What’s Your Fear Telling You? Why a Certain Kind of Fear Means You’re Probably on the Right Path
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Photo by Sven Verweij on Unsplash
If you think God might be calling you to do something but you feel afraid, does the presence of fear mean that it’s not God after all?
Well, it depends on what kind of fear you're experiencing.
While God is not the author of fear, it’s not uncommon to feel some fear when he calls us to something new because he often calls us to things that are bigger than our abilities and that we have to depend on him to accomplish.
(For a few biblical examples, consider the fear felt by Moses, Gideon, and Saul when God called them to their respective endeavors).
But when God is leading us, alongside that fear will usually also be feelings of excitement and curiosity and joy because joy is one of the ways God speaks and leads.
Think about how you might feel if you were traveling to a new, exotic location and you were on an airplane that’s about to take off.
You might feel nervous or afraid because flying is kind of scary and because you might not know exactly what will happen when you arrive. But you would probably also feel happy and excited because you’re traveling to somewhere you really want to be. It’s that combination of feelings that often means you’re on the right track.
On the other hand, if you feel anxiety, doom, dread, or sick to your stomach, as if you were facing a prison sentence or just received bad news, it’s a lot less likely that God is speaking because these feelings are rooted in condemnation, and while God does convict, he does not condemn.
So if you’re afraid, don’t automatically stop moving forward.
Instead, reflect on any other feelings that appear alongside the fear and consider what they might be telling you. Talk to God about how you’re feeling, and trust that he will guide you.
I hope this helps!
As always, I’m praying for you and cheering you on, and if you have a prayer request or a question about purpose/calling, I’d love to hear from you!
You can contact me here or through the comment section below!
In purpose and faith,
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