Refuse To Stay Stuck In Fear
Refuse To Stay Stuck In Fear | December 20, 2023
Fear can either be productive or destructive in your life. For example, you lock your car and home for safety purposes. You protect your banking and other critical digital accounts with passwords for security—fear of protecting what you have leads you to take these prudent steps. However, crippling fear like never coming out of your home or driving your car is a different story.
Healthy fear will produce beneficial methods, but unhealthy fear will leave you paralyzed. Thus, God's heart is that we wouldn't stay stuck in unhealthy fear, and Christmas reminds us of that fact. In Luke's Christmas narrative, God said, "Do not be afraid" three times. We find that command given to Zechariah (1:13), Mary (1:30), and the shepherds (2:10). Jesus also used that same command to calm the hearts of His followers. God, in his foreknowledge, knew that the miracles encompassing the birth of His Son would cause some internal trembling.
Luke 1:30-33 explains Mary's call from fear to faith surrounding her pregnancy with Jesus when it says: "And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.'"
Notice that Gabriel doesn't admonish Mary for being afraid. Instead, he encourages her with the truth about God's grace. So again, it's normal to be initially fearful of something, but the idea is not to stay stuck in that fear.
Are you allowing fear to entrap you? Do you have paralysis of analysis? Even if you are struggling now, realize that God's will is not for you to stay stuck in fear. Instead, like Mary, listen to God and step forward in faith. He's got a message that will move you as well!
Healthy fear will produce beneficial methods, but unhealthy fear will leave you paralyzed. Thus, God's heart is that we wouldn't stay stuck in unhealthy fear, and Christmas reminds us of that fact. In Luke's Christmas narrative, God said, "Do not be afraid" three times. We find that command given to Zechariah (1:13), Mary (1:30), and the shepherds (2:10). Jesus also used that same command to calm the hearts of His followers. God, in his foreknowledge, knew that the miracles encompassing the birth of His Son would cause some internal trembling.
Luke 1:30-33 explains Mary's call from fear to faith surrounding her pregnancy with Jesus when it says: "And the angel said to her, 'Do not be afraid, Mary, for you have found favor with God. 31 And behold, you will conceive in your womb and bear a son, and you shall call his name Jesus. 32 He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. And the Lord God will give to him the throne of his father David, 33 and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever, and of his kingdom, there will be no end.'"
Notice that Gabriel doesn't admonish Mary for being afraid. Instead, he encourages her with the truth about God's grace. So again, it's normal to be initially fearful of something, but the idea is not to stay stuck in that fear.
Are you allowing fear to entrap you? Do you have paralysis of analysis? Even if you are struggling now, realize that God's will is not for you to stay stuck in fear. Instead, like Mary, listen to God and step forward in faith. He's got a message that will move you as well!
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