The writer of Hebrews was addressing Hebrew believers who had tasted fear. They were exhausted, their friends and family had been imprisoned or killed, and they were wondering if living for Jesus was worth it. They were scared for their lives and families.
They were weary.
In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay... But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. — Hebrews 10:37-38, emphasis added).
Let those words haunt you. I shrink back a lot, and it haunts me too. We all are plagued with inner wars:
“I shrink back because I’m afraid.”
“I don’t trust myself.”
“I’m confused because I’m not exactly sure what it is He wants me to do.”
“I don’t know for sure that I can do what God wants me to do.”
“I’ve already got too much to do right in front of me.”
I don’t know what it is for you, but I bet that in some way, in some place in your soul, you are shrinking back. Even though we were saved and have God with us to live our callings, we all are shrinking back. So let’s go there.
Why are you shrinking back? Why are you afraid to live your calling? Where do you feel the most resistance?
They were weary.
In just a little while, He who is coming will come and will not delay... But my righteous one will live by faith. And I take no pleasure in the one who shrinks back. — Hebrews 10:37-38, emphasis added).
Let those words haunt you. I shrink back a lot, and it haunts me too. We all are plagued with inner wars:
“I shrink back because I’m afraid.”
“I don’t trust myself.”
“I’m confused because I’m not exactly sure what it is He wants me to do.”
“I don’t know for sure that I can do what God wants me to do.”
“I’ve already got too much to do right in front of me.”
I don’t know what it is for you, but I bet that in some way, in some place in your soul, you are shrinking back. Even though we were saved and have God with us to live our callings, we all are shrinking back. So let’s go there.
Why are you shrinking back? Why are you afraid to live your calling? Where do you feel the most resistance?
PHYSICALLY?
“I can’t neglect other responsibilities.”
“It’s really not a big deal.”
“I’m too young or old.”
“I am not 100 percent sure this is God’s will.”
“It’s really not a big deal.”
“I’m too young or old.”
“I am not 100 percent sure this is God’s will.”
EMOTIONALLY?
“It feels lonely.”
“I can’t control what is going to happen.”
“I am scared I’ll fail.”
“I am not a leader.”
“I can’t control what is going to happen.”
“I am scared I’ll fail.”
“I am not a leader.”
RELATIONALLY?
“What if God takes someone I love?”
“I’ll look foolish.”
“If I do this, I will let people down.”
“My family doesn’t understand.”
“People think I’m crazy.”
“My life will look different than my friends’.”
SPIRITUALLY?
“I am not good enough for God to use me.”
“I can’t even pray right now.”
“I don’t know if I trust God’s plan for me.”
“Do I really believe God is real?”
“I am stuck in sin.”
“I don’t think God even sees me.”
“Is it worth it?”
“What if God doesn’t show up?”
“What if I am misreading God?”
So do the work. Ask yourself, why are you shrinking back?
“I can’t even pray right now.”
“I don’t know if I trust God’s plan for me.”
“Do I really believe God is real?”
“I am stuck in sin.”
“I don’t think God even sees me.”
“Is it worth it?”
“What if God doesn’t show up?”
“What if I am misreading God?”
So do the work. Ask yourself, why are you shrinking back?
Fight Fear
"I shrink back because I’m afraid. I am afraid of what I will lose."
We have to deal with fear because it is possible that it will make us miss the best parts of life.
We all face fear. But we must kill fear like it is the devil, because it usually is. We do not belong to the one who shrinks back; we belong to the One who moved through His blood and sweat and despair and fear and reluctance in the garden of Gethsemane and said,
Not My will, but Yours be done. I belong to You and I will live for You and die for You. — Luke 22:42
He walked headfirst into His death.
So fight with me.
We have to deal with fear because it is possible that it will make us miss the best parts of life.
We all face fear. But we must kill fear like it is the devil, because it usually is. We do not belong to the one who shrinks back; we belong to the One who moved through His blood and sweat and despair and fear and reluctance in the garden of Gethsemane and said,
Not My will, but Yours be done. I belong to You and I will live for You and die for You. — Luke 22:42
He walked headfirst into His death.
So fight with me.
Fight Uncertainty
That little voice in your head that's telling you you're not good enough? Rebuke it!
Fight Distraction
We spoke about the importance of shunning things that are not good for us that will try to get in the way of the assignment we fear that God has called us to do.
All things are permissible but not all things are beneficial. — 1 Corinthians 10:23
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