Normally, I’m not scared. But lately, I’m pretty rattled. What about you? Are you afraid of God?
I’ve noticed a common fabric of tragedy, victimization and loss weaves through testimonies of God’s faithfulness and power. It scares me to death.
Proverbs 1:7, “The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge” HCSB
SCARY REQUIREMENTS
Years ago I finally said it out loud and felt some relief. “I am afraid of what God will require of me.” My kids were young when I first dug into the word through in-depth Bible study. I sensed God calling but was afraid of what He would require. So I withheld the chunks of my heart I was unwilling to surrender. I’m still not whole, but twenty years later I’m painfully aware of what He requires and that’s why I’m afraid.
He’s a scary God
Proverbs 2:5, “Then you will understand the ‘fear of the Lord’ and discover the knowledge of God.” HCSB
ARE YOU AFRAID OF GOD?
A testimony is proof of the existence of something. Maybe that’s why a public declaration of the realness of God’s presence springs from depths of great loss. There is proof in loving the unlovable, forgiving the unforgivable and having peace despite heartbreaking circumstances. Some days I’m not sure I want a testimony because I know what it entails.
Are you afraid of a God who wants your whole heart?
Jeremiah 29:13, “And you will seek Me and find Me, when you search for Me with all your heart.” NKJV
HARM OR GOOD?
If you've ever typed amen to receive a blessing, you may need a new religion #truth Click To TweetHate to break it to you, but Jesus said, “In this world you will have trouble.” My world is brimming with troubles and tests. Maybe you can relate. The real test in testimony is whether or not you will let God use your trials for your good and His glory.
The real test in testimony is whether or not you will let God use your trials for your good and His glory #testimony Click To TweetRemember, the alternative is let Satan hold bitterness and self-pity, condemnation and shame, or sin and rebellion over your head. If you’ve blown it and you’re still running, listen here to my pastor’s sermons about our God who gives second chances.
What’s your testimony?
Genesis 50:20, “As far as I am concerned, God turned into good what you meant for evil,” TLB
SCARY PRAYER
There is a prayer the Lord always honors, but it’s scary. Great peace comes from praying, “Whatever Lord,” but it’s costly. Jesus prayed, “Thy will be done.” God’s will involve gruesome suffering for His beloved son. What if involves suffering for me too? Am I willing to surrender? Yeah sometimes, then I take it back. God and I have been playing tug-of-war for months now and I’d like to say I’m ready, but God scares me with His questions:
Do you want …..
Are you willing….
What if it takes….
He’s not safe
I trust God like never before. His plans for me are better than any plans I could make for myself;
I trust Him
But he scares me
I’m afraid of God
Are you?
Is he-quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion”…”Safe?” said Mr Beaver …”Who said anything about safe? ‘Course he isn’t safe. But he’s good. ~ The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe C.S. Lewis
Proverbs 19:23, “The fear of the LORD leads to life, So that one may sleep satisfied, untouched by evil.” NASB
It was years ago our then youth minister, Greg Sykes, taught us, GOD IS GOOD, ALL the time. How I must believe HE IS GOOD, the only way to trust when I can’t see the way. So thankful we are on this journey together.
All the time!
I’m not quite sure what has been intended with my waiting over 1 1/2 years for a diagnosis and having taken a down turn for over a month. Maybe it will be for the doctors benefit to get a more accurate diagnosis, I just don’t know. I see another very busy doctor who is taking my case on special as she wasn’t taking any more and could have past me on to another. But others see how I’m dealing with this and I’ve had some positive feedback and maybe in that my faith in a Good God is helping them too. I’m trying to use lessons learned in the past to help me now with this current one. I also remind myself I am not as yet as Job was and am thankful for the blessings I still have. I am most thankful I don’t suffer much pain as others do. Mine is manageable and intermittent along with overwhelming fatigue and body weakness. It could be so very much worse.
I completely agree! Hope you continue to be a witness and get answers soon
There was a time in my life when I was afraid that God would do something awful to me if I surrendered all to Him. But I knew surrender was the right thing to do, so I finally gave up the struggle with God and surrendered to Him. It was the best thing I could have ever done! It was a turning point in my life. Because I surrendered, I haven’t been afraid of God in long time.
In a book that I’m reading by Michael Card, “A Sacred Sorrow”, he makes a statement in the section on Job (pg. 49) that the fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, but the end of wisdom is love. The author says that the gap between the fear and the love is bridged by lament, and at that point we can address Him directly as “You”.
Sounds like something I need to read. Feeling Job these days. Thanks