Fearless
I woke up this morning and God gave me the word fearless in the form of a question: “How are you defining fearless?”
Merriam-Webster simply defines it as being free from fear: brave; a synonym of fearless is courageous. To be free from fear, you have to know what fear is. Fear is an unpleasant often strong emotion caused by anticipation or awareness of danger. Although my personality type thrives on logic and a textbook definition usually serves me very well, I knew that God was not asking simply for a definition, but for a description of how I am living my life.
There were two other thoughts that came to mind as I pondered the word. One was to fear less. So, not be completely brave, but to have a decreased amount of fear exist. The other was to fear because I feel less than. My immediate assessment was I’m somewhere in between fear less and fearless. I was satisfied with that response. After all, I am merely human. The honest assessment that hit me a little later was I have been dwelling somewhere in between fear less and fear because I feel less than. That surprised me because I’m a pretty confident person. But, a recent, very emotional response to a situation made me look deeper about what I really feel about myself. It exposed to me an internal storm I hadn’t fully addressed of relying on validation from outside sources.
Later in the day, the Lord directly spoke to me. The Lord revealed to me He would calm every storm I face, including an internal storm. This first revelation came through a daily inspirational email I subscribe to. It was based on Mark 4:39-40 NLT which states “When Jesus woke up, he rebuked the wind and said to the waves, “Silence! Be still!” Suddenly the wind stopped, and there was a great calm. Then he asked them, “Why are you afraid? Do you still have no faith?””
Secondly, He spoke to me through a podcast on the Daily Radio Program with Dr. Charles Stanley. It began playing when I opened my podcast app without me even making a selection when I started on my way home from work! The subject was Where is Your God? He talked about how God is always present in us. And when we realize this, we behave differently as believers. This gave me the wisdom to evaluate myself differently. No one but me will ever experience how God lives in me. If I am living in a way that is pleasing to God that dwells in me, external sources do not even come into the equation. I know in my spirit if my thoughts and actions are pleasing to the Lord.
That led me to seek these passages in the Bible regarding God living in us:
“This is my command—be strong and courageous! Do not be afraid or discouraged. For the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”
Joshua 1:9 NLT
“Even when I walk through the darkest valley, I will not be afraid, for you are close beside me. Your rod and your staff protect and comfort me.”
Psalms 23:4 NLT
“Jesus came and told his disciples, “I have been given all authority in heaven and on earth. Therefore, go and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit. Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”
Matthew 28:18-20 NLT
“And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
Romans 8:38-39 NLT
During my emotional turmoil from my internal storm over the last couple of months, I begged God to know why He was putting me through such distress. He gave me the wisdom to know I had to change some behaviors to obtain more clarity when He is speaking to me. I had to do my part to be ready to honestly receive His teaching and be patient with His timing.
He chose today to reveal what He wanted me to learn. Now hearing His Word, I cannot ever feel less than because I know He is with me always, available with His infinite power. If I lean on Him and His promises, and not my own understanding and human nature, I have everything I need whether I am at peace or going through a storm.
Because the Lord knows me, He made it plain and textbook, just the way I like it, on what can happen when I put my complete faith in Him who lives in me! “Wait patiently for the Lord. Be brave and courageous. Yes, wait patiently for the Lord.”
Psalms 27:14 NLT
And, just like that, today, my life has changed. The Bible often states “suddenly.” Well, suddenly, I am literally fearless!