THIS JUST IN FROM OUR GLOBAL ONLINE TRIBE:
“I really like this series on SPIRITUAL DISCIPLINE, but I lack the confidence you write about that allows Christians to trust God and live a Christ-like life. I am afraid of everything.”
I understand this question VERY WELL. Early in my faith walk I was afraid of everything, too. Topping my list were the fear of failing; the fear of rejection; and the fear of illness. Even though I have never fully understood the line “afraid of his own shadow,” I was afraid of mine.
Here’s how God rescued me from this lack of spiritual confidence and vanquished my sneaky shadow saboteur.
The first building block was understanding the parable of the wise and the foolish builders (Matthew 7:24-27). It illustrates how important it is to build our life on Jesus and then put our faith into ACTION. Not cowering behind our own shadow.
Living a life in Christ comes, in large part, from seeing God complete in us what he created us to do (ACTION) on this side of the heavenly divide. It is impossible to miss that “completion” when we see it unfold in the real world as we glorify and exhibit Christ in our lives.
But it’s impossible to do if we’re afraid of our own shadow and hide in an isolation cell. There is no action in isolation.
Rewinding my life’s movie back to those days when I was afraid of everything reveals the hopelessness that engulfed my soul and made me depressed and depleted. The tougher life got, the more I wanted to retreat and isolate.
That’s no surprise. Isolation is often our default and first response to the tests and trials of life. And with that sense of isolation can come thoughts of being abandoned by God. It’s scary.
But isolating ourselves from the realities of life always darkens the room and never brings light. It puts us in the shadows and that makes us afraid.
When we feel like isolating, we should immediately turn to God who is always with us and in control. We must know that he will never leave us on our own. That we will prevail IF we trust HIS love and stop being afraid of OUR own shadow.
I ask God to help me stop being afraid of everything and trust him for everything so he can complete in me what he created me to do.
HOW ABOUT YOU?
Are you afraid of your own shadow? What is your response when life tries to send you to the isolation cell?
“For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, do not fear; I will help you.” Isaiah 41:13
