Experiencing Freedom: Overcoming Fear with Faith

Such love has no fear, because perfect love expels all fear. If we are afraid, it is for fear of punishment, and this shows that we have not fully experienced his perfect love. I John 4:18 NLT

I was struggling. I had taken on every challenge and assignment, gotten every degree and credential my employer asked me to. Yet when my boss called me with the news that my assignment would be changing the next fall, I knew deep in my soul that I needed to say no and step away. 

I prayed. I studied James three about true wisdom being submissive. I cried. I wrestled with what to do. But I was afraid. How would we pay the bills? I thought I had been acting in obedience when I continued my education. So why, after all that I had put in to my career, would God be asking me to leave it behind? Was I having a lack of peace, or was I being discontent?

Looking back, I can honestly say I acted out of fear rather than faith. My husband and I have always said, our paychecks come from the Lord not from man. But when that statement was tested, I kind of freaked out. Out of fear I chose to keep receiving that paycheck rather than believe that God would provide as He has promised in His Word. 

Miserable does not even describe the ten or so weeks I lasted in that assignment. I went in every morning prayed up, and by noon, I was trying to figure out how to word my resignation. I was being held captive by my fear rather than experiencing the freedom my faith in God’s provision would bring. 

Out of desperation one morning, I prayed a gutsy prayer. I prayed, “Lord, you know my heart. You feel the pain I am experiencing. If you want me to continue on this course I will. But I am weak. Please take this cup from me; not my will, but yours be done.” By the afternoon, He was picking me up out of the miry pit and placing my feet on solid ground.

It was one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. It was frustrating. It was humiliating. 

And it was freeing. 

I waited patiently for the Lord to help me,
    and he turned to me and heard my cry.
 He lifted me out of the pit of despair,
    out of the mud and the mire.
He set my feet on solid ground
    and steadied me as I walked along.

He has given me a new song to sing, a hymn of praise to our God.
Many will see what he has done and be amazed.
    They will put their trust in the Lord.Oh, the joys of those who trust the Lord,
    who have no confidence in the proud
    or in those who worship idols.
O Lord my God, you have performed many wonders for us.
    Your plans for us are too numerous to list.
    You have no equal.

Psalms 40:1-5

When He picked me up out of that pit and placed my feet on solid ground, He gave me time to breathe, time to pray, time to rest, time to think, time to serve my family and my church and time to, “Be still and know that He is God.”  

The joy did not return to me in one miraculous moment. The Lord did not immediately place me in a new job or career. In fact, He slowly allowed me to realize that not one moment of my work experience, education, or training was wasted. He was using everything I had already done to prepare me for what He has next. 

It is so hard, in our society, to believe we must have a purpose that is connected to a paycheck or bank account, and there is something rewarding to working hard and seeing that direct deposit land in our checking account. Be assured though, that every good and perfect gift is from above (James 1). Even if we have human employers, our paychecks still come from the Lord. 

My freedom comes in grasping my purpose is honoring God with my whole life, work, home, church and community life. It comes by releasing dependence on my paycheck, unemployment payments and severance amounts. It continues to develop with every choice I make in having faith and as I realize how deep and wide and vast my Father’s love is for me. 

 And may you have the power to understand, as all God’s people should, how wide, how long, how high, and how deep his love is.  May you experience the love of Christ, though it is too great to understand fully. Then you will be made complete with all the fullness of life and power that comes from God. Ephesians 3:18-19

Where do you need to have more faith? Is it family life, work life, church/ministry, or do you need to just take faith at face value and believe that God loves you and sent His son to be your savior? Ask Him today to help you understand how deep and wide His love is for you and that he can do abundantly above more than you ask or think. 

Dear Lord, Please instill in my heart the understanding of your love for me. Help me to trust that your plans are far better than mine and that you have given me a measure of faith to act upon. You are not the author of fear but of faith. Amen

I would love to hear how God has shown His faithfulness to you. Where have you seen God release you from fear and give you the freedom to have faith in Him?