My husband and I entered a home accents store, looking for some decorative pieces for our new home. As soon as we started browsing, I stopped at a session filled with beautiful frames containing pictures, some with funny or inspiring words.

Maybe it is a writer’s natural tendency, but my eyes linger a bit longer in frames with witty or inspirational words when I visit such stores. My house is full of them.

That day was no different. As I entered one of the aisles, a lonely, unpretentious poster, held by a plain gray frame, caught my attention. The simple words, neatly printed in black handwriting style on a white background, brought a smile to my face — the truth behind the simple message hitting a chord with this once fearful, insecure girl:

“What if I fall? Oh, but darling, what if you fly?”

The words made me think of how often fear prevents us from fulfilling our destiny and watching God work in miraculous ways. I know it too well.

Fear prevents us from fulfilling our destiny and watching God work in miraculous ways. @AJC #FearNot #believe #faithoverfear #MondayMotivation #MondayDevotional
Click To Tweet

Fear is real. It is a natural response for seasoned believers, as much as it is for the youngest in the faith.

We find one of the most known verses in Scripture in the first chapter of the book of Joshua:

“Be strong and courageous! Do not tremble and be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.”

We read Joshua’s story in the books of Exodus, Deuteronomy, Numbers, and the book bearing his name.

Joshua had been with Moses as God empowered Israel’s leader to accomplish the impossible. Repeatedly, he watched as God honored Moses’ faith and took care of his people. Then Moses died, and Joshua found himself leading the challenge to take possession of the Promised Land.

According to the 12 spies sent earlier to survey the surroundings (including Joshua himself), mighty giants awaited across the Jordan. They were bigger, their army stronger than Israel’s. And yet, God’s words were clear: Do Not Be Afraid. Go Get Them.

Joshua knew and trusted his God, but as we read the beginning of his book, we find God encouraging Joshua with the words “be strong and courageous” four times in the first chapter alone. There is no doubt that fear gripped the new leader’s heart as he contemplated the battle ahead.

Fear is indeed the father of many failures. Fear of conflict, fear of shame, fear of rejection, fear that God will leave us alone, and our prayers unanswered. Fear exaggerates the problems, hates the tasks ahead of us, and postpones obedience. Fear says we should not jump because we may fall.

Fear exaggerates the problems, hates the tasks ahead of us, and postpones obedience. Fear says we should not jump because we may fall. @AJC #FearNot #believe #faithoverfear #MondayMotivation #MondayDevotional
Click To Tweet

But we cannot easily count the “fear not’s” in the Bible. At first glance, they may come across as mere soothing words to those distressed by overwhelming circumstances. But in most cases, the “fear not’s” are not meant to be simply calming words. Instead, they are intended to be a faith challenge, a call to fight, or spread our wings and jump into the unknown.

The test is similar to what young birds face when they are ready to start testing their wings. It undoubtedly fears the vast abyss ahead, and sometimes the mother bird must push them out of the nest. As she does, she knows it too well — the air is not nearly as insubstantial as it seems — and her baby will soon learn that its wings were designed to work with the air to provide support. But even if they fail, one of the parents will come to its rescue and carry the baby bird to safety on its strong wings.

The same happens in our lives — we often cannot see where God’s paths lead us, and fear threatens to overcome us when we do not know what lies ahead. When that happens, we can choose to shrink in fear and live a mediocre life … or decide to say yes to God’s charge to conquer the impossible and stand in awe as He delivers His supernatural best.

Whatever giant or challenge you may be facing, remember that “Fear Not” is one of the most repeated principles in Scriptures, from Genesis to Revelation.

Be strong and courageous! The same God, who was with Moses and Joshua, is going into battle with you. You can move into the giant’s territory with the confidence that God will fight your battles.

Be strong and courageous! The same God, who was with Moses and Joshua, is going into battle with you. You can move into the giant’s territory with the confidence that God will fight your battles.
Click To Tweet

And if it’s fear of spreading your wings and taking a leap of faith to do something God told you to do, maybe it is time to jump off the side of the mountain with confidence, because God designed you to soar.

This article was originally published in Patricia’s column for The Atlanta Journal-Constitution on Saturday, July 15th, 2021. Click HERE to read it on the AJC’s website.

The post A Leap of Faith Can Make You Soar {The Atlanta Journal-Constitution} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.

It seems harsh, but unfortunately, it’s just numbers. I did a little research and, according to a statistics website, 25 percent of people drop their new year’s resolutions by the end of the first week of January. The number goes up to 36 percent after the first month, and only 34 percent of people will remain committed to their goals past June.

I am not proud to confess, but I have been on the team of those who don’t seem to be able to keep their new year’s resolutions one time too many. It’s disappointing, discouraging and plain sad.

I could say that I found the solution by not making any new year’s resolutions for the past couple of years, but that doesn’t solve the issue. It’d be great if the solution was that simple. Truthfully speaking, we think about committing to change things with a new year because we are not happy with certain aspects of our lives. Whether it is our weight, our lack of accomplishments or messy homes, human beings are driven to change because they’re not fully happy wherever they are. But for some reason, we have a really hard time holding on to the vision of what life would look like if we pressed on to our goals.

We allow ourselves to be distracted by temporary pleasures or shortcuts. We choose to remain in comfortable, familiar surroundings. And therefore, unfortunately, more often than not, that means that we cheat ourselves from receiving God’s best.

I was studying the book of Numbers when I came across the passage where the Jewish nation is at the border of the Promise Land. After wandering for almost 40 years in the wilderness, Moses received God’s command to send spies into Canaan to survey the land that was promised to Abraham’s descendants. He then selected 12 men to study the land for 40 days and come back with a report of their findings. When the men returned, they all agreed that the land was indeed good, with plenty of provision and fertile soil. However, the people who lived in the land were too strong. And too many. Giants, they said.

Out of the 12 spies, only Caleb and Joshua came back excited and determined to take over the long-awaited Promise Land. All 12 men surveyed the same land and came across the very same obstacles. Ten of them gave in to fear. Two saw past the giants, and into the unlimited resources of a God who opened the Red Sea, guided and provided for them in the desert.

After hearing the arguments from both sides, the people chose to do nothing. They chose the familiar surroundings, all the while complaining about their circumstances; however not willing to take a step toward obedience and trust. As a result, an entire generation of faithless men and women died in the wilderness and never received the promise. Only Caleb and Joshua were able to step into the land flowing with milk and honey.

I think about the many times that we act as the unbelieving Jews in the wilderness, too lazy to fight on, too scared to step into the impossible with the assurance that God goes before us into each place he calls us to go. Whether it’s something as carnal and superficial as losing weight, or something more spiritual as saying yes to a calling, we give up because we forget that the journey to our promise land is only one step in the right direction at a time. And that God’s promise is that he will be there to strengthen and enable us until we get to the other side.

Patricia Holbrook is a Christian author and national conference speaker. Her book, “Twelve Inches: Bridging the Gap Between What You Know About God and How You Feel,” is available on Kindle, at Barnes and Nobles, Amazon and other retailers. Visit her website at www.soaringwithhim.com Email: pholbrook@soaringwithHim.com

The post Quitting… At the Edge of the Promise Land {Atlanta Journal Constitution Column} appeared first on Soaring With Him Ministries.