Fear Isn't Part Of The Plan

 

Isaiah 41:10

So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.      

         Today, I will discuss one type of fear.   The fear that comes from living in this dangerous world and the feeling of being alone, but we are not.  The verse above, Isaiah 41:10, comforts us and tells us how God is always here for us and with us.  'Do not be dismayed' reminds us not to get too frustrated, too alone, or too overwhelmed by what we face.  He is with us!  His strength helps us, like nothing in this world can provide!  Its indescribable and all-powerful!   This verse is "to silence the fears, and encourage the faith, of the servants of God in their distresses." [M. Henry]  For by suppressing our fears, He assures us... to fear not the enemy and doubt not the promises of God.  God is all-sufficient, even in our worst times.  "He will take us by the hand as our guide, to lead us in our way, will help us up when we are fallen or prevent our falls; when we are weak he will hold us up-wavering, he will fix us-trembling, he will encourage us, and so hold us by the right hand."  [M. Henry]

          As a child, some of my fears were mine alone and weren't spoken of to anyone.  I knew my legs were weaker than others, just by the mere presence of my braces.  In elementary school in Stuttgart, I had to cross the ditch to get to school and the fear of falling led me to scope out the smoothest, different path each day.  God gave me confidence thru the Holy Spirit.  When I was in 6th grade at Sylvan Hills Elementary, God provided strength thru my new friend, Nita.  She knew it was hard for me to walk up the steep hill from recess to class, so she pulled me with her belt loop on her jeans.  Onto junior high, where stairs were now a part of my daily struggles and fears.  I was slower than slow, but that was better than a fall.  I knew God was with me and upholding me with His right hand.  The struggle wasn't over when school was out but now the bus trials called for strength and endurance.  My friend, Lily, helped me get my school books onboard because just getting myself on was a feat in itself.  So many times, a tumbling I went off the bus while books and a flute case went scattering.  My dog, Bosco,  waited patiently for me so we could climb and fall on the steep gravel driveway together.  Confidence was built not only in myself but in God's promise to 'be with me always'.

           As a teenager, my most difficult surgery yet was now to be faced.  Back surgery that involved placing 2 titanium rods along my spine and fusing them to my vertebrae.  This is where my trust in God was truly tested and God's promises were on the line.  Before I went back to surgery, I had no fear or obvious doubt but I reassured my Dad that 'It was going to be okay' and it was well with my soul.

          When we let fear rule our lives instead of faith, we get a life that isn't what God had planned for us.

Responsibility

Proverbs 22:6 

Train up a child in the way he should go; even when he is old he will not depart from it.

         One thing I believe is lacking in America today is responsibility.  What teaches a child into becoming an independent and purposeful adult is responsibility.  We have a responsibility in our actions, speech and attitudes.  "The greatest day in your life and mine is when we take total responsibility for our attitudes. That's the day we truly grow up." [J. Maxwell]  Who do we work for and have responsibility due to?  Colossians 3:23  "Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for human masters."   "We need to realize that in all things our first duty and responsibility is to God Himself." [H. Ironside]  We need to need to yield specifically to the Lord, forsake every doubtful aspect in our life, be willing to obey fully to God's will, and believe through prayer that He will flood our spirit with His power.

        "The more personal responsibility we take, the more in control we are and the more control we have, the more likely we will reach our goal as there will be no excuses to fall back on if we fail. Therefore, taking responsibility for our actions equals success."

      As a child, I was taught Galatians 6:5  "for each one should carry their own load."  I was not let out of household chores, because of some weakness clause.  After school, I remember folding clothes while watching "The Brady Bunch" and walking as fast as I could during commercials to get them put away before the show resumed.  Along with the clothes, beds also had to be made before my parents got home from work. 

         Responsibility was also taught on the weekends.  I was the riding lawnmower driver.  I was paid $10 to mow our entire 2.5 acres and you could find me mowing in my bathing suit  top and shorts with my headphones on.  If I wasn't mowing, I was pulling a trailer with brush from the yard or moving dirt with the blade on the front of the riding lawnmower.

          I was also taught about my responsibility to my Lord and Savior.  That my life was to serve and be an example for Him.  Yes, I failed Him but His forgiveness was also something I shared with others.  " Everything begins with the right priorities, and right priorities begin with God." [W. Kroll]

          As I grew older, these lessons on responsibility paid off.  It was only I who would finish numerous after hour labs in college, whether it be chemistry or checking on my fruit flies in genetics.  When I changed colleges between 3 states, I knew no one was going to figure it out for me if I was going to finish with a degree somewhere.  God led me, but I had to do the work.

          My attitude towards responsibility has always been that it was mine to finish in whatever I signed up for.  I don't believe in or partake in the blame game.  I was raised to be a doer and not as an excuser.  "The providence of God does not relieve us of human responsibility: it doesn't call for inactivity, it calls for activity."  [Alistair Begg]