Wednesday, January 8, 2014

Why are you so fearful?

This past Sunday at church, my preacher preached a sermon titled, "Why are you so fearful?" The sermon used the story in the Bible when Jesus calmed the storm. In this story, Jesus and his disciples are out at sea, Jesus falls asleep in the boat, and a storm begins raging around them. The disciples woke up Jesus in a panic, asking Him to help. Jesus answered them with a question, "Why are you fearful, oh you of little faith?" 

The disciples were scared. Despite having Jesus, their Lord and savior, I'm the boat with them, they feared they would die. Sometimes as a Christian, I act the same way. I say I trust Jesus, I believe he came save me from any situation, and yet I am never completely without fear. 

Everybody has that one thing they can't quite let go of. No matter how many times we pray about it, asking God to take control and help us, we stil don't let go. We can't surrender to God in word only. 

As I was pondering these thoughts and the sermon, this thought suddenly came to mind and I firmly believe God put it there in His awesome timing: "Stacie, why are you so fearful? Are you afraid the plans that I, The Lord, have made for you are not enough?" Instantly tears filled my eyes and I knew why I act in fear, instead of faith. 

Somehow I can't let go. Somehow I have told myself that my plans are better. I've acres as if God's amazing will is not enough. How could the one who created me not know what's best? 

When I realized this, my tough situation didn't seem so bad. It seemed like part of the plan, a piece of the puzzle, a tiny speck in the scheme of eternity. So that is how I must view it. That is how I must live my life. 

If asked, most Christians would say that they trust God to save their soul and take them to Heaven someday. Most Christians live this. They aren't constantly worrying about whether or not they will be in Heaven, or whether or not God will forgive them of that day's sins. He already has. He already died. He already forgave. He already saved. We know this. 

But when asked about the situation at work, the new relationship, the fight with a friend, the big test coming up... How many Christians live out their faith then? 

Every plan we don't give to God, every fear we hold on to, every portion of our life we don't intrust to our Heavenly Father is a portion of faith we can never experience. 

I trust God to save my soul. I trust God to take me to Heaven. I want to trust God with my today. 

Is God enough? Why are you so fearful? 

If we trust God with our eternity, we have to trust Him with our now.