bases with fear.

Maybe you can relate:

Fear of losing a loved one
Fear of speaking in front of people
Fear of looking stupid...especially while speaking in front of people
Fear of rejection
Fear of spiders
Fear of forgetting something important
Fear of serious health issues
Fear of failure
Fear that my fears are keeping me from being all that I can be in Christ

I recently faced fear head on...again.
I was afraid to proceed...what if I'm rejected?
What if I proceed and have the best possible outcome? then what? what happens next? Can I meet expectations?

I struggled with indecisiveness for several days...I prayed for clarity and discernment. God answered my prayer through the words of a friend. She told me "Do I have to fly out there? Don't make me come out there!"

1 Samuel 17 tells the story of David And Goliath. Goliath was a champion for the enemy, a giant who stood 9 feet tall. For 40 days he shouted his challenge to the Israelites.

Verse 11 states that Saul and the Israelites were dismayed and terrified.

One day David arrives on the scene with provisions from his father. He witnesses Goliaths challenge and his countries army running in fear.
David tells the king "I'll go fight him".
"But you're just a kid"
"The Lord shall deliver me from the hand of this Philistine".
"Go ahead...God be with you".

David took his staff, five stones and a sling. The giant curses David. David speaks the words of faith that made all the difference. "The battle is the Lords". I like verse 48; the giant is closing in for the attack "David ran quickly toward the battle line to meet him". David hit the giant right between the eyes with one of the stones and the battle was over.

For the most part my fears are imagined. What if... When I become bogged down in the valley of indecision I have allowed my fear to take my focus off God. The result is my faith becomes weak and I'm afraid to move. But what if...I kept my eyes on God...fear would lose it's strong hold in my life and faith would grow.

This clip from the movie "Facing The Giants" is one of my favorite scenes.






God wants us to trust Him with all we've got. He knows our fear...'fear not' is one of His favorite greetings!

My friend didn't have to come visit me...I pushed through the fear. Do you know what I found on the other side as I pushed past the fear? Faith. As for my crises of fear vs faith, God is in control of the outcome and I'm waiting on Him.