What Happens When We Stare Fear in the Face?

Have you ever sensed God asking you to do something that scared you witless? I have. I’m thankful for those experiences because they grew my faith.

Have you ever sensed God asking you to do something that scared you witless?

I have. Several times.

Grace in Nepal, providing basic health care

When my husband and I moved to Nepal five months after we married. We were clueless about living in a different culture, speaking a different language, surviving with different foods and accompanying health risks, etc. We landed at in Kathmandu and knew immediately that we were in over our heads when we realized that we couldn’t communicate with the taxi driver. Thankfully, a seasoned Westerner saw our plight and negotiated a fare for us. Our taxi dodged goats and cows all the way to our mission guesthouse. We ate lunch there, and then a coworker drove us to the city’s outskirts where we moved in with a Nepalese family who spoke no English. I remember thinking, What in the world have we done?

When my husband and I sensed God telling us to sell our four-year-old waterfront home in Washington state and move to Canada to become involved in a year-round Christian camping ministry. This meant uprooting our three kids, giving up my husband’s civil engineering salary, and raising monthly support for our living expenses. Talk about financial insecurity!

When my first book was released and my publisher sent me on a media tour. I had to fly into Chicago, rent a car, and then drive to South Bend, Indiana for my first interview. The next morning I had to drive into downtown Chicago for a radio interview at 8 AM. I’m directionally challenged. I felt sheer panic as I drove off that car rental parking lot into the great unknown.

In retrospect, I’m thankful for those experiences because they grew my faith.

Staring fear in the face gave me opportunity to admit my weakness and to experience God’s strength and faithfulness.

Scripture tells the story of a widow who stared fear in the face

She was doing daily chores outside one day when Elijah walked into town and asked her for a drink and a bite to eat.

Here’s what she said, “I swear by the LORD your God that I don’t have a single piece of bread in the house. And I have only a handful of flour left in the jar and a little cooking oil in the bottom of the jug. I was just gathering a few sticks to cook this last meal, and then my son and I will die” (1 Kings 17:12).

Scared silly, she was.

But Elijah said, “Don’t be afraid! Go ahead and do just what I’ve said.” Then he gave her a promise from God: “This is what the LORD, the God of Israel, says: ‘There will always be flour and olive oil left in your containers until the time when the LORD sends rain and the crops grow again!” (1 Kings 17:13-14).

The widow obeyed, and God fulfilled His promise. Imagine how her faith grew as she experienced God’s supernatural provision.

Perhaps you’re staring fear in the face today. God has asked you to do something, and you know it’s beyond your power. That’s okay. Just say yes to Him! Trust His promises to provide whatever you need for the task, and then move forward. No matter what your unique situation is, I guarantee God will use this experience to grow your faith as He reveals Himself to you in new and amazing ways.

Know you are loved,

Grace