“I sought the Lord, and he heard me, and delivered me from all my fears.” Psalm 34:4

Do you remember a time when you were little, and you became afraid of something? Did you run to your mom or dad for protection?

We’re supposed to do the same with our Heavenly Father, but then we grow up. Instead of running to Him for protection we put up emotional walls, feebly attempting to protect ourselves from fear. The problem with this is that we have an enemy who the Bible says searches for whom he can devour (1 Peter 5:8). What we are gifted in, he will wound us in.

I grew up terrified of public speaking. I avoided speech class in college like my life depended on it. If I was the center of attention in anything, I would want to run and hide. If I had to speak, my heart would pound seemingly out of my chest and my hands would shake. The first time I spoke in front my high school I stuttered, stumbled and looked like a fool. I swore I would never do it again!

Fast forward 15 years and I’m now a children’s pastor. I speak in front of kids and adults constantly. But I’ve learned it’s not by my might or by my power but by His spirit that I’m able to do what I do (Zechariah 4:6), and I LOVE it! Fear tried to keep me from what God was calling me to do.

(Interestingly, the 4th chapter of Zechariah also says in verse 10 to not despise the day of small things. That awful day I vividly remember was the small beginning of the work He began. Fear tried to come in and stay, but after seeking Jesus day after day and year after year, here I am doing the very thing I was terrified to do.)

I challenge you to RUN to your prayer closet and seek His face. He will be faithful to deliver you from your fears as His Word says in Psalm 34:4. You might be surprised, like I was, what is on the other side of the fear. It might be the very thing He created for you to do.

Hugs,

Cristy

Photo cred: https://unsplash.com/@matt_sclarandis