fear

A Step of Faith

Has God asked you to do the impossible? Have you taken a step of faith and done something you believed you’d never do? Maybe impossible in your strength, but not in His.

The story of Queen Esther is one of my favorite Bible stories. Esther, an introverted woman, took a bold step of faith after she fasted. She stood in the inner court before the king without being summoned. An action that could have been fatal. God gave her the strength she needed to save her people from annihilation.

What emotions do you suppose she faced? Insecurity? Fear?

As she fasted, did she obsess over reasons that might make her an inferior choice to save her people? Did she try to persuade God to select someone more qualified? Would the king remove her from his presence and send her to her death if she carried out her plan? I imagine she approached him with weakened knees and a racing heartbeat.

When God impresses upon us to do something extraordinary, we often find ourselves in a scary place. Insecurity and fear may grip us. But when God calls us to do something, He equips us, too. What does it take for us to answer His call? Faith.

I’d like to share an example from my life of taking a step of faith and hope you’ll do the same in the comments.

In a Sunday evening church service, a video played which reminded the congregation of an upcoming mission trip to Malawi, Africa. I’d seen this video on other occasions, but on that evening, a thought popped into my head that I’d never considered. “I want to go.” My husband sat on my left. I turned to share my idea with him when insecurity and fear struck me. Instead, I kept quiet. I couldn’t go unless he went too.

After service on our drive home, the first words out of our youngest daughter’s mouth were, “I want to go on the mission trip to Malawi.”

A wave of relief washed over me. God called her to go—not me. I chuckled and looked at Kenn. “I almost turned to you during the video and said, ‘I want to go.’”

His response: “Wait until you hear this. During the video, I wondered if the two of you would go without me.”

Did God want me to step out in faith and travel halfway around the world without my husband?

My first mission trip caused me to rely on God more than ever. After weeks of preparation and prayer, we arrived in Malawi and shared the Gospel in remote villages for several days. God stretched me. I prayed and trusted Him to guide and strengthen me. When insecurity attacked, I relied upon Him and His Word. So much so that two years later, I returned to Malawi on a second mission trip. I knew God would join me there and help me speak His Word and share from my heart.

Fear not, for I am with you; Be not dismayed, for I am your God.
I will strengthen you, Yes, I will help you, I will uphold you
with My righteous right hand.
Isaiah 41:10 (NKJV) 

It’s your turn. Please share a step of faith you’ve taken, or a favorite verse when you’re struggling with insecurity or fear.

Photos by Stewart Linthicum and Stormy Morgan

Faith Conquers Fear

This past week my husband, Kenn, and I traveled to Atlanta, Georgia, for the Gideons International Convention. We met new friends, visited with old friends, partook of amazing worship, listened to powerful testimonies, and enjoyed God’s Word. During this inspirational time of worship, fear attacked. But faith conquers fear.

On Wednesday, I got stuck in an elevator after the housekeeper placed her arms inside to keep the doors from closing. She asked me a question and walked away. The doors remained open six inches which caused the alarm to sound. I punched the button on the panel to open the door—nothing. When I pressed the close button, still nothing. I tried the lobby and our floor’s button with no results. The doors wouldn’t budge when I stuck my arms in between them to pry them open. My heart rate intensified. After what seemed like hours (two minutes), the housekeeper returned and pried the doors open from the outside. After she forced them open, they closed on their own, and I was on my way to the lobby. Everything was fine.

Rarely do I remember dreams, but that night I had an eerie one. Kenn and I stood inside a store. I moved away from him and walked outdoors. The parking lot was dark and vacant except for two cars, and neither belonged to us. I turned to go back inside to find my husband, but the store was empty. Not only of people but of everything. The lights were bright inside, and the sliding doors were open six inches. But nothing remained in the store.

When I awoke, I determined everything wasn’t fine. Fear tried to take hold of me. I said out loud, “I will not give in to fear,” and I quoted 2 Timothy 1:7.

For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love
and of a sound mind (NKJV).

On Thursday night, fear again attacked my dreams. This time, someone knocked on my hotel room door. I opened the door to a woman and asked her in a panicked voice, “Where’s Kenn?”

Again, I repeated 2 Timothy 1:7. Every time I remembered either dream, I repeated this verse because Scripture wields power and builds our faith. I took fearful thoughts captive and overcame them with the Word of God.

Friday evening after a banquet, Kenn’s supervisor, Rodney, requested his help, and I returned to our room. Forty-five minutes later, I received a call from Rodney. “LuAnn. Kenn had an accident. The freight elevator doors smashed his hand. He passed out, and his hand is swollen, but he’s okay. You should come down here.” I grabbed my purse in case we’d need to make a trip to the hospital and took the elevator.

On my way, fear spoke. “He’s worse than what Rodney told you. Remember your dreams?”

I once again declared God’s Word and repeated, “I will not give in to fear.”

Kenn sat in a chair with beads of sweat on his forehead. His hand was under a plastic bag filled with ice. He looked up at me and said, “I’m okay. Don’t worry.” Two EMTs arrived a few minutes later with a gurney, took his vitals, and recommended he visit the emergency room for x-rays. They offered him a ride, but he chose to bypass the ambulance. We spent the next three hours at an ER in downtown Atlanta. We returned to the hotel around 3:00 a.m.

I’m grateful there were no broken bones and that the weird dreams stopped.

Fear comes from the enemy. Our faith in God combats it. When fear speaks, refuse to listen. Speak the Word of God, and keep your focus on Christ. Trust in Him and His Word.

For I hold you by your right hand—I, the Lord your God. And I say to you, “Don’t be afraid. I am here to help you” (Isaiah 41:13 NLT).

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